Monday 7th September

We decided to have a lay day today. Put the bikes ashore and after a leisurely breakfast headed out in the countryside on one of the recommended bike routes.

First stop was Ijlst, a charming village we had briefly passed through on the boat a couple of days ago. Just as we arrived, it started to rain so we dived into a fortuitous bakery. After a coffee and an appelgebak the rain let up and we could explore the town. Happily it was the only rain of the day. The rest of our 25 km route took us through quiet countryside. Lots of cows (Friesians ?????) with the occasional farmhouse. I must ask Mr Google why they have such extraordinarily high roofs.

By the time we got back to Sneek the bottoms were taking strain so we stopped into a cafe for an uitsmuiter - an open sandwich with ham, cheese and a fried egg on top - nothing like healthy eating! We had been mooting the idea of a visit to the electric toy-train museum but discovered they were closed on Mondays.

Our purr-ty visitor.

Back on the boat, Clive decided it was time to install the VHF radio antenna. While he was on deck, a purr-fect cutie stopped by for a visit. He hopped aboard and honoured us with lots of headbutts and leg-rubbings. Clive went below to get a drink out the fridge. Well, our visitor knew all about galleys and shot downstairs, onto the counter and meowed loudly. He was rewarded, of course, with a dish of milk and some salami. He stayed for about half-an-hour and then hopped back off, wandered 20m down the quay and repeated the show with the next boat in line! More cuddles and treats, no doubt. Sure enough, awhile later he reappeared and was off to boat number three...

Tuesday, 8th

Back through the lifting bridges - third time. We stopped other side of Sneek for a quick visit to a chandlery to buy a through-deck fitting for the now-installed VHF antenna. The friendly chandler suggested we visit the nearby Beerenburg distillery and the ships museum. Beerenburg is a local hooch strongly flavoured with herbs and stuff (I did catch the guide listing juniper, oak and fennel, but there are apparently 20  flavourings). They have been making it to the same recipe for 400 years. Had only a tiny sip - not my thing, give me a big glass of red any day. The ships museum was interesting. All about the history of the canals and canal boats. The museum is housed in 5 stately old townhouses and it was a treat to see inside the buildings.

After lunch we headed off on our long voyage (10km :-) ) up a boring big canal to Grou. Now, we had looked Grou up on the internet, but all I can say is the writer of the town website was either wearing very rosy glasses or had downed one too many Beerenburgers. According to the blurb,
"The most picturesque watersports village in the heart of Friesland with unique historical character."
What he should have said:
"It's a dump, but there are a LOT of boats." Clive said all he was missing were the tumbleweeds blowing down the street.

There is a beauty tied up behind us. After a visit to the shops museum I now know this is a Skutsjes (pronounced "scoochie").

The well-endowed guardian angel on the rudder.

The winches on the mast all have names.

So, one night only, and tomorrow first thing we'll be off.