What we did.....

Although I didn't report last week a lot has been done on and around the ship.We have been busy with DIY, maintaining social contacts, being ill and sailing (yes we finally left the shed). In the wheelhouse a solid bench was made, the pillows are ordered and the fabric to upholster has been bought so soon we can sit there comfortably. It is high time because now everyone around us goes boating and of course we have to keep a close eye on that :-). The walls around the windows are almost finished and the next projects are, removable steps for the steering wheel to have good visibility when travelling and steps by the sliding doors. Although he had the flu, Michel did a lot.We got acquainted with people from the DBA, names we only know from the website now have a face. It was a pleasure to meet Andy and Caroline and visit their barge Neeltje.

Easter weekend, our children were on board We have been playing  Mah-Jong. Malka had brought her cat Castor and he did well. Panache thought to have fun with a playmate but no such luck. Castor not only ignored him but he did all kind of things that are forbidden to Panache, such as climbing on bed, going in the kitchen and off the stairs to the bow. A weekend of frustration for poor Panache.

Today we finally went sailing and it was nice that the first cruise we undertook because we wanted to and not because it was related to the renovation, was together with Malka and Steven.
The trip was not without adventure and exciting moments. The harbour box out and later in again was a breeze and no problem for Michel while I had anticipated worse.
Unfortunately later there was in a narrow winding ditch a skutsje that, sailing with good speed, overtook us while a cruiser came to meet us. A collision between our aft and the skutsje could just be prevented by Michel by hitting back hard. That went well but unfortunately  moments later the engine cooling alarm went off because the "wierpot" (filter in the water inlet) was blocked in the shallow water. Quickly to the side and there it could be fixed but Michel was not happy and the skutsje was long gone so Michel could not tell them off any more.

We have seen that there are lots of nice large berths in the lakes and ditches where you can stay for one or more days so if we leave here we'll see where we end up.