Katwijk to Dordrecht

Katwijk-Dordrecht

Longer than intended we stayed in Katwijk, partly because it was very pleasant and partly because Rebecca had to go to Amsterdam unexpectedly and came back a day later than planned because of a fire in the Schipholtunnel, so no trains running.

In Katwijk we could walk along the beach and Panache has run up and down ten times what we walked and enjoyed himself tremendously. Although it was still rather cold and certainly in the water there were nevertheless surfers and canoërs who ventured out, brrrrrrrrr

Eventually Friday morning we barged to Delft via the Delftse Schie a beautiful typical Dutch countryside, pastures and mills and in between the A15 highway.

As you turn the bent and see Overschie, there is another typical picture of `towers' in Holland: mill, church, high tree and crane.

Delft was very busy along the quay, a typical student city on a Friday evening but the next day was such nice weather that we could enjoy, for the first time really, the renewed aftdeck, new deck, new chairs and new table.


the renewed aftdeck

Saturday we went on to Rotterdam and although we had expected that we would pass lots of industrial area the strech was very nice and with pastures and nice farms. Even going through Rotterdam was fun as you really go straight through the city.
We stayed the night in the Coolhaven with view on the Euromast.

the Euromast

Just for the Parklock so that we could lock first thing the next day (at 11 o'clock also lockkeepers enjoy Sunday).

waiting for the Parksluis, we are not that big

We had planned this part on Sunday morning, the stretch Rotterdam to Dordrecht is one of the busiest waterways of Europe. We were glad we did so, there was still more than enough movement and we could imagine how it will be on a weekday.
We could, however, make considerable speed witch is from time to time good for the engine, so we made waves at the bow such as we won’t frequently see.

Erasmus bridge

making waves while heading for the van Brieneoord bridge


For us it is quite special to pass under those bridges, we have crossed them frequently and said that we once would ....... and now it is that once.

Although we are not undivided happy with AIS system, it remains `big brother is watching’ it now proved its usefulness and service. The high-speed water buses, 50km p/u you can see moving on the screen, in reality all of a sudden they are in front or behind you.
Then as we got to the Merwede crossing to the port of Dordrecht, from the marifoon, the voice of the traffic leader sounded (that cross point is the busiest in Europe): Majeur what are your plans? Then we were informed what the other ships around us would do, where and how we had to pay attention and we could uncomplicated cross, by means of the AIS he had seen and identified us.

Dordrecht

Now we lie in the Wolwevershaven (wool weaver port) in Dordrecht in the historical centre of the city. A very nice spot with splendid view, where Rebecca’s birthday all of a sudden became very festive because Michel had organised (and it was really a surprise) that a lot of dear friends and family had come to Dordrecht.
Again the aftdeck proved it’s use.

Today Michel does something with the technique and Thursday we go to the Biesbosch where we will remain a couple days and then through the Hollands Diep and by the Volkeraklocks to Antwerp.

If all goes well the following blog comes from a foreign country, at last we cross the border with ‘t Majeur.