Enkhuizen to Amsterdam - Day 30

Saturday 1st September 2012 - Enkhuizen to Amsterdam - Day 30

Harnessing the wind

We left Enkhuizen at 09.30 and in the Navidad lock a quarter of an hour later. By 10.30 we were under full sail and heading south down the Markenmeer.  It was a fine day and lots of boats were out on the water taking advantage of the weather.  Lots of races were going on in different parts including one which involved the traditional barges which look so impressive compared to their modern counterparts

Party time on the water

An unusual boat we saw is this one in the photograph of people enjoying themselves in this boat covered in the national flag and ballons which kept floating off.  By 16.00 we had made our to the bottom of the Markenmeer and passed through the lifting bridge and moved onto the lock.
This was entertainment on a grander scale as it was a Saturday. When most boat charter companies handed over their boats to the new holiday makers and most appear by their actions to be new to boating.

Oranjesluizen lock

They pack as many leisure boats into the lock as possible.  These first timers trying to fend off other boats, tying up to the lock wall or other boats, with a lot shouting from others.  We just smile in encouragement and the look of amazement on their faces when they eventually stop the boat from moving is very satisfying.  When the lock gate opens they all go charging out, pass us with a friendly wave to our British flag and I hope they all enjoy their holiday.  They all looked as they were heading for the Sixhaven marina so we re-entered the Aeolus marina and lay alongside their quieter pontoons.
Time for a bit of maintenance, the stern tube was packed with grease and the fuel tank topped up.  Jack went off to the ferry and the delights of the big city while I carried on with this blogsite and at 23.00 went to the nearest bar 'Cafe T Eitje'.  I had been here two years previous on the Tallship for the five day Sail Amsterdam Festival and we used this bar every night.  It was good to see the Owner again as we chatted about the old times and what the future held for us both.  She said the bar is now up for sale and the local Dutch have moved away to be replaced by immigrants, so she is looking forward to retirement and I wish them well and will pass on her regards to all the sailors who had been well looked after two years ago.

  

Stavoren to Enkhuizen - Day 29

Friday 31st August 2012 - Stavoren to Enkhuizen - Day 29

In the early hours of the morning the lightening and rain began and by 05.00 it was blowing a full gale.

Stavoren harbour

With fellow sailors in the marina, we waited for this frontal system to blow its way through.  The leaden skies, torrential rain and howling wind did not fill us with confidence but after many cups of tea by 14.00 the skies began to brighten.  Following the forecasts we knew the wind would eventually decrease and we left the marina at 16.45.  We only had twelve miles to run to our next port with the wind behind us.  Outside the harbour it was now force 5 and keeping to the buoyed channel we yawed our way along with only half of the genoa out.  An hour later and as predicted the wind began to drop.

On our way to Enkhuizen

At 19.00 we were in our previous box at Enkhuizen.  An hour later we were in the same restaurant as last time 'Van Bleiswijk' with another very good meal of onion soup and pork fillets.  It being a Friday night there was a lot people about and a market held in the narrow streets was still going on, with the stalls open for business after 22.00.  On the way back we called into another two places both full of character.  The locals were certainly making the most of the start of the weekend and we were very happy we had made it across to the other side of the Ijsselmeer and a little nearing to Amsterdam.

Lelystad to Stavoren - Day 28

Thursday 30th August 2012 - Lelystad to Stavoren - Day 28

After seeing the harbour master and discussing the forthcoming weather, he confirmed it would be acceptable to proceed further north before the next frontal system would be upon us.

Lelystad power station

We left the Deko marina at 11.00 and taking advantage of the strong southerly breeze soon had Popeye (auto-helm) engaged and under full sail.
Oncemore on a broad reach with a slight sea and on this sunny day, we were achieving 7 knots.
While enjoying all of this, I received a phone call at 13.15 from Dave Kirkman and made arrangements for him to join when we next arrived in Amsterdam.
At 14.00 we had to put two reefs in the main and half-furled the genoa, as the wind increased force 4 to 5.  By 16.30 we were in our box in Stavoren's Buitenhaven marina.

