Meerkerk-Amersfoort,via via via

route 2016

Almost at year’s end a last blog to finish the year.

As I pointed out in the first blog this was, barging wise, not our most interesting year. Yet, we have been very busy, which I certainly noticed when going through this year pictures.

Because I do not only write this blog for those who follow it but certainly as a memento for ourselves, here is another overview with lots of pics. 

Starting at Meerkerk we first cruised to Den Bosch and spent a few pleasant days there, as usual. Now that commercial traffic has been banned from traversing through Den Bosch there is lots of space south of the city at Lock 0 (no mistake).

lock 0 in Den Bosch, a big basin of water

Our plan was to go west through the Belgian Kempen, but at the last moment we decided to turn west at an earlier opportunity. We cruised along the Wilhelmina Canal, where we had not been yet, and we have relatives living in Lieshout, so two valid reasons.

it's spring but looks a lot like winter here in Lieshout

We’re talking the end of April, and a sporadic nice day aside, the weather was bleak and cold. Nature reflected this, but also provided nice pictures.
We even had a hailstorm, covering the entire ship like with snow which stayed a while because of the cold.

28 april, the hail stays and the decks look like it snowed

29 april, small coot come looking

Small signs of an upcoming spring could be noticed and in May temperatures went up so we could enjoy the villages and towns along the Wilhelmina Canal and the Jazz festival in Breda.

Jazz festival, it's nice outside and the first rosé with lumps of ice

We even went to Oudenbosch, a pretty little village situated at the end of a two kilometre (narrow and blind) branch of the Wilhelmina Canal. The entrance was so narrow that we had to ring the harbour master to check if there would be room for us and if we could make a U-turn. Both questions were met with positive answers, no problems, good as the alternative would be backing out through that very same canal for again two kilometres.

the harbour in Oudenbosch, beautiful but all a bit small for us

The mooring turned out to be pleasant but we could just fit in because the only other passer-by was so kind as to move back. But no way we could turn around. First we enjoyed the surroundings and after two days we had to back out and there Michel was able - going back and forth a few times, helped by empty moorings in the marina – to turn around. Now, there’s a harbour master for you! It was nice having been there but not again.

Then we were on the wide and open cruising to Antwerp, bunkering gasoil and into the marina. We were lucky that the MAS, the Museum at the Scheldt river, had it’s fifth anniversary, celebrating it with a festival in and around the museum. The marina is situated right next to the museum so we had ring seats watching the fireworks.

From Antwerp onto Ghent where we had arranged a mini rally with fellow bargees. It provided a nice picture of nice looking boats on the Leie river and lots of fun as well.

In the centre of Ghent with your own house,special every time

We then left Ghent in keel line, joined by several other boats all en route for Oostend for the Oostend-at-Anchor festival.

It is a yearly event and for us it was the third time we attended, once every two years. Each time a very pleasant experience.

't Majeur,with the red stripe in front of Oostendes station

The festival was favoured with nice weather but on the day we were leaving the weather was bleak, cold and a stormy wind. After the first lock, onto open water, then passing through a lock entering a huge basin closed of at the other end by a bridge. And there we had to stay, not permitted through the bridge because a WWII bomb had been found that had to be dismantled first. Problem was that there were no proper moorings and as the quay sides were very high up we had problems getting of the ship.

For two days we had very little idea of what was going on. Sirens and police cars was what we noticed. After two days we were informed that the bridge would open just once and that we – there was six of us by that time - had to go through in closed keel line, passing through the next three bridges as well.

We expected to enter into a war zone, nothing of the kind! As soon as we could see the surroundings we found people shopping, walking and biking and life seemed to have continued as usual. We never heard what exactly had been the matter.

awful weather, lee shore and very high quays, brrrrr

in closed keel line through the bridge, but why?????

We, that is ‘t Majeur and our friends from Linquenda, arrived at the Merelbeke locks where we spent the night, moored next to the big boys. Next day we entered the Scheldt river with favourable tide. It was only when we were already in the lock that the lock master told us to be aware of heavy mists on the river, a bit late.
Turning back would be awkward and just after the lock it looked better so we carried on having limited view that got worse, not pleasant but yet another experience.

Linquenda and  't Majeur at lock  Merelbeke, good view

Linquenda and  't Majeur after lock  Merelbeke, different situation

We then cruised directly to Meerkerk where we could, for a longer period, moor on a spot  that was normally the mooring of friends of ours who were cruising. They also had put their house at our disposal.

