19 August
Delft to Dordrecht

Realising we would be entering the tidal stream at Rotterdam, we checked the tidal time table on HD Boating with not a little trepidation. Were we in for a dawn departure? Would we have to leave too late to make it all the way to Dordrecht?

Playing with the big boys again.

In the event, we had to drop our lines at a respectable 9:30 to make it down stream to the lock at Rotterdam for the low tide at midday.

Yes, we also had to look twice.
Skip wondered if he had lost his way.

The day progressed uneventfully, with Skip doing all the work up on deck, and yours truly sitting below sorting out photos and writing yesterdays blog.

I suppose the buildings in the foreground are protected, so they had to get creative.

The trip was 36 km which we managed in 4 1/2 hours - dodging huge barges all the way.

We had been to Dordrecht with Pat and Jim on their boat Hjeljun (sic) many years ago and we decided to go into the same haven. It is very charming, as is the whole town, with a very friendly harbourmaster. 17 Euros a night including wifi, electricity, water, showers etc.

Dordrecht binnehaven

We have been spending a lot of time off the boat exploring and indulging in day-long expeditions, which is great but poor old Zoe was calling out for some TLC so we spent the afternoon scrubbing and polishing. That's better - nice and shiny again.

The pizza on the BBQ worked a treat. Only a small Weber, so we cut it in half and did one at a time on the griddle plate. Hmmmmmm. Now for a nice glass of Port.


Finished the evening watching the Team GB girls beat the Dutch at olympic hockey on the local TV. It was a very exciting match which the British girls won unexpectedly. The Dutch were mortified and the woman doing the commentating in the TV studio was in tears and could hardly speak! The British were ecstatic on the other hand.