Stavoren canal

At 17.00 came the heavy rain and the accompanying thunder.  At 20.00 the weather had calmed down, as we strolled along past the canals of Stavoren.  It is wonderful, how you can park your own boat outside your own front door.  We made for a restaurant in the old harbour where I had been before but they had stopped serving meals and we were directed back to one we had just passed 'It Hearehus'.  Another beautiful wooden structure where we had a superb bucket of mussels with chips and salad.  For night caps into the 'Max' bar with its great old paintings and wooden furniture, of which, one table was made out of a sailing barge's dagger-board.  When we returned to the boat and there was very little wind.

Amsterdam to Lelystad - Day 27

Wednesday 29th August 2012 - Amsterdam to Lelystad - Day 27

I was up at 07.45 to get the Dutch shipping weather forecast at 08.05 and it was not good with too much wind in the north sea to make a crossing back to the UK.  There was another British yacht in the marina and they gave us all the information we required on Lelystad, as they had been in Holland for the past three months.

Sluices between Markenmeer and Ijsselmeer

After shopping in the near by supermarket we left the Aeolus marina at 10.30.  Out of the Oranjesluizen locks at 11.00 and straight through the lifting bridge and by 11.30 we were back in the Markenmeer.  With Popeye engaged and under full sail with a fair wind behind us we looked forward to a pleasant afternoon sailing with the engine turned off at 12.00.  On a broad reach we were attaining a speed of 6.5 knots and thoroughly enjoying the sail.  At 14.00 we heard a very load explosion which came from the shore to the east and hoped it was a gunnery exercise.

Modern art

At 15.15 we started taking in the sails, as we approached our destination and the engine started.
At the breakwater entrance to the harbour is this rather large statue of a person in a squatting position, very strange but I suppose its art.
We had to go round and round inside the harbour as we waited for the green light for the locks as on the east side of the dyke, this lock is used at the same time by commercial and leisure craft.

Houtribsluizen lock and bridge

We were in the lock at 16.00 and through the combined lifting bridge by 16.15.  A little further on and we were tied up in the Deko marina at 17.00.  The main town centre of Lelystad is two miles to the south.  We did not want to go that far and strolled along for 15 minutes before finding somewhere to have a meal and we were not disappointed.  We passed the open air museum and workshops of a replica 17th century sailing ship the Dutch East Indiaman 'Batavia'.

Batavia

The restaurant 'De Cantine' was once part of ship building dock being the workers' canteen and meeting place.  This wooden hut was full of the memorabilia of a bygone age with many photographs of the hut in its heyday.  Still serving meals we found the onion soup, entrecote steak and beef satay excellent.  The place was beginning to close at 22.00 and we were back on board by 22.30 after having for a change, a very pleasant day sailing.

Amsterdam - Days 25 & 26

Monday 27th August 2012 - Amsterdam - Day 25

A quiet berth

In the morning Bill went to the supermarket which was just outside the marina gate while I carried on with the computer.  The motor cruiser we were lying alongside left at 11.00 and we said our goodbyes to the German family on board and their dog.  We spent a lazy afternoon reading and sleeping in the warm sunshine.
At 18.00 we spent ashore and after a 15 minute walk got the free ferry across the canal to Amsterdam.  This time we headed off in a different direction and turned right after leaving the Central Station.

Aeolus Marina Club House

This side of the city is just the same, crowded with visitors.  Bars with strange people inside and noisy music and it appears lots are smoking the happy baccy, as you smell it everywhere you go.
We were back on the ferry to the north side by 21.00 and we went to a bar we used to use when here on the tallship two years ago but it was closed.
Back to our marina club house where we another good night and finished off with night caps on board.