Lots of space to moor in Meerkerk

It was fun, for once, having a fixed abode in Holland in summer. We had quite a schedule to meet, lots of work was planned and a bit of barging. And, as long as the boat was in Meerkerk we could stay in our friends house.

More or less what did we do:
All woodwork at the pilothouse sanded and lacquered, just regular maintenance.
We could, not living on board, sand and lacquer the floors.

despite the rain work must go on

it shows after all these years

Organising a family party in the garden because of several special birthdays and, very appealing, staying in a house with a garden.

All went according to plan except that last bit because this years month of June was the coldest en wettest since long.

There was just one day we could spent outside entirely and that was the day of the party, pheeeewwww, were we lucky.

everybody hafd fun, each in his own way

the most senior en most  junior of the family party

From Meerkerk we went up and down to Vreeswijk where we were on the slipway at the Museum-shipyard for the seven-year inspection, a kind of MOT, and for regular maintenance.

't Majeur on the slip

we hoisted the crane of to polish it up

putting it back caused the first damage right away

Michel does the upper stuff and on ladders

Rebecca works the sides and from the ground

One important item was the spud pole that had gotten stuck, the problem that had not been solved in April (see this link:spud pole)

The pole again was removed, but this time on dry land so we could inspect the tube’s inside. NOTHING to be seen and nothing had dropped to the ground whilst removing the pole.

Thorough inspection, lots of discussion, everyone had an opinion (all different), so more inspection and discussion. Conclusion: the pole must be a very tiny bit slightly bent but not so that it gets stuck. So, what is the matter? Then, someone had a brilliant idea; fixed on the pole are nylon buttons that prevent the pole from rattling. So if we plane them ever so slightly than – maybe! – this fixes the problem. BINGO, problem solved.
Back to Meerkerk.

the pole is out, nothing to be seen except Michels face down there

eureka they plane the plastic buds

After our stay in Meerkerk we, once again, moved to Vreeswijk, host to a rally of the LVBHB (Society for the Preservation of Historical Barges).

Some two hundred barges were moored on the quays of the Merwede canal and in the historical harbour and there was a 3 day festival. The closure was a 50 ship parade through the Koninginne lock followed by a naval review on the river Lek, watched by viewers on the dike.

the Merwedecanal in Vreeswijk,around 200 barges

naval review on the river Lek

Meanwhile we had decided that we would rather do a bit more of maintenance instead of cruising Holland (no fun in high summer). We had arranged for a prolonged stay in Vreeswijk. By now the weather turned into summer and we had a bit of a holiday feeling.

messing around with a pontoon to bring it over to our mooring place

just like us Panache likes messing around with boats

This gave us plenty of time and we didn’t have to work long days, so we mixed the work with nicer things like visiting friends on their barge in Belgium and barging a while with them and making nice daytrips.

how nice, a bit of barging on the Sambre

a day out and then our picture in the local paper, how do people protect themselfs from the sun

And  then back to hard work in order to

give the aft bathroom a make over

put wheels under the garden because all decks need a proper painting

So we could after that

go to Dordrecht for a few days and enjoy the musicfestival there

Which was followed by

scraping the koekoek bare and put on new coats of lacquer

and not only paint the decks but the bow aswell

This is by far not a complete list of all we did and there is much more to be done. But we renewed our certificate, the barge looks spic and span and we are satisfied.
I said this was the last time I painted the hull but Michel says he might do it again, w'll see.
 
And of course the advantage to being in Holland, rather centrally placed, was meeting with friends and relatives and, not least, being visited by the grandchildren

Quinten en Nathan

And then we decided enough is enough, we had not done all chores (there is always plenty left) but for now it was OK.

We still had some time to spare so we cruised a round over the Hollandse IJssel and back over the river Lek to Vreeswijk.
We had cruised the IJssel in 2010, still remembering it fondly. We remembered correctly, it was fairly narrow requiring lots of manoeuvring, not for us in high season with too many pleasure craft about, but fine in September.

the Hollandse IJssel is narrow as it is but more so when ther are lots of tucks moored  because of a reunion

in the outer harbour of Schoonhoven

Finally, by the river Vecht, back to our wintermooring in the Eemhaven Amersfoort.
We picked up our winter activities and enjoy winters life to the full.
For instance, taking the car to the Moselle river in Germany, as we have still not been there by boat. We really enjoyed the beautiful colours of autumn and some very special castles.

beautiful clors, the grapes have been picked but leaves are still there

We are now preparing for next seasons trip, buying maps, planning the route and reading books. What we had in mind is actually going to happen: going to Germany, especially the lakes around Berlin and Berlin itself.

