Zwammerdam to Woerde. Oude Rijn river.

With only 13 km to do today, we had a lazy start. It was another gorgeous day and we stopped everywhere we could for a stroll. 

Our weather for the last five days :)

First was a few km down (umm, up, I think) the river at the hamlet of Bodegraven. 

Skip manning the midline in Bodegraven Lock.

The lock keeper asked us where we were headed. "Over there." we pointed to the moorings other side the lock. "We're going ashore for a coffee and an appelflap." He could have told us that the only coffeeshop in town, which is right next to the lock,  was shut. We did find an open bakery though, and I can recommend the Spekulaas tart. 

Back aboard, I made coffee while we watched the lock activity.

The lock opened and out came two loaded barges being pushed by the cutiest widdle tug.

"Look! It's The Little Tug Who Could." I cried.

He pushed and pushed, but sadly he was The Little Tug Who Couldn't and his bigger brother had to help.

But, he did get to push the empties back down river :)))

Further upstream, we came upon a fort with a convenient mooring alongside. It had very impressive ramparts, so we stopped for another stroll. The buildings were all in need of some TLC but unfortunately there was absolutely nothing to tell you about the place. Which was a shame because I looked it up later on wiki and it actually has an interesting history. 

Wiericker Fort

Third stop of the day was our destination at Woerden. A small town with an impressive surrounding moat where they have some gemeente moorings for boats (paid). We managed to find a spot by some grass (well, weeds) and tied up to some trees, which was free and still in range of the haven WiFi.

Approaching Woerden, the canal narrows.

The town is not unnattreactive, with all the usual shops, but the 1960's town planners have much to answer for as they filled in all the canals, other than the ring moat, to make way for cars, which are now banned from the centre anyway. What a shame. Same thing happened in Gouda, apparently, where protesters only managed to save one canal.

Situated on the border between multiple warring states for just about all its existence, the town has an interesting history, but relax, I'm not going to bore you with it. Wiki can do that.

She is someone's pride and joy.