Bolsward to Sneek

I took a quick walk (6 minutes) to the Jumbo supermarket for a couple of supplies. The Aldi right over the road from Jumbo, but the few things I needed didn't warrant the Aldi. Skip decided to put OXI action on the teak deck, scrubbing and rinsing with canal water. Much better but the canal water is an unattractive brown and it really needed a rinse with fresh water. Just around the corner from our mooring, before the first bridge, there was a water point, so we stopped to refill the tanks and 'accidentally' sploosh the hose over the deck. Most places frown on using drink water to wash the boats, but this was only a quick rinse, the main scrub was done with the canal water. 

To our surprise the bridge was showing 2 red lights (closed) even though it was after 10am by now. "Maybe the bridge-man goes off for tea?" I suggested as we manoueuvered over to the bridge waiting-pier. Just as we got the lines attached, the bridge lights turned to red/green and then green. I guess the chap forgot to change his lights when he got to work this morning.

This was our first self-service bridge.

Out into the main canal (de Wimmerts) we had a 'long' cruise of 12km to Sneek. The bridge gods were smiling on us and every bridge we approached the lights turned red/green before we got there and we were able to sail straight through. At one point we came across a cute little pedestrian bridge which was our first self-service bridge. There was a BIG button on the wait-pier which opened the bridge. We decided to stop beyond the Ijlst bridge for lunch and a walk around the pretty village.  

Moored up at Ijlst.

The short stretch from Ijlst to Sneek is fairly industrial with factories and boatyards down to the canal. Then all of a sudden you go around a bend, the canal widens and there in front of you is the iconic Sneek Waterpoort.

Sneek is a major boating center (yet again) with moorings all the way through town, but these in the basin in front of the Waterpoort are the best and we luckily got a prime spot. It filled up through the afternoon, and although not full, by late afternoon most of the spots were taken. It is an entertaining spot to sit on the aft deck with a coffee and watch the scene as there is a sharp right turn, right in front of the waterpoort through a bridge over a busy road. Because the road is busy the boats sometimes have to wait awhile, manoueuvering around the small basin, bow thrusters grinding away madly. Bearing in mind that 75% of the boats are chartered with, probably, inexperienced skippers, it is quite the show.

One of the more entertaining 'boats' passing through the bridge was this. "Bungalow rental" was the sign on the side. It looked quite comfy, with its bikes, BBQ, hammock etc. Powered by an outboard motor it was, however, obviously a bugger to steer as the chap on the wheel had to turn it frantically this way and that to get it to steer in a straight line.

I felt in the need of some retail therapy so while Skip went off on the bike for a ride around looking for insulating lagging for something or another I wandered around the town center. Lots of lovely shops and the market was in town. Mostly I was only able to window shop as we decided to come away with only hand luggage this time and we are flying back to lisbon on Easyjet who are notoriously picky about luggage. :( Pity.

I did find a cute little oil lamp in a 2nd hand shop just up the pier. They have LOTS of stuff, mostly junk. Kinda like a boot sale but in a big shop. You can bring your junk for them to sell and they take a percentage. Lots of kids clothes and toys which makes a lot of sense. And also a cute little oil lamp which now has a new home in the boat.

Later we took a wander up town for an Affligem in a convivial watering house followed by BBQ on board.