Hoorn to Enkhuizen - Day 19

Tuesday 21st August 2012 - Hoorn to Enkhuizen - Day 19

Elisabeth

We left Hoorn at 12.00 and hoisted the main at 12.45, there was very little wind so we motor-sailed.  An hour later and we were passing this fine  sailing vessel 'Elisabeth' on her way into Hoorn.

At 14.00 we entered the main buoyed channel which takes you up to the locks which connect the Markenmeer and the Ijsselmeer across which stretches a very long dam connecting both sides of Holland.

Naviduct Lock

We arrived in the lock at 14.45 and the gates closed behind us and we were only inside for about ten minutes as the water level only dropped about 100 mm.  We arrived in Enkhuizen Compagnieshaven and in or box at 15.15.
On the passage up from Hoorn we had noticed water coming into the engine compartment bilge space and traced this to a leaking stern gland.  The electric bilge pump fitted last year was not up to job of pumping it out.

Enkhuizen

I packed the stern gland with grease while Bill went off to his favourite shop the chandlers and purchased more grease and a new bilge pump. The new pump was fitted and it was time to go ashore.

This is a very pretty town with lots of fine buildings built during the days when this was one of the main trading ports on the Zuiderzee.

Bill's bridge

We found a wonderful restaurant called 'Van Bleiswijk' and a meal of onion soup, plaice fillets and beef satays really filled us up.  The local Irish bar 'The Dubliners' was small and noisy while upstairs in the 'Schiffdifj' was nice but smoky.  Most of them seemed to be smoking inside the pub, we cannot understand this as we are all supposed to adhere to the EU regulations on smoking in public places.  We finished off in the 'Tankerikj' pub next to the very impressive now lit up tower and lifting bridge.  We were very impressed with Enkhuizen

Volendam to Hoorn - Day 18

Monday 20th August 2012 - Volendam to Hoorn - Day 18

In the office at 09.00 still no spare parts, Bill went to the shop and made breakfast, I plodded on with the blogsite.

New parts fitted

At 11.30 the parts were hand delivered and we had a cup of tea to celebrate.
Between 12.00 and 14.00 we fitted the new exhaust pipe elbow with flexible from the thermostat.  A new stop solenoid was fitted and a successful engine trial was completed.
We said our goodbyes to the marina staff who had really looked after us over the past five days.

At 14.45 we left Volendam with the full genoa unfurled at 15.00 and passing GZ2 buoy hoisted the full main and popeye (auto-helm)  engaged.

At 15.30 the engine was stopped and we were sailing, at last.

Hoorn

The wind from the west force 3 to 4 and on a beam reach with a calm sea we were making 5 to 5 1/2 knots and in the warm sunshine it was most satisfying.
At 17.30 were in our box in Hoorn and informed by the harbour master it was the last day of the town's fair and most of youngsters were on the drink.
We went ashore at 19.30 to find all of the pubs and restaurants which I knew were all closed.  Bill could not believe I had brought him to a port with no pubs.

When we arrived at the town square it was a mess, there was discarded plastic mugs everywhere.  While all chairs had been removed to  inside the bars and the music was once again too much for us.  The fair ground was shutting down as we looked for somewhere to find refreshment and found a hotel with comfortable chairs outside where they actually served beer in a proper glass.  They told us the town was shut down between 16.00 and 20.00 to allow the place to be cleaned up after the fair.
Strolling back to the harbour we found a very friendly bar open and had an excellent conversation with the locals and dined again on toasties.  We were back on board just after midnight and pleased we had made another port and enjoyed the company of the local inhabitants.

Volendam - Days 14;15;16;17

Thursday 16th August 2012 - Volendam - Day 14

Prior to the arrival of the engine spare parts we slackened back the exhaust pipe nuts and clips and cleaned out all of the engine compartment.  At the nearby chandlers, purchased a boom tent and bungees, these cost more than the tent, where is Wilkinsons when you need one.

Tugboat, Jack, Alex

At 18.00 we went ashore to the local restaurant 'Pieterman's' and had beers on the terrace until 20.00, then we went inside for a meal. It consisted of home made soups, steaks and mussels.  The biggest amount of spare ribs you have ever seen and these could not be finished.  The waiter knew and brought a doggy bag.
We finished off in the boom-boom bar 'Nautico' next door and were back on board for 23.30 having survived our first day's wait.


