This time, traffic and the gods-of-all-bridges
were on our side so we were out of Leeuwarden quite quickly. We decided to take a slightly different route back to
the Prinses Margriet Kanal and turned eastwards to motor along the Lange Meer. In
the distance, we saw a WOBs burgee. This is a Facebook group I belong to. For
women only, and for those of us who live on/sail/cruise on barges/boats of any
type, anywhere in the world. Vicki and Max, from Perth in Western
Australia, have been cruising their barge "Yavanna" on the European
waterways for quite a few summers now. Vicki and I enjoyed a brief,
mid-channel chat then we cruised away in opposite directions. It was quite exciting!
We
re-joined the Prinses Margriet and headed south. Richard, suddenly decided to
take a detour. On a whim. We spun around 180 and turned down another little channel.
What a shock to see another WOB burgee in the distance. They'd seen us too and
were moving over towards us. This time it was Jean and Phil on their beautiful
boat, Sojourn. They also, amazingly, are from Perth Western Australia. Small
world, huh! Jean and I were able to enjoy a much longer chat as Richard and
Phil manoeuvred the boats so we could do so. As chance would have it, Jean
and Phil are friends with Vicki and Max. Jean told me they were meeting up
in Leeuwarden, then both boats would be cruising down to Lemmer in a few days time. We arranged to
keep in touch and to meet up in Lemmer for a meal before we all went our
separate ways.
We continued on our way, and turned back onto the Prinses Margriet Kanal a little further on. We passed Grou once again and took the next channel to starboard, heading for Jirnsum and the De Boarnstream jachthaven. This is the yard which built Pirramimma and we were keen to visit and introduce ourselves to them. It was pretty windy again, so we moved slowly past the passentenplaats; firstly to see if one was available, and secondly to be able to head into the wind for berthing. Engine off at 1450. Sorted all our lines out, and made our way to the havenkantoor to register and pay our dues for two nights. We were warmly welcomed and had quite a long chat with a couple of the folk in the office. As you can see, the weather had turned again and it was much cooler.
Here we are, snug in our berth at De Boarnstream Jachthaven…
It's a lovely location. So peaceful and the facilities are excellent: electricity, wi-fi and water included, plus shower/washing/drying facilities, fuel berth, foul water pump-out. We were surprised, and pleased, when the yard owner knocked on our hull to introduce himself. We invited him onboard and to join us for a drink. Happily, he accepted and we spent a very enjoyable 30 minutes or so chatting with him. And between you and me, I was very, very glad to have spent time cleaning Pirramimma just before we'd left Leeuwarden. It wouldn't do to present an untidy/unkempt boat to the man who built it!
We were in two minds whether to stay on for a third night, but all the power had been tripped by a boat that had come into the jachthaven sometime during the course of the second night. Perhaps tripped is too kind a word… short-circuited the power supply is far more accurate. We decided to leave and headed back to Lemmer but not before the kind folk at De Boarnstream had made some coffee for us as we couldn't given the power situation. Engine on at 1015, and we reluctantly left Pirramimma's birthplace. We arrived back at Lemmer at 1325 after a delightful and gentle cruise back via the Sneekermeer. Happily, the wind was dropping and the weather was becoming sunny and warmer.
The next day, we headed off in the car to do a bit of land-based sightseeing and to replenish food supplies. As we were walking back to Pirramimma from our jachthaven's car park we were delighted to see two friends, Diederick and Angela, walking towards us. They'd called in to say hello whilst we were away. We all returned to Pirramimma and spent an enjoyable hour or so chatting, drinking coffee and munching on stroopwafels.
The following evening, we caught up with Vicki and Max, Jean and Phil and their friends, Janine and Neil. It was a fun evening and we had an excellent meal at the Bistro Âld Lemmer. Thanks to Janine for taking the photos on Vicki's camera.
We were in two minds whether to stay on for a third night, but all the power had been tripped by a boat that had come into the jachthaven sometime during the course of the second night. Perhaps tripped is too kind a word… short-circuited the power supply is far more accurate. We decided to leave and headed back to Lemmer but not before the kind folk at De Boarnstream had made some coffee for us as we couldn't given the power situation. Engine on at 1015, and we reluctantly left Pirramimma's birthplace. We arrived back at Lemmer at 1325 after a delightful and gentle cruise back via the Sneekermeer. Happily, the wind was dropping and the weather was becoming sunny and warmer.
The next day, we headed off in the car to do a bit of land-based sightseeing and to replenish food supplies. As we were walking back to Pirramimma from our jachthaven's car park we were delighted to see two friends, Diederick and Angela, walking towards us. They'd called in to say hello whilst we were away. We all returned to Pirramimma and spent an enjoyable hour or so chatting, drinking coffee and munching on stroopwafels.
The following evening, we caught up with Vicki and Max, Jean and Phil and their friends, Janine and Neil. It was a fun evening and we had an excellent meal at the Bistro Âld Lemmer. Thanks to Janine for taking the photos on Vicki's camera.
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| Pre-dinner drinks at the Eetcafé |
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| Cheers! Dinner at Bistro Âld Lemmer. |
Two days later, we were back on the ferry to Harwich. Pirramimma had been thoroughly cleaned and put into 'sleep mode' to wait for our return.
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