Sunday 9th May 2004 Arembergersgracht to South of Ossenzijl.

Reed boats at Beulakerwijde in 1997

Sunny and warm start to the morning after 7.7° C overnight. The sky had clouded over by 10.30 a.m. We set off at 8.30 a.m. to get to the first liftbridge for opening time at 9.00 a.m. Bill paused by the bridge in Beltschutsloot to empty his Eslan in a proper chemical toilet disposal place (was this a first in Euroland??). The lake was beautiful, flat calm, hardly a ripple, reflecting the pale blue sky. One lone sailboat was hardly moving as we crossed Belterwijde and found the lady bridge keeper busily feeding the ducks until she spotted us and went into her cabin to lift the bridge to let us through into Beulakerwijde. 

Reed boats at Beulakerwijde in 1997

Again the meer was flat calm and deserted and we exited the lake into the nature reserve of the Walengracht, where only two sailboats and a new tjalk had occupied the moorings. It was still quiet as we headed north through the Giethornsemeer and into the narrower channel of the Wetering. Through the first liftbridge at Muggenbeet, without having it lifted as we could get underneath its 5m high span. The second liftbridge was not much further along the canal at Scheerwold, it was remotely operated and free of charge. We were first through the bridge and two hotel sailing boats, a tjalk and a klipper, had to wait for us to clear before they could pass through the bridge from the opposite direction. By the bridge, we noticed a coot had seven little red headed chicks, the first we’d seen this year. 

Reed boats at Beulakerwijde in 1997

We passed our first hireboat, a huge cruiser from Herenveen, heading for Giethorn. It was to be the first of many, even this early in the season. Two cruisers were fast catching us up. The speed limit was 6 kph and we were doing 7! Speed limit? What’s a speed limit! We met a large cruiser on the bend as we swung left into the Heuvengracht and headed out into the wilds again after passing many beautifully neat and tidy Dutch canalside houses all along the Wetering. This was short lived as we turned right into the Kalenbergergracht, which was bordered by the houses of the village of Kalenberg. A little further on we found a spot to moor where there were no houses and a wide grassy area and some woods for Bill’s dog Fanny to enjoy. It was 11.50 a.m. Mike went to get the car and I did some chores and made lunch. After lunch Mike watched the Formula One racing from Spain. Schumacher won, Ferrari came first and second. When the racing finished Mike got the welder out and welded Bill’s engine mountings, making them completely solid. I stripped the polish off our chestnut parquet floor using diluted ammonia and then repolished it. Two large trip boats spent the afternoon going past us down the Kalenbergergracht, turning round and returning to Ossenzijl. Made a beef chow mein for dinner. 

Please note the photos are from 1997 this time!