Gratitude: photographs and memories Part 2.

Happy New Year! I wish you a joyous, prosperous, healthy 2016, filled with laughter and friendship. Thank you for reading my blog and I hope you continue to enjoy it.

This post continues the theme of reflection and gratitude with some more photos from the many taken over the course of 2015. Looking through all the digital photo albums for these blog posts has forced me to look more closely and remember so many little details along the way of those cruises. Such a nice way to refresh my memory!

The photos that follow in this post are pretty much devoted to our summer cruise to Leeuwarden, Dokkum, the Reitdiep and onwards. It was a magical time even though the first part of the cruise included one of the worst storms in recent history in the Netherlands. We were fortunate to have sought a safe harbour earlier than most. 

This first photo was taken about 0730 hours, local time. The Deck Hand has just completed the morning duties of drying off the topsides and it's also just before we pushed away from our mooring in order to head to that safe harbour I mentioned.  The little sloep had motored past so quietly, so slowly. There was no other movement, no-one else to be seen. We pushed off the mooring so as not to wake anyone either. Who wants to hear the whine from bow and stern thrusters at that time of the morning!!     …Ssshhhhhh...

Photo copyright Veronica Hayes

In Leeuwarden we were able to snug down for the storm. This was taken early on the afternoon we arrived; after lunch and after a little jaunt to the excellent Friday market in town. And I *finally* found the glass/bottle disposal units: I couldn't find them on our first stay in the Prinsentuin. It's the little things sometimes...

Photo copyright Veronica Hayes

This photo was taken at the De Marrekrite mooring on the Dokkumer Ee waterway. We are looking southwards towards Leeuwarden and another heavy band of rain and wind is moving through.  This one missed us but the next one made sure to well and truly get us! And to wash the boat for us…

I know I shared this particular photo on my FB page but it's new, I think, to everyone else. This is the Dokkum windmill, Zeldenrust, which we were so fortunate to be able to moor beneath.  This photo was taken at 2150 hours on our first night in Dokkum. A brief respite from the torrential heavy rain, but it was still blowing the proverbial hoolie...  

Photo copyright Veronica Hayes

This next photo has absolutely nothing to do with this cruise but I've thrown it in  for fun. It's the very charming little 'Welcome' gift we received when, back in June, we moored on the outskirts of the village of Wergea. Looking at it reminds me of the kindness and the happy conversation I had with the farmer who owns the land…  

Photo copyright Veronica Hayes

A closer view of the little jachthaven we visited with Pottle on the Lauwersmeer...

Photo copyright Veronica Hayes

This time, Crew has the helm on Pottle. Taken on the little waterway to the village of Sauwerd, just off the Reitdiep…

Look closely and maybe you can see the canoe with the two gals paddling their way in what turned out to be circles. Never found out 'why' but maybe they'd dropped something overboard. Or rescued something. Or some other nice thing happened...

Funny; but I have absolutely no recollection of cruising under this set of power lines. Twice! Focus on the good things, the things that bring you joy…

The other side of little brug and sluis leading to the Reitdiep… we turned to starboard to return to Pirramimma…

We had visitors when we returned to Pirramimma...

Sleepy, hazy, lazy late afternoon sunshine. Taken from our aft deck at our nature mooring on the Reitdiep...

Photo copyright Veronica Hayes

A little later, mother and child paddled swiftly by - intent on finding their evening meal...

Photo copyright Veronica Hayes

The beginnings of another stunning sunset and looking in the other direction. Our visitors had by now moved on in their search for the perfect blade of grass. The reflections in the water entranced me...

Photo copyright Veronica Hayes

Next day and we're moving down the Van Starkenborgh Kanaal towards our next overnight mooring near Earnewald. In the distance, one of the lifting brugs we had just cruised beneath. I love watching our wake and the path we've travelled just as much as I love looking ahead…

Photo copyright Veronica Hayes

Well. How could I resist...

Photo copyright Veronica Hayes

I took so many photos of this sunset but chose these three to show you. Absolutely no filter and no effects for any of them. The skies and the waterways in the Netherlands conspire together to provide the most stunning sunsets and sunrises. What a gift!...

Photo copyright Veronica Hayes

Photo copyright Veronica Hayes

In the photo below, it's possible to just make out the stuurhut of the huge commercial barge which had just passed by. It's almost centre of the photo…

Photo copyright Veronica Hayes.

It's hard to go below decks on evenings such as these! I'm still mesmerised by and still grateful for these fabulous skies and waters. 

Vxx