21 June 2013
Having an internet day today. Thursday night on the east coast, Bill's radio club has a check in and he can reach that over the air by computer link. So, 2am he gets up and starts the computer for the day. The per byte cost is hugely prohibitive, but we're found a plan where once we've hit about $6 in charges they stop charging for the rest of the day. We just use it as much as we want that day and call it internet day for the week. Today is a good day for it, grey and rainy. Reminds us of the first year in Haarlem where it poured nearly every day. We'll probably just spend the day mostly in and save the city crawls for later when (if??) the weather improves. We're still not sure where we go from here, though I'm trending toward north - either cross the IJ river and head north of Amsterdam, or maybe east and then north into Friesland if we're feeling brave and ready for a really active summer. I love Friesland, Jeannet remembers it was the first place we wanted to go the first time I visited over 20 years ago. Very small, very country, very peaceful. Hopefully I can get this posted, will come back with photos once (if) we get that figured out. Tot ziens y-all and take care of yourselves.
20 June 2013
Just arrived Haarlem. Probably the least pleasant (noisiest, busiest) mooring we've had here, but also probably the most convenient. Right across from the nice, quiet mooring last year, but this side has a major road, no shade (good we've got our own), and the noise of a major intersection under construction as well as the road.
I seem to have lost the entry I had prepared from our trip to Leiden last Saturday. It was the Kempers spring weekend where they offer a day on the water in volunteer boats to folks with handicaps and their caregivers. It started out as a thoroughly miserable day, rain, horrible winds. The windy days here have probably been the worst we've seen in 4 years. However, as we prepared to leave for a bus trip to Leiden to deal with computer issues, the sun came out, the wind - well, it didn't die down much at all, but at least it was almost bearable - and for about 8 hours it was a cool but lovely day. Their day ended, we walked back from the bus stop, and about that time all the nasty weather picked up again and we had the rest of our worst day here ever.
So, computer problems sort of solved, we're here in Haarlem. One of our favorite places, good restaurants, interesting stuff, nice markets. We know where the laundromat is (a VERY big deal), and in a pinch I've walked to IKEA. Every year I'm astonished by just how lovely the southern approach to the city along the Spaarn is. Old houses, new, large, small, all with lovely gardens and super-well-taken-care-of. Our present situation is somewhat less spectacular: road with large construction project, including attendant noise. We DO have a rather nice view of the central tower of the St Bavo church out the wheelhouse window. Will include photos at some point so you-all can compare our present circumstances to the very Dutch view from our first year. And I promise that while we're here we'll try again to figure out a way to download photos. Still working on it. Till then, take care everyone ---
PS --For animal lovers, we just had a pet ambulance go by, great idea! And about 4pm the resident swans go on a little daily parade down the river trying to scavange bread bits from the boaters. Feels like we're home.
Friday, June 21, 2013
Monday, June 17, 2013
Leimuiden 17 June 2013
We're still in Leimuiden waiting for the winds to die down a bit before we can leave, probably to Haarlem via Lisse in a day or 3, but after that we have no idea where we're headed. FINALLY got some internet today, -- we hope, -- after a trip to Leiden by bus on Saturday to begin to sort out all the problems and another call to customer service this am. Saturday was the day Kempers has a day where they take handicapped individuals and their caretakers out for a day on the water. Nasty and windy am and evening (evening possibly the worst wind we've ever seen here, trees bent over . . . ) but sunny for the middle of the day. Otherwise, just painting, getting things set up here, doing a rough fitting of the new back deck awning. Biked into Kudelstaart last week for paint and groceries. Other than that, we're still trying to get this new mini computer set up so maybe we can keep in touch. Stay tuned for more, if I can get it uploaded. For now, all take care . . . .
