Oosterwolde to Driewersluis

With all the bridges and locks closed on Sundays, we wanted to be sure we were out of the Turf route before the end of Saturday so we left promptly at 10 am. 

Much of today's turf route was pretty boring - ruler straight with nowt but fields.

There were plenty of hikers out enjoying the sunny weekend morning.

The weather, although breezy, was a definite improvement on yesterday and there were dozens and dozens of hikers walking the path alongside the canal in lovely sunshine. 

There were a few spots along the way that looked so inviting, being close to woodsy bike paths, but we ignored their invitations and carried on. "We'll stop when we're past Mildam." I informed Skip. "We can get through the next bridges with the awnings down, even on a Sunday."  

This friendly chap came over for a cuddle while I waited for the lock to fill. He almost purred when I stroked his ears.
"His name's Ali." declared Skip.
"How do you know?" I asked.
"Ali -baaaaa-ba!"  
Aaaaargh.

A passing cyclist saw us with the camera and offered to take one of both of us.

As it happened, the lovely sunny morning started clouding over and before long the light breeze had stiffened to a chilly blow. The Mildam moorings looked uninviting so we decided to carry on, and yes, we had to lower the bimini to get through the three bridges downriver from the last lock at Mildam. And, of course, it started raining right as we did so. Cushions, camera, maps, charts, tablet etc etc got chucked down below pretty swift. 

"Fixed bridges coming up!"

We had to take down the bimini and awnings to fit under. We can get them down in under a minute although it takes about 5 to put it all up again. Luckily the windows could stay up. They are more faff.

"We may just as well carry on." decided Skip and that's what we did with the result that we clocked up an impressive, for us, 40 Km with 6 hours of running time. As 4 p.m.  approached Skip spotted some lovely moorings tucked up by some trees and a grassy bank just behind the last lock out of Friesland, Driewesluis. The sun peeped out as we tied up and by the time the lines and fenders were all in place we were back in broad sunshine. Go figure. 

Moored up behind the lock in Driewesluis.
There are no facilities as these moorings. There is a small passantahaven just on the other side of the lock with power, water and a shower block.

Anyhow, that meant we could put the bikes ashore for a 18km ride through the bordering nature reserve. Very pretty it is too, with lots of little lakes, canals, reed beds and plenty of birdlife. There seeme,d to be cuckoo-clocks in most of the trees :) :) :)  

After awhile the smooth cycle path turned corrugated and after about a km of this we decided to spare our bottoms and turn around. 

"I bet my bum is bruised!" I complained to Skip, who promptly offered to check. Back at the lock we rested our sore bottoms on some lovely soft cusions at the canalside pavillion with a tasty Grutte Pier beer to numb the ouch.

While Skip attended to his BBQ, I enjoyed a glass of wine under the trees.