Gouda

Gouda     6-21-2012    map coordinates     52^o00’35.65”N   4^o42’11.69”E

Oh my, Tuesday was a glorious day.  We started the engine at 9am and had planned to do a short easy 2 hour trip to Alphen just to get started.  The mooring place we had hoped to use was filled, but we knew that was a possibility so had a couple of second choices.  Thing was, all of them, and I do mean ALL of them, were obstructed by dredging operations.  5 hours later, we arrived in Gouda.  So much for our easy 2 hour trip.  But the beauty was that it all came back.  No panic over uncertainties, no worries about not being in control of the ship, nothing.  The weather cooperated.  It was probably the calmest wind conditions we’ve ever seen here.  It was sunny, with just enough clouds to eliminate glare off the water.  Everything went beautifully and smoothly.  The weather has been fantastic as well.  Warm, or at least warm enough.  Gouda would not have been our first choice of a place to re-visit, but it’s a bit like coming home. 

                We know the schedules, the routines, where everything is. 

  We’re continuing to upgrade the ship, I’ve almost got my summer garden in,

 and there’s a water heritage weekend in the historical harbor through Sunday. 

 Right now, we’re in the middle of a raging storm,  which is actually kind of cozy.  Forecasts are calling for thunder storms, wind gusts of up to 100k/h, possible hail.  Bring it on. 

 By chance we found a nice Italian sparkling rose to have with dinner,  that may have something to do with the mellow mood.  For comic relief, we’re listening to Dutch talk radio and what Bill refers to as Dutch soap opera radio, some kind of crime series.  More later, tot ziens . . . . 

Leimuiden    6-16-2012         map coordinates:    52^o13’41.43”N     4^o40’59.23”E

Well, this morning has been interesting.  We’re still at Kempers.  Depending on the weather, we’ve been working hard and preparing and improving the boat.  Nice days (more so far than last year) we work outside or walk into town or both.  Not-so-nice days, we work inside or hibernate.  About all we have to do now is repair the name on the starboard side, plan our first route, and then wait for a day when weather and wind cooperate so we can start our travels for this summer.  Looks like we’ll be heading east on a path parallel to our track from Gouda to Utrecht last year, then try to meet up with Jeannet somewhere so she can see this boat.  After that, we still have no idea where we’re headed.  But, at least it’s a start.

What’s been interesting about this particular Saturday is all the new boats.  About 7am, all sorts of boats started arriving and almost literally piling up at the repair dock in the marina. 

Big, little, 

new, old,

well kept and a few not-so-much.  Seems this is the 9^th year  that the Westeinderplassen, the lake just south of the Amsterdam airport, has hosted a day where volunteers bring their boats and take folks with physical or mental handicaps and their caregivers out for a day on the lake.  They were hoping for at least 60 boats, and they may well have made their target.   Also later there will be music and dancing in one of the big worksheds.  I’m assuming food as well.  I don’t think we’re going to crash the party, but we’ve been enthusiastically welcoming the participants and cheering them on.  Give the Dutch credit, they do know how to party and they do it often.  Some really gorgeous boats, old and new (I’m partial to the old), 

and they have a rare and beautiful day for it.  Well done!!!

Right now, it looks like Tuesday through Thursday of next week will be decent traveling days, so that’s our tentative plan.  Will have more to report after we start moving.  Best to all, and HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to Adam and Amy!!!!

LEIMUIDEN   6-6-2012

OK we’re back.  It seemed to be a very long trip this year, and it probably didn’t help that our flight didn’t leave Dulles until almost 9pm.  We finally have  phones and internet sorted.  And we've been working our little behinds off. 

First order of business was a bed to sleep on.  Last year we tore out the whole forward sleeping area,

literally down to the hull,

and I spent the whole 8 months between then and now researching the best way to hack IKEA for something to sleep on.  That worked great!, I just didn't manage to calculate for something small like getting the door to the toilet open more than a crack.  We stewed over that for a few hours, then Bill came up with the solution:  who needs a door? (???)  We canabalized a seldom used tablecloth and the toilet now has a curtain  --  and is actually much more pleasant.  The bed is worth it.  Last year we slept on a triangle of mattress that wasn't big enough for one.  Now we have what feels like acres of space.  There's no room for anything else

but who cares???  Of course, making a trip to IKEA to buy the stuff, putting it all together and then figuring out how to make it work took up one very, VERY long Saturday.  Sunday was enforced downtime.  Nothing is open here (from Saturday late pm to Monday mid-day) and it was pouring rain all day, cold and windy, so we hibernated. 

(I did get some weatherstripping up on the doors.)  Monday was the great expedition to buy a refrigerator.    YES!!!!    I FINALLY HAVE ONE!!!!    Got it into the back of the rental car, strongarmed it through the construction zone (Kempers Marina is undergoing major renovation), down the docks and onto the boat without dropping it over the side, and THEN we had to tear out cabinets to make space for it, AND THEN change which side the door opened on.  Without instructions.  Not even in Dutch.  Another very long day, but productive.

Yesterday we went to see Jeannet in Doorn.  Lovely lunch, and I wish I’d taken the camera for photos of the restaurant.  Her daughter, Mirjam, had her wedding and reception there almost 20 years ago.  In the woods, but with a big field to one side that later in the year will be covered in heather.  It’s a 2 story circular building and the conical roof on the second floor is painted blue with a little poem that says “enter sir, enter madam, here the sky is always blue”.  I think we got there as they had just opened for lunch and by the time we left we were almost the last diners out.

 

Today we head for the marine supply store.  The door to the wheelhouse is a mess, so we need supplies to strip and re-varnish that.  A few other things, like trying to swap out the lighting bulbs for LEDs.  Bill wants some ground anchors.  Then just a few minor things and we’ll be waiting for decent weather so we can take off for the summer.   – Of course, there’s still a shower to organize, and the new flooring stored under the bed that we’ll need to install, but I suspect that will be an all-summer-long project that we’ll just work on bit-by-bit.  We’ll see.  ---Tot Ziens