1st April 2015. Blokzijl to Lemmer. The wind ups its game again.

Wednesday and it's the first day of the 'season' which means all the brug and sluis are open for business. The wind is less and the sun is shining. We are leaving for Lemmer today.

Engine on at 0930 and we enter the Blokzijl sluis. A small drop of probably a metre, the exit gates open and we have a green light to proceed. The bridge lifts and we're through. A few final photos as we cruise the outskirts of town.

In the Blokzijl sluis.

And a view back towards the haven from the sluis…

… slightly different view…

… and the skipper's view of the lock and the crew waiting for the green light…

…  as we leave the town…

… the brug closes behind us…

… and finally, this little cutie!

As we move along the canal toward the village of Wetering, my mobile phone rings and I find that our dog is not well.  She is already booked in to see the vet and Katie and I discuss options and thoughts. It's not serious, I hasten to add. Katie calls back having spoken to our vet again to let me know he's prescribed a course of antibiotics. By the time I hang up, I'm feeling far less worried about our lovely girl. 

We catch our breath as we start to move through the first village - it's lovely! But it's perishing cold out there, despite the sunshine. Skipper and crew add more layers under their coats. The journey past Muggenbeet, Wetering, Scheerwolde and Kalenberger villages was a fabulous experience. A narrow and twisting canal through each of these pretty villages - just gorgeous! Our very first bruggeld experience was fun (this means a fee is charged for the bridge to be opened.) - strong wind, freezing cold and bright sunshine. We were clearly the first customers for the season (no one else would be so mad in this weather!) and the man who was going to swing the clog looked worried; I was worried - but it all worked out brilliantly. Smiles, laughter and thanks, and we were on our way. 

Can you see the stork on its nest in the photo above?

Approaching the brug at Kalenberg…

… the brug is opening and I'm ready with the money…

… the clog is ready to be swung for me to catch and place the money into it…

Some more photos of our journey along the Kalenbergergracht…

… lovely, isn't it!…

… last one…

My phone rings again and it's Katie to tell me our girl has been to the vet's for a thorough check up and she's fine. But has clearly eaten something she shouldn't. Well. She's a Labrador. They do that kind of thing.  But I'm relieved, as is Richard. And Katie.

Onwards through Ossenzijl and the Driewegsluis and brug with the wind picking up all the time. Coming into the Driewegsluis, we have a sudden and almost katabatic blast of wind which does its best to slam the boat sideways as we move into the lock. The skipper calmly adjusts the boat and moves us starboard side to the lock wall for the crew to make us secure. Crew hastily stows the port side lines she had ready, and scuttles to starboard side to deal with those lines instead. 

Left or right? But so helpful, especially all the info about facilities available...

Ossenzijl brug ahead.

Don't worry, we head to starboard here…

… and a little further along, obligatory pic of a windmill…

We are finally seeing more boats on the water.  See! it's not just us!!  After we turned into the Pier Christiansloten, the wind strengthened yet again and there was/is nothing nice to say about the remainder of the journey.  Though we were able to refuel at Echtenerbrug, so that was nice!  Across the Tjeukemeer and a really rubbish, long wait for the next brug to open - soooo windy.  Turned to port into the Prinses Margriet Kanal and headed south towards Lemmer. Wind still increasing.

The wind was howling past us as we approached our marina - and tried to find our berth! Eventually worked out where it was and Richard swung us into the marina channel using all his skills to turn Pirramimma through the wind. We eased into our berth and two very kind folk jumped off the charter boat close by, ran over to us and took our lines. Bless them!

Engine off at 1600.  Cold. Freezing. Knackered. Tired. But safe and sound in our new berth. Hurrah!  We doubled up all our lines, put all our fenders out and snugged down for the night.  A lovely hot meal followed by an early night. 


Vxx