31 August

Nieuwegen to Utrecht

 

Hmmm, it was OK, but I would'nt bother with Nieuwegen again. In hindsight we should have carried on the extra 5km to Utrecht. We'll know if there is ever a next time.

 

 

The mooring at Nieuwegen. This photo carefully excludes the busy road a spit away from the boat and a bit old ugly factory just out of shot.

 

 

Interestingly, at the last-but-one lock into Utrecht, the lock keeper handed us a map and booklet on the city with the boat routes through town marked. On our previous visits, we have had the impression that the route through the Oudegracht was not exactly encouraged. Nothing overt, but it was only consulting an obscure blog that we discovered that it was permitted, albeit with the low 3.25 clearance many boats would be unable to use it. But now, here was the route touted as an opportunity to experience the historic old city from the water.

 

 

Zoe moored in Utrecht.

 

Anyhow, that is for tomorrow. For tonight we are moored up in our favourite "city mooring" right in the centre of town. Astonishingly, the overnight mooring fees are now 12,00 euros, electricity included. Last year, it was 16,00. I also remember last year the fees were collected by a bloke on a bicycle who knocked, loudly, on the boat at 7.30am. Now one pays at a pay-and-display meter. Not often a price goes down.

 

Our first stop was to the Media Markt in the Hoog Catarine mall. This is their bike park.

 

 

This visit, we took a bike tour of the old town - down narrow cobbled streets, past the beautiful old university buildings, through student-thronged squares until we ended up lingering at a streetside café with a couple of drinks.

 

Aren't they beautiful! We dutifully walked on past.

 

We stopped in a square for a drink. Note the 0% beer for me :)  - also note I was too lazy to even get up and take the photo :) :)

 

The Oudegracht is a narrow 10m wide canal that passes right through the heart of old Utrecht.

 

A quiet section of the Oudegracht.

 

There are 16 arched bridges with a maximum clearance at the top of the arch of 3.25 m. The canal is popular with canoists and tour boats, so one has to keep a keen eye out. About halfway down, the stadshuisbrug is more of a tunnel than a bridge with a sharp bend in it. You toot your horn as you enter and listen out if anyone toots back, indicating someone may be coming the other way.

 

I took this photo standing on top of the Stadhuisbrug/tunnel. We'll be passing underneath here tomorrow.

 

The canal-sides, where once were wharves and warehouses,  are now packed with bars and restaurants, tables and chairs right to the canal edge. Very popular on summer afternoons.

 

One of the reasons we love the Utrecht moorings, is the constant beauty parade of dogs on their walkies. Although I'm not too sure if this tubby pudding would win any beauty prizes (but I would vote for him!).