More on this subject in next years blogs, when I can report on a region that is new territory to us.

For now, I wish all my followers a happy New Year and see you then!

New boating seazon 2016/ Amersfoort-Meerkerk

And suddenly we were en route for two weeks already, about time to write the first blog for 2016.

After a busy winter on the quay in Amersfoort it’s nice to cruise again and to enjoy the outdoor life.

Below you’ll find the itinerary we planned for the 2016 cruising season.

Like every year we had a busy social life, meeting friends and family; it is always a lot of catching up after the summer. And we enjoy the possibilities of going to a movie, having dinner in town and to easily do the shopping you need.

As always there had been a few highlights, some good some bad, part of the deal.

Positive were our sons engagement to his Stephanie and the birth of our second grandson, Quinten Michel. He is doing fine now after a difficult start.

Nathan and Quinten

And of course all our moments with the grandchildren are great.

We will miss them all during summer and we can already look forward to our winter activities.

visit with Nathan to the fair and with Quinten to the pub

It was soon obvious that we had left town. The nights are dark because there are no street lights, it’s very quiet ‘cause no brawlers and even the neighbours look quite different.

 

nice quiet folk

Just before we left Amersfoort we could enjoy The Passion (a spectacle where they perform the story using Dutch popsongs), performed this year in the Eem harbour, right in front of us.

It took a week to build the stage and everything, which caused the neighbours discomfort and noise, then an hour and a half performance and then again a few days to take it all down.

It gave us a few nice pictures though.

the preparations

the result

The day we left, our daughter Malka and her family accompanied us a while. Her being a proper sea scout she couldn’t resist to neatly put the lines away. Worth a picture, for we won’t see that again soon; I’ve never been a sea scout.

looks yaughty

Via de Vecht we cruised to Vreeswijk at a leisurely pace. This June the ship has to be taken out of the water there for a regular check, Now we only went there to moor on the quay so the crane could lift our spud pole.

One of the last times we moored last year we noticed that the pole didn’t go down properly. We assumed that something was stuck down below, a stick or such and we further assumed that lifting the pole would set it straight so we would never know what it had been as it would drop in the water.

Alas, it wasn’t that simple; we did find a dent in the pole (quite a feat to get that) but smoothing it out and checking that the pole was dead straight were of no avail.

So we put the pole back and when in June we’re out of the water we can check the tube from underneath to find out what is causing all this. Until then it is an enigma.

This years cruising plans are not very extensive as we will spend part of the summer working on the ship, partly in dry dock, on the Museumwerf in Vreeswijk.

We will now cruise, via Den Bosch and the Belgian Kempen, to Ghent, where we have booked a mooring for a week and then we will continue to Ostend.

Like in 2012 and 2014 we are participants of the Ostend-at-Anchor festival, each time a feast.

After that we go back to Holland to attend a few important birthdays and then be dry docked at the end of June.

At the end of July we will participate in VreeswijkVolVooruit, another festival like Ostend but then in Vreeswijk. Never done that before but we think it will be fun.

The remaining time of the summer we will cruise around in the Netherlands, likely it will be in Zeeland, as we have not been there before with the boat, and the Hollandsche IJssel as it is such fun to cruise.

More about that in the next episodes, wishing everyone a good Spring and Summer with nice weather, so we will have that too. In any case, today was the first time we could open the roof.

still quit windy but at least there is sun

We already made it to Meerkerk for the first time, a good spot to do some necessary chores.

ship cleaning

repotting plants that survived the winter

Dole to Amersfoort and the end of the cruising season

the last leg

From Gray-on-the- Saône we sailed back to Dole, because we would be meeting family there. As we waited for them we spent a lovely week there, beneath a monumental church, so no complaints about the view.
While we were there a whole day long there was a triatlon for different categories, small and big.
A lot happened, on one site of the boat they swam past on the other site they came by bike or running

all day long swimmers past the barge view on 't Majeur and Dagens II from the church tower

During the summer we are roaming, but part of a small community of people who live likewise.

