Lauwersmeer to Groningen.

We left early in a calm morning mist. The lake was mirror flat and you could just about make out the next couple of buoys in line. Luckily HD Boating always knew where we were.

Sailing barge on the Lauwersmeer.

As the morning progressed the mist lifted to a high cloud and by the time we reached Zoutkamp a patchy sun had come out. The lock between the lake and the Rietdiep canal was standing open and rather than wait for the bridge we decided to give it a try. Theoretically, if the measurements Clive took while we were out of the water were correct, we could squeeze through the 3.4m bridge. And we did, but just with half a centimeter to spare!  Yikes.

Not much room to spare!

The tiny fishing port of Zoutkamp was just the other side and we pulled in to let the heart rate return to normal. The visit was only a short one as we had over 40km to do today. The port is very pretty. There were about 100 cyclists milling around having a break from a Sunday cycle meet. Nice to see proper fishing boats again.

Inner harbour at Zoutkamp.

Zoutkamp - then and now.

Zoutkamp - outer harbour.
Nice to see proper fishing boats again.

We decided we would take the southern route through the 13 bridges in the old town of Groningen on the basis that it would be more scenic. When we neared the outskirts of town, we passed through the lock with 5 other boats. At the next bridge we were surprised to see the two red lights indicating the bridge was out of operation. Confusion ensued as we all tied up to the waiting area until a big tourist barge explained there was a festa in town and the bridges would not reopen til 6. So we all settled down for a 2 hour wait. When the service restarted, at 6 sharp, most of the boats peeled off to a marina just the other side and we continued through, keeping close to the barge as he had a prior arrangement to pass through as it was now after normal bridge hours. Eventually we got into the public haven after dark. Remanants of the festa were everywhere and we must have missed a helluva party.

Tomorrow I am planning a morning's laundry and then we'll push on as far along the Windschoterdiep as we can until the bridges close. Groningen too big for us to stay more than a night.

We stuck close to the stern of this barge as
he had arrangements to have the bridges opened for him.