Lemmer

Shopping this morning. We were running out of essentials like wine, so a visit to the supermarket was called for. There is a Lidl and Jumbo just around the corner so that was a quick stop. Skip found an Action, one of his favourite shops, where he picked up bungee cords (the ones holding the bikes in place have rotted out), a CO2 alarm, a big bottle of windex and an extendable mop/window cleaner, 'cos he's in the mood for scrubbin' and wipin'. I'm steering clear of all that :)  He then rewarded himself with Kibbeling (fish & chips) for lunch. 

The binnehaven at Lemmer. The lock, where I am standing, leads out into the Ijsselmeer. This is the small lock, there is another, HUGE one, just up the canal for the big barges which can't get through the town.

I found some plastic files in Action and had a wonderful time sorting out all my maps. LOVE maps! But I was collecting too many - they hand them out for free everywhere you go - so needed to have a clear out. The keepers are now all catalogued according to area and even LABELLED. Oh my.

Getting the bikes ready. We are now in the habit of taking the extra batteries with us in the panniers, "Just in case".

We put the bikes ashore and took a 30km ride out along the coast to the small village of Nijemurden. Chilly, oh boy, with a sharp breeze coming off the meer, but very pretty. The beach at Lemmer is actually a beach, much to my surprise. With wide white sands and all the usual accoutrements of a beach, except for any bathers it being just shy of 13C. But I can see it must be very popular in summer, and safe for little kids without any waves or pesky salty seawater - the meer, after all, is fresh water.

Disappointingly there was NADA at Nijemurden, not even a coffee shop, so we turned around and headed back. 

It is now sunny again and almost time to decide which of our many different beers to have on the aft deck. Ain't life grand.

Our flag pole.
Near side:  Netherlands flag above and Overijssel province flag below. We have since changed this to Friesland.
Far side:  Azores above with South Africa below.
We have the British flag on the back.