Part of the fun is that you never know if and whom you’ll run into around the bend. Sometimes it’s a really big surprise; in Dole we moored for a few days next to friends of ours who were there already with their ship Dagens II. So we keep friendships alive.

On their boat I learned to felt, something I had wonted to do for a long time. The neighbour sent me home with a bag full material to go on, a winter activity I look forward to.

Rebecca learns to felt

We had about 100 K ahead on the river Saône and after that some 219 K of canal, including 62 locks (up) and 47 (down); in other words crossing a mountain.

Our problem now was not so much getting in a time squeeze, but we ran the risk  of a closure of the canal. We had received some information about an imminent closure – it was already closed for ships with a water draught over 1,2M -  and we wanted to be in that canal before that. We figured ‘they’ would not close it on us, so once we were in we could get through (turning is not a good option, given our length).

On arrival they didn’t even ask after our depth and everything seemed okay. Not really so, as we were bothered by low water levels. When cruising we had to stick to the centre line – sufficient depth – and mooring was most of the time out of the question as we couldn’t get to the shore. Only a limited amount of proper moorings were available.

The day after we got out of the canal they closed it down, we were the last big ship to have gone over the top, the summit was closed now in both directions.

little room left if the sides are like this

most mooring places are impossible or difficult to get to

There was though one advantage. As from the start of our itinerary we knew that here we had to navigate our lowest passage where we could pass, but there was no margin, so we hoped for no foul-ups. 

Well, as can be seen from the picture we had, due to the water level, lots of margin.

On the Saône there were a few locks with a kind of rear view mirror, placed there for the benefit of the lock keepers, in the olden days. It gives you a nice pic of your own boat in a lock which we rarely see as we are always on board.

mirror, mirror on the wall.......

the lock fills with water

Just like the other photo that I could make from the lock doors because the distance between locks there is so small that I could walk ahead. Here you can see the water swirling round the ship as the lock is filled. Sometimes so forceful that the ship rocks against the walls.

In this canal there is a tunnel with an entrance so narrow and curvy, it is just knowing that the so much bigger peniches have passed before us that gives us the courage to go forward. It always looks narrower and smaller than it really is. 

the way to the tunnel de Savoyeux

In the olden days this canal was used by cargo carrying peniches, but they are gone; now it’s just pleasure craft.

The disappearance of commercial shipping from the smaller canals of course has its repercussions for the villages along the canals. The dilapidated buildings carry witness.

Although it is a sad thought and a bleak view, some buildings are beautiful, even when decayed.

In the Netherlands a dilapidated factory would have been demolished but here – luckily – it is allowed to stay.

Meanwhile September had begun, the days had shortened, evenings were chilly.

We heard and saw more trees being cut and the wood piles were built up.

Preparations for winter that were not foremost in our mind. We had just left the ‘canicule’ (heat wave) behind us.

Wood piles getting bigger

Along the way we meet all kinds of boats, some of which really stick out, where the owners have done their best to build a one-of-a-kind, sometimes very ingeniously like this one.

caravan on the ferry

An old ferry where the owners roll on their caravan and go cruising, home-aboard. When they are done cruising they go and pick up their car and hitch the caravan, thus mixing cruising and driving.

Panache had developed a curious habit this summer, we haven’t a clue as to why (heat stroke?) or how but he became so obsessed that it became worrying.

the behaviour of a junkie

still a junkie behind the barricade

Both during cruising and when moored he stood like a statue, just over the exhaust, staring at the water and he wouldn’t budge. Even when walking ashore he returned like a shot, when given the chance, to stand there. In the end we blocked that particular spot so at least he was not hanging over the fumes. It is better now, but still peculiar.

After the Canal des Vosges we went via Toul to the Canal de Meuse, the first leg of the Meuse river.

Here the low water levels still bothered us, but less and less and it was over as we finally entered the river proper.

We still were cruising a part of France we didn’t know, so we came to new – to us, that is – towns like Sedan and Verdun. Sedan houses the biggest castle of Europe, very imposing.

We had already heard many stories about Verdun, as WWI had a huge impact on this region and left its mark. The memories are still very much visible.

We made a tour on our scooter of these monuments and found it very impressive.

