Zwartsluis to Blokzijl

Much taken with the Kwak beer glass at the pub yesterday evening, Skip was on a mission to buy one this morning. Great! Except that Monday morning in the Netherlands is like Sunday everywhere else - alles gesluiten. We managed to while away the morning, though, doing nothing much of anything :), until the shops opened at 1pm. The local booze shop indeed had many beer glasses, but not the Kwak ones Skip was after. No problem, the proprietor will order some and have them in time for our predicted return in 3 weeks or so. 

The Waterijk National Park. We finished up at the small town of Blokzijl which was once a sea port but which is now 25kms inland after the noord polder was reclaimed earlier in the 20thC.

There were plenty of moorings through the park. This is what you look out for - this sign indicates free moorings where you may stay for 2 days.

We left, eventually, at 2pm for the 17km up to Blokzijl. Out of Zwartsluis, back into the Zwaarte Water for all of 500m and up through a cutsy liddle lock into the Wierden Waterijk national park. The lovely friendly lockkeeper even gave me a new map for the area (same as the old map, different photo on the front) AND a province flag to fly from our mast.

Two lift bridges and two locks today. At none of them did we wait for more than a couple of minutes. Ideal.

Moored alongside waiting for the lock into Blokzijl.

The reed beds had been cut pretty recently and everywhere were mountains of thatch reeds drying out. And when I say mountains, I am not exagerating. MOUNTAINS. Enough to thatch many, many villages of cottages.

By now the day had turned lovely and sunny albeit with a chilly breeze. Snug in our tent, we enjoyed the scenery through the national park. 

With only two lift bridges and two locks to negotiate we made Blokzijl in good time and found a prime open spot on the wall in front of the lock and a pub :) where naturally we had to sit with an Affligem and admire Zoe from a comfy chair in the sunshine ....