Gorredijk to Oosterwolde (Turfroute)

We had a LONG trip today - 20km. Actually for us, that is kinda long. As it happens, what with 5 hand-operated locks and 26 bridges, some of which involved hopping off and opening them ourselves, it took us 5 1/2 hours. On top of that the speed limit is 6km (our usual is 10). Acutally we are unable to cruise at 6km, the slowest we can manage is about 8, but with the suck-back created by water displacement of the boat on a shallow, narrow, canal slowing the boat even more we did finally achieve 6km - or should I call that, underachieve. The suckback and the narrowness meant Skip had to pay especial attention all day. No day-dreaming or we would have found ourselves aground in the reeds.

We spent the day in convoy with another small boat. This made it easier for the lock-keepers, who also opened about half of the bridges, and for the self-service bridges too as his wife and I took it in turns. When the summer cruising season starts in another month or so, local kids earn pocket money charging the boats a euro apiece to open the zelfbedinning bridges. We only came across two 10-year-olds who happened to spot us and bicycled frantically over to the bridge before either of us could hop off and do it ourselves. I happened to have 2 euros in my pocket so they both got one, including the euro from the other boat. Happy squeals ensued. Sweeties on the way home, I expect.

The weather was not brilliant. Not actually raining, but overcast with quite a chilly breeze which made manouvering difficult at times. I think the whole canal, pretty as we found it, would have been really stunning if the sun had been shining. The peaty water is really black, almost shiny black. A bit disconcerting in one's toilet bowl, it has to be said.

Putting the mast down - AGAIN!

We realised from our slow progress that we were unlikely to get any further than Oosterwolde. Skip was still hankering after a bike ride in a forest, so we planned a ride in the afternoon. By the time we eventually moored up for the night it was 4:30 so the ride got shortened. And no sooner had we got ashore and one or two kms down the track when a freezing rain started to come down.

"Bugger this!" we agreed, and headed for a cosy pub Skip had just spotted instead.

"Well spotted Skip!"

Oosterwolde was not our favourite stop on this trip. The moorings are free, but average, right in front of a school. The electricity meters, fed with euro coins, gave one about one hour of power before cutting off again. Not a good deal. We didn't bother again until we switched on the water heater for a hot shower next morning. The euro just lasted for that.

 

The best bit about our mooring in Oosterwolde was the personalized garden it came with, although it did involve a lot of deck sweeping next morning.