Goose pimples when you’re standing next to the domes, where they housed the cannon, looking at the beautiful sloping hills. First we had been underneath this dome where it was visible how the soldiers had their bivouac there, how senseless parties fought each other and how bomb shelled and desolate the landscape had looked then.

so so many white crosses

many ditches can be seen in the woods

Although we had been bothered by low water levels, there’s been many a period when the levels were so high that the consequences have been dire.

On a lock on the Meuse they visualised how high up the levels have been in the past; looking at it you can imagine the problems that were caused for the area.

and these are only the recent ones

We had planned to stop for a few days in Fumay, just short of the French-Belgium border. Here we were back on known territory and we knew there is a nice quay where you can do a bit of work. And you can shop, last stop in France, and use up the French internet data.

On arrival it turned out we were not the only ones that had had these thoughts and we found a few bigger boats there, all people we knew. 

It looked like an impromptu rally and this is what it looked like.

photo Carol Greenwood / 't Majeur, la Tulipe, Esme, Quo Vadis

As we had done this stretch of the Meuse before, the view was not so much a surprise any more, but cruising underneath these huge slabs of rock is still very imposing, quite a change from the scenery we had seen previous months.

makes you feel small

We were surprised, though, when we found that the sunken ship in the Meuse was still there, as it was a few years ago; do they imagine it to be a tourist sight?

judging by the wheelhouse it must have been a big boat

Just south of Dinant you sail underneath the Charlemagne highway; spotting a busy carriageway up there makes you aware that cruising is done in a different world.

upper- and lowerworld

During  a short stay in Namur our grandson came to visit us with his parents, a real joy to see him (well, all three actually :-)) after so many months.

Just before the Belgian-Dutch border we were boarded by the Belgian police to check our paperwork and such. They do that regularly, we had been told by fellow skippers, but we had not ever been checked in the previous years, which surprised even these coppers.

in full regalia with handcuffs and pistols

They had been following us for a while when they raised us on VHF telling us to take them aboard, so surely they must have noticed Michel at the wheel. As he had to get the necessary documents I took over the helm, we could just continue during the check. Part of that was me having to blow a breath analyzer as I was at the helm, it showed I was sober at eleven am, but they will never know if Michel would have been over the limits :-), weird.

I kind of liked it as I had never done such a test before.

We spent a few days in Maastricht, because of being late in the season and the bad weather there was plenty of room on the quay (mostly it is crowded) just as la Tulipe had, so it turned out to be a social visit as well.

in the centre of Maastricht

But then we had to move on as we still had some special activities ahead before we could moor in Amersfoort.

First we had guests on board in Den Bosch, Australian friends on their way from their boat to the next summer down-under, before they return again for our summer.

And then we were off to Meerkerk for a rally.

Meerkerk at Anchor, organised by our friends from Shell V. A rally with 8 boats and 17 people in all.

The weather was gorgeous and we spent three very nice days with old friends and made a few new ones. Having dinner together, going for a walk together, a real Jeu de Boules competition on the track in front of the local super.

 a panoramic view of all participants in the Merwede canal.

And on again, at a steady pace to Amsterdam for a very special event.

photo Maarten Reinboud / I even found time to make a wedding cake

On October 5^th my oldest brother got married there and, after the wedding ceremony, we made a trip through Amsterdam; all went well and everybody enjoyed it.

photo Maarten Reinboud / boattrip on theAmstel

Our bonus was steering ‘t Majeur right through Amsterdam, mooring in front of the Carré theatre which was a first.

We had a fantastic cruising season and have been able to enjoy it without problems.

We enjoyed the well known tracks and lots of new ones, the social gatherings, both planned and spontaneous, and we had perfect weather.

On the chart below you can check all of the itinerary

2015

Below is a graph indicating levels where you can see we did some heights. 

over the mountains and through the valleys

The top was in the Canal de Vosges (390 meters over the Amersfoort level), and after that a quick descent on the Meuse to Dutch levels.

Now we are back in Amersfoort and are moored on the old spot for a few months ahead.

We like it this way and look forward to all activities linked to this period, not least the time we will spend with this happy little chap and we’re looking forward to meeting our second grandchild in February.

Meanwhile no cruising and no blog, but I now already know that the March itch will come and we will leave here in April; and also next season I’ll try to write a blog.

For now, greetings to all my readers, hope to meet next year.