Back in Europe for Summer

The new dinghy, a 10 foot Porta Bote bought on MarktPlaats, ( Dutch Gumtree)
 It planes with just 2HP!!   and sits nicely folded like a surfboard on deck.

We flew into Amsterdam appropriately burdened (according to Ants) with 74 kilos of luggage including a full sized genoa and a 2hp outboard etc etc. Train then bus to Zeewolde to find Le Bateau safe and dry floating in the marina.
It took a couple of days to recommission the boat, sort out the food and clothes, build a frame for solar panels. Then we took her out the water, saw the bottom for the first time. Very happy with what we found. A quick rudder repair, a new skin fitting, a coat of antifoul and back in the water within 24 hours. The Dutch marina staff had allowed seven days!

The first glimpse/survey of her bottom

She was pressured washed and then moved into the car park!

Ten minutes and clean as a whistle. 

She looks to us like a Minke Whale

We sailed up into Friesland via the fishing town of Urk. An old Zuiderzee island town which is now part of the mainland.

Urk, on a rare hill. Well gentle rise if the truth be know

At anchor off the town of Urk

An Urk fishing trawler

We slowly ambled our way through Friesland marvelling at the incredibly warm weather.  It turns out it has been the hottest May for 300 years!!

We swam at least twice a day and eventually landed in the small town of Woudsend where a friend from last year and a bit of a aussiephile, Gracie, lives with her boyfriend Diede. Diede has an unusual occupation he is a Musk Rat hunter for the Dutch government, it turns out they are destroying the dykes!

Sunset at Woudsend. We tied up at a Marrekrite. Friesland gratis mooring.

Diede and Grace had us over for a lovely evening of chatting and drinks the first night then we had them on aboard for dinner and more chat the next. We also were given an eel which we enjoyed over two nights.

Gracie took us around Stavoren and some lovely spots in her car

A bird hide near Workum

This ugly fish fountain is in Stavoren as Leeuwarden is the 2018 European city of Culture

Anyway back to the sailing

After all that really hot weather we had a proper thunderstorm which washed the deck nicely!!

3 days gratis mooring (or camping) allowed

On a Marrekrite mooring near Sneek

While in Sneek we contacted Rudie and Hilda who we met boating last year. They had us around for a lovely dinner with their son David. A great cheese fondue night and lots of chat.

In Dokkum to meet Pat from Ireland

Pat, our good friend from Ireland flew in for a few days. It was great to have him on board and he got to experience canal travel, sailing in Lauwersmeer National Park and the joys of a marina in Groningen. He quite liked the 8% alcohol beer that Ants bought a carton of by mistake!

A bus stop, kids plaything and a lookout all in one at Lauwersoog

The boys at Zoutkamp

We have done plenty of bike riding and one day came across some rare mountain sheep and highland cattle, all who were unafraid of us.

We will get some of these for home

We are now in Appingedam in the far North East of the Netherlands. Kerry and Jenny arrive today and then we are off to Germany, the Kiel Canal and into Denmark for a bit.

The boat has been performing very well. She sails nicely in light and moderate winds. Also a great motor boat but with the centre plate up close manoeuvring is challenging and with Groningen with 15 bridges Ants was working hard.

And we are getting one of these to keep our pot plants watered next year!