Onwards to Amsterdam and beyond

Strong north west winds were forecast so we decided that through the Dutch canals was the preferred route to the North Sea rather than the outside passage via Vlieland. Good job we did, because the sail from Borkum to Lauwersoog on June 14th was no fun. Twenty to twenty five knots wind close hauled in a lumpy sea made us glad to lock into the canal system seven hours later and tie up in Lauwersoog marina almost two years to the day since we passed through headed for the Baltic.

Next day we motored on through the Friesland canals to Leeuwarden. This is a pleasant  place to stop because the moorings are in a wooded part of the canal that circles the town, very peaceful but close to restaurants and the sights. We stayed here two nights and on 16^th June we motored to Grou to stop at the same marina as two years previously.

 Keren paying the canal bridge dues into the clog

 

Bright and early, for us, we headed south again to Lemmer. A broken bridge meant that we had a detour. Fortunately a local yacht guided us through the minor canals and we only ran aground once! Soft mud and we soon motored off and went the correct way around the buoy. The detour meant, however, that by the time we reached Lemmer we had lost the will to sail across the Isselmeer to Einkhuizen so we found a nice berth outside a restaurant and moored up for the night. A good stop, the restaurant served us Dover Sole with all the trimmings and nice wine so we fell into the boat later that evening feeling no pain at all.

The marina berth and restaurant in Lemmer

9 am June 17^th saw us headed south west across the Isselmeer, through the lock at Einkhuizen sailing south past Hoorn, Monnickendam and Marken  and on to Amsterdam Sixhaven marina which is right opposite the central station. We stopped in Amsterdam for three nights so that we could all catch breath and for Bob to see something of the city. He even found the red light district, but claims he was not impressed!

Replica of the East Indies ship ' Amsterdam' at the maritime museum



Tomorrow (June 21st) it's back to sea again via Ijmuiden and on to Scheveningen and ports south west towards Dover.

Our cheerful and long suffering sailing companion Bob