Friday 17th August 2012 - Volendam - Day 15

Boom Tent

Awake at 05.15 and went ashore with Jack to catch the 06.00 bus to Amsterdam station and the 07.20 train to the airport.  For me it was back to bed.  At 09.00 checked at the marina office if the spares had arrived. but they had not.
The weather was warming up and the boom tent came into its own, as it kept the temperature down in the cabin.

Windmill

I went to do the laundry in the excellent facilities and while waiting for the washer and drier to do its stuff, I sat on a nearby park bench looking over the windmill and read my book on the Frisian Islands.  Bill went to his favourite shop the chandlers then had our afternoon nap.

At 18.00 we tried to get into the posher 'Borkkum' restaurant near to the marina but they said they were fully booked, strange as there was only a dozen people in there, obviously they did not encourage beer drinkers. So it was back to the 'Pieterman' and 'Nautico' for beer and toasties.

Saturday 18th August 2012 - Volendam - Day 16

Volendam Harbour

Bill went to the supermarket then we had a cooked breakfast of eggs, bacon and tomatoes.  At the office still no sign of the spares.  It was very hot with a cloudless sky the temperature was 32 degrees.  We lazied around, sleeping, reading, getting to grips with the blogsite.  There was a welcome relief when the girls from the  marina came round with cool bags and handed out ice lollies which was very much appreciated.

At 18.15 we went on our 15 minute walk to the old town and found 'Gerrie's' air conditioned bar and what a relief.  Here we met a Scottish protestant minister and some character, as he related his stories of his 8 years spent in Holland.  We moved onto the harbour which was absolutely heaving with youngsters having a great time drinking and smoking happy baccy.  The noise coming from some of the bars was deafening but we were not to out done and found 'Motje' an excellent place.  The staff gave us a running commentary on the town while the karoke was starting to get into swing.  These Dutch people certainly know how to enjoy life and we left them to it around midnight after having a great evening out.

Sunday 19th August 2012 - Volendam - Day 17

Volendam

It was once more very hot and sultry and being Sunday there was no delivery of spares.
At 14.00 we went into town to the main supermarket then down to the harbour where again it was full of visitors.  The boat trips, souvenir shops, bars and restaurants were all very busy.  We went back to our air conditioned bar 'Gerrie's' where our Scottish minister was recovering from his previous night excesses, a very funny wee man.  We went for fish and chips before ending up in 'Motje's'.  We got there for 19.30 and the entertainment consisted of two alternative singers and they were very good.  The old time music was none stop and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.  The happy go lucky atmosphere was great as we warmed to all in there and joined in the fun.  We being sensible decided to call it a day at 22.00 and returned to the marina just before the thunder and lightening started.  We hoped it would pour down but there was only light thundery showers which did clear the air just a little bit.

Volendam to Edam to Volendam - Day 13

Wednesday 15th  August 2012 - Volendam - Edam - Volendam - Day 13

In the morning we completed some of the latest maintenance jobs, lubricated the engine control bowden cables.  The fuel tank replenished and fuel purchased. At the local chandlers purchased the charts I needed for the Frisian Islands also a new switch for the fridge and fitted.  Jack's flights were sorted out on the marina office computer.

At 12.45 we left Volendam on passage for Edam which was only 2 mile away.  It is shallow around this area and we kept to the channel with the entrance to Edam very narrow it is tricky but once inside we managed to find a berth next to a small cafe.

Rigged engine stop

Unfortunately, the engine would not stop on the key switch due to the stop solenoid being burnt out.  Not wanting to stop by shutting off the fuel and having to reprime, the ofending solenoid was removed and with a stick managed to stop the engine.  From the photo can be seen how the stick was slashed for a permanent look until a new one could be obtained.

Crack in engine exhaust

While working on the stop it was noticed we had developed a rather large crack in the exhaust pipe elbow, and not wanting to travel far in this condition a few decisions had to be made.
A phone call to the Bukh engine agents in the UK, we ordered up a new exhaust and stop solenoid with delivery up to three days.  We made a decision to return to Volendam with a safe berth, phoning the marina to book a place and await the parts.
It was a hot day and we used the cafe on the quay sitting on a bench opposite Selene eating an ice-cream while we contemplated how this was going to effect our holiday.

We were back in Volendam by 17.30 not going ashore until 21.00 the local restaurant stopped serving so we had beer and crisps.  Next door in the now quiet boom-boom bar we finished off with beer and toasties.
It had not been a good day

Amsterdam to Volendam - Day 12

Tuesday 14th August 2012 - Amsterdam to Volendam - Day 12

Awake by 06.00 and ashore with Alfie, we took the ferry to the central station and he caught the 07.20 train to the airport.  Thank you Alfie for all of the help in getting to Holland and the good company.

