28th March - 1st April, 2015. Storm bound in Blokzijl.

We slept like the proverbial logs and woke to grey skies and strong winds gusting around the haven. We walked around part of the town - basically a fact finding mission. But it seemed like everything was shut. So we ate lunch back onboard.  Soon after that, we were treated to the spectacle of about 70 Ferraris driving through the town. We had front row seats!

An hour or two later, police and motorcycles roared into town.  Stewards were posted at various strategic positions. We waited. Then a peloton appeared and raced over the wet cobblestone streets. And another peloton. And another. Finally the race was through the town. The stewards jumped back onto the motorbikes, and they, and the police roared out of town again. 

Then a clutch of about 6 or 7 Trabants pulled into town. About 10 people appeared to get out of each car (!) and then they decamped for coffee, cake and a jolly time. Then piled back into the Trabants and left the way they'd come.  What an afternoon!

That night we ate at the only restaurant we could get into - the Café Restaurant Sluiszicht where we both enjoyed an excellent meal of Sliptongetje - like Dover sole and just as delicious!  When we returned to Pirramimma, I took this photo. It was, as you can see, calm conditions but bitterly cold. I was shaking by the time I got back onboard.

Calm night. The next day it was 'blowing dogs off chains'!

The next day was super quiet in town. Certainly in the morning and until about 1600 when the Prins Mauritshuis opened its doors. Prior to that, we watched as many tourists on foot tried to find somewhere to enjoy coffee and something to eat. It's freezing cold and everywhere is closed.  When the Prins Mauritshuis finally opened, folk fell inside in droves.  We enjoyed another walk around town despite the rain and cold. And in the evening, we walked over to the Prins Mauritshuis and were lucky to be able to get a table there. It was very busy, and rightly so: the food was excellent.

On Monday morning, we woke up to very strong winds and a substantial increase in the water levels in the haven. We had nearly run out of space on the fixed pontoon. Eight more inches and it would be awash. We spent the morning anxiously watching the water level. By lunch time I was watching the wind forecast and saw there would be a lull between 1700 and 2000. We determined to move Pirramimma to the floating pontoons at the side of haven.  We started to move the boat at 1800 and slid her into the best spot for us which we'd already sussed out earlier. We secured her with a cats cradle of lines on either side. 

The next morning, the water level appeared to have dropped a little. But this was only a temporary thing, and we watch, horrified, as the fixed pontoon we were on yesterday, becomes completely awash. In the photo below, the water levels are already rising…

… and in the next photo, the pontoon is awash and two lads are enjoying the novelty…

We take another walk around the town, this time heading out past the gates into the haven. But the wind is absolutely horrendous and we don't stay out for very long.  Walking back to the boat, we are concerned to see we only have about eighteen inches before the water is above the harbour wall.  There are no further options!!  We want to leave tomorrow morning as the wind is forecast to drop a little.  Our original plan included an overnight stay at Muggenbeet but we've decided to crack on straight through to Lemmer.  If we can leave that is.

At about 1730, we notice some activity at the harbour gates as various vans pull up and men jump out of them. After a lot of conferring, the men start to close the gates that protect the harbour. This is apparently unheard of these days, and our friend from Elburg tells us he's never known it to be done.

We are merely grateful and we sleep well that night. The pictures below show the gate being closed.  During the course of this storm, wind speeds approaching 70 knots were recorded in the haven. 

Vxx