Tuesday 28th August 2012 - Amsterdam - Day 26

Amsterdam Station

We cleaned the boat in the morning as Bill was leaving today.  At 13.00 we went for the ferry and  to a corner bar for the last time just outside the station.  We said our farewells  as he boarded the 15.20 train to Schipol airport.  Thanks again Bill for all of the support during the past two weeks.
I went back into the city centre doing some shopping and the streets were packed.  This is certainly a mecca and must be one the most popular cities in Europe.  I was on board by 17.00 and made myself a meal.

Ferry

I was back on the ferry to the Central station at 21.00 and met the re-joining crew member Jack from the yacht club.  His train pulled in at 22.10 and like old times he wanted to go into the big city.
We ambled along and took in all the sights until arriving at the 'Old Sailor' pub in the heart of the red light district.  Again, the whole area is absolutely full of people, mostly tourists enjoying and taking part in the scenery.  We tried a few more places on the way back to the ferry and arrived on board for 01.00 and finished off with fruity malt loaf and tea.  Jack was back.

Monnickendam to Amsterdam - Day 24

Sunday 26th August 2012 - Monnickendam to Amsterdam - Day 24

Monnickendam canals

Watered and filled up the fuel tank while Bill made breakfast of fried bread, bacon, eggs and beans (we do live well).
At noon we left Monnickendam and with the full genoa we made our way out of the Gouzee and the weather was fair with sunshine and a little westerly breeze.
We had made plans to go a place called Muiden only twelve miles away on the other side of the Markenmeer.

Marken Lighthouse

At 13.15 we were passing the lighthouse on Marken island and the clouds were starting to build up.  Fifteen minutes later the wind was increasing and as we shortened sail the gusts began to hit us and boat was well heeled over, then the rain came and we were drenched very quickly.  For the next two hours these squalls kept battering us.  We were about one mile off Muiden and abandoned going inside the narrow entrance onto a lee shore and came about to try and find shelter.  We looked at Durgerdam on the other shore but this was also discounted and we decided to head for Amsterdam.

At 16.00 we were under the Schelling-Wouderburg lifting bridge and inside the Oranjesluizen locks 10 minutes later.

Amsterdam Cruise Terminal

Once in the Nordzee Canal the strong winds began to ease down and just before the marina on the opposite shore were these cruise liners.  Cunard's 'Queen Victoria' and P&O's 'Oceana'.
At 17.00 we were alongside a motor cruiser in the Aeolus marina where the harbour master was most helpful.  We were ashore in North Amsterdam by 18.30, unfortunately being a Sunday most of it was closed.  We did find one bar but the beer was very poor so we came back the little club house in the marina. Spending the rest of the night with the harbour master and his wife plus three sailors from a Belgian yacht.  We were happy to be back in Amsterdam in a nice quiet marina.

Monnickendam - Day 23

Saturday 25th August 2012 - Monnickendam - Day 23

Its raining

At 09.45 we were woken up by a young lady on a bicycle who delivered in a basket, two tea cakes and the weather forecast. A lovely wake up call.
Bill went off to the supermarket while I tried to sort out the communications problems with the internet and unfortunately did not succeed.
The weather forecast prediction came into fruition in the afternoon, the wind came out of the north west with accompanying heavy showers which rolled in and times were torrential, our tent was earning its keep again.

Narrow winding cobbled streets

We lazed around, reading until going ashore at 19.00 to the four seasons restaurant.  The starters of spring rolls and spare ribs we enjoyed but the rack of lamb main courses were not up to our usual standard as the meat was under-cooked.  We ended up in the 'Koffiebon' bar watching a football match on the tele  in which Ajax won 5-0.
The small winding streets and little canals of Monnickendam are enchanting with the fairy lights strung across the small wooden lifting bridges.  How people manage to get there little boats on the canals outside there houses must be a joy to watch.  It is again the cleanliness of these places which really catches your attention