Amsterdam Canals

I now had a few hours to kill while waiting for the next crew member to join.  I had found the address of a couple of chart suppliers which were situated on the main street opposite the station.
I strolled along here in the morning sunshine watching the people busily going off to their work.
Both of these suppliers did not open until 10.00 so I ambled off in the direction of Dam Square through the red light district and passing the process of cleaning up the arena after the night's excesses.

Church

Near to this church in a cafe I breakfasted on eggs and salad.  Behind the church is Anne Frank's house and I could not believe at this time in the morning, the number of people in line wanting to go inside.  Strolling back to Dam Square, I received a text from my new crew member that he was on the train from the airport.  I hurried on down to the station and met Bill (Tuboat) from the Tallships as he came off the train.  We went to the ferry and were on board in Sixhaven by 10.30  and left the marina at 11.30.

We re-traced our course out into the canal, through the Oranjesluizen locks and the lifting bridge and back into the Markenmeer.  Past Marken lighthouse we altered course directly for Volendam and entered the new marina just south of the town and were in our box at 16.45.  We motored all the way from Amsterdam as there was little wind and travelled 14 miles.

It is a fifteen minute walk into the old harbour and the quayside is full of bars and restaurants where there was lots of visitors.  We had a meal in the 'Lotje' restaurant which was of such large proportions we could not finish it all.  Quite a few of the bars were very, very noisy so we strolled back to the marina to find the nearest one to the marina was absolutely full and the noise unbelievable and become known to us as the boom-boom bar.  We all had a long enjoyable day and were all in bed before midnight.

Huizen to Amsterdam - Day 11

Monday 13th August 2012 - Huizen to Amsterdam - Day 11

We departed Huizen at 10.45 and by 11.00 we were in the main channel with a strong breeze and for running downwind put 2 reefs in the main and full genoa.

Hollandse Brug

By 12.30 we were approaching the bridges but this time as more of a challenge we sailed under them.  Shortly afterwards the wind began to drop so we hoisted the full main which unfortunately began to blanket the genoa, although running goose-winged for a while this did not maintain our speed.

Cruising chute

At 13.00 it was time to break out the cruising chute as seen in the picture. Of all the other yachts around us there was only two others who were capable of sailing with their chutes.  We used this for two hours down the main channel then it was time to take everything in as we approached the Schelling-Wouderbrug lifting bridge.  It was not too long before it opened and we were in the Oranje Sluizen locks by 16.00.  We moved into Sixhaven at 17.00 just before the rush and our friendly harbour master put us in a position where we would not be disturbed too much.
Alongside us he put a small charter yacht, skippered by a German church minister and his son and he was about to take his son to see the night life of Amsterdam.

The Eye

At night we stayed on the north side but our local pub and pizza place were closed.
We found a nearby newly opened restaurant called 'Cafe Modern' where they only did a five course meal.  This gourmet meal was very tasting and consisted of fish pie; veal; fish soup; lamb; sorbet.  It was also very expensive at 50 euros a head but we did enjoy it.  For a night cap we to 'The Eye' as seen in the picture is the latest building in Amsterdam and is a cinema which also incorporates a film museum.  We sat outside on the terrace enjoying the fine view over the city.  A walk around the inside of the building was a pleasure to see all this fine architecture and the layout is stunning and at night is lit up to create a very modern look.  This rounded off a very special day and we were back on board for midnight.

Almere to Huizen - Day 10

Sunday 12th August 2012 - Almere to Huizen - Day 10

Most of the morning was spent trying to arrange tickets for Alfie on the computer for him to travel home.
At 12.00 we went back to the marina club for bacon and eggs while the harbour master gave good information to our next port.

Huizen

Huizen is just across on the mainland and only 3 miles from Almere.  We left at 13.15 and once more there were a lot of boats out on the water.
The breeze had picked up in the afternoon and bringing the boat into the visitors lay by was a little difficult.  At the office, I requested because of the weather conditions for an easy box and this was granted and it is was not a hassle putting 'Selene' into her allotted berth.

Restaurant

A walk from where we were staying is another marina where we came upon this unusual restaurant  which was once a kiln.  We did not dine here but at another called 'De Haven van Huizen'.  Inside it was very old fashioned and welcoming with a decor of wooden panels, furniture, brass and potted plants.  We had a meal of tomato soup, and beef steak, this was very enjoyable.  There was no where else open and we returned to the boat at 22.30 after a short walk along the beach.
I managed to read the first chapter of my book on the Frisian Islands.