We're still in Leimuiden waiting for the winds to die down a bit before we can leave, probably to Haarlem via Lisse in a day or 3, but after that we have no idea where we're headed. FINALLY got some internet today, -- we hope, -- after a trip to Leiden by bus on Saturday to begin to sort out all the problems and another call to customer service this am. Saturday was the day Kempers has a day where they take handicapped individuals and their caretakers out for a day on the water. Nasty and windy am and evening (evening possibly the worst wind we've ever seen here, trees bent over . . . ) but sunny for the middle of the day. Otherwise, just painting, getting things set up here, doing a rough fitting of the new back deck awning. Biked into Kudelstaart last week for paint and groceries. Other than that, we're still trying to get this new mini computer set up so maybe we can keep in touch. Stay tuned for more, if I can get it uploaded. For now, all take care . . . .
Sunday, June 9, 2013
9 June 2013 Leimuiden
Well, we're here. This year's last minute mini disaster was the computer. It crashed the night before we were leaving and nothing, and I mean nothing, would make it work. We spent the early morning of departure skurrying to buy a stop-gap computer and get it set up to enable us to pay bills, Bill to contact his radio buddies, and do minimal e-mail. Among the things we didn't have time/forgot to do was download the program to transfer photos to the computer for the blog. So, we may have to wait till we return home to add photos. The next issue is that we seem to be in a trough between a bunch of almost mega yachts and new buildings here that is blocking signals. We can't figure out if the problem with internet connection is due to the new computer or the location. So, you out there who actually ready this may be a bit disappointed this time around. I'll do my best to keep the news coming when possible, but so far it's been a real challenge.
We do finally have the phones working, new numbers again this year which is always an irritation. We've been here about 4 days and are nearly settled in. Have been to visit Jeannet. She forgot to renew her driver's license and is thus transportation challenged until she can satisfy the authorities that she's still safe to drive. We had a picnic with her at her summer house. We only had a car for 3 days this year, instead of a week, and did manage to get most of the necessities dealt with. Thank you to all who prayed for warm weather. It's been sunny and warm since we arrived, turning cooler and windy yesterday, and now the sun has disappeared. It's given us an excuse to stay indoors and organize, and most of that is finished. Bill's even gotten his radio set up sooner than he expected. My summer garden is planted. Now we can just relax and watch the other boats going in and out until it turns sunny and warm again (tomorrow or Tuesday) and then we have to get back to work painting and cleaning.
I will do my best to figure out how to load this onto the net and get some photos attached. Tot ziens, y-all
Well, we're here. This year's last minute mini disaster was the computer. It crashed the night before we were leaving and nothing, and I mean nothing, would make it work. We spent the early morning of departure skurrying to buy a stop-gap computer and get it set up to enable us to pay bills, Bill to contact his radio buddies, and do minimal e-mail. Among the things we didn't have time/forgot to do was download the program to transfer photos to the computer for the blog. So, we may have to wait till we return home to add photos. The next issue is that we seem to be in a trough between a bunch of almost mega yachts and new buildings here that is blocking signals. We can't figure out if the problem with internet connection is due to the new computer or the location. So, you out there who actually ready this may be a bit disappointed this time around. I'll do my best to keep the news coming when possible, but so far it's been a real challenge.
We do finally have the phones working, new numbers again this year which is always an irritation. We've been here about 4 days and are nearly settled in. Have been to visit Jeannet. She forgot to renew her driver's license and is thus transportation challenged until she can satisfy the authorities that she's still safe to drive. We had a picnic with her at her summer house. We only had a car for 3 days this year, instead of a week, and did manage to get most of the necessities dealt with. Thank you to all who prayed for warm weather. It's been sunny and warm since we arrived, turning cooler and windy yesterday, and now the sun has disappeared. It's given us an excuse to stay indoors and organize, and most of that is finished. Bill's even gotten his radio set up sooner than he expected. My summer garden is planted. Now we can just relax and watch the other boats going in and out until it turns sunny and warm again (tomorrow or Tuesday) and then we have to get back to work painting and cleaning.
I will do my best to figure out how to load this onto the net and get some photos attached. Tot ziens, y-all
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