Lauwersmeer 18th June

 

We left Vlieland on Sunday – but not quite as Mrs B hoped. There are 2 ways in & out of Vlieland. One, the way we entered, is the main channel which the ferries and most normal people use. The other is a narrow channel which dries out at low water. Mrs B thought that was worth a go. After all if they go to the trouble to lay buoys and stick withies (sticks) in the sand/mud it’s a pity if you don’t show appreciation by using it.

So we set out 3 hours before high water. This was perhaps a little ambitious as there are only inches to spare – but Mr B didn’t want to be late. He didn’t need to worry, as very soon we were hard aground. And we stayed that way for a while whilst a very strong currant swirled around us. We get going again after half an hour and ground our way along the bottom until the buoyed channel finished. At this point it changed to withies and we had some difficulty deciding which was a navigation mark and which was a fishing mark. And so we bumped along for quite a while with no other boat within a mile or 2. But things got better as the tide continued to come in and eventually (much to Mrs B’s relief) we popped out at the other end of the channel and joined the rest of the world. We made our way to Harlingen which is the local centre and where the ferries start form to the outlying islands – a bit like Oban is where a most of the ferries to the Hebrides start from. It was a lovely day and the classic boats were out in their hundreds. A magnificent sight.

 

A high-speed ferry

A small selection of the classic ships we saw in the Waddenzee

 

We were very lucky, as when we were in Vlieland eating pancakes, we chatted with a local Dutch couple and they told us about a little known quiet yacht harbour in the middle of Harlingen. So we spent a couple of nights there waiting for Mr B’s uncle David (82) who joined us for a week’s fun. He arrived OK and we set off in an easterly direction along the canals.

The 3rd mate at the helm having just missed some large ships.

 

 We decided to go to Dokkum for the night and Mr B worked out a shortcut. This involved some very low bridges which didn’t lift. Photo below!

Jenni Ann going under very low bridge.

 
Dokkum was a very pretty town and we went on from there to a lake on the coast – the Lauwersmeer. We had to go through a lock on the way and 82-year-old uncle was put to work.

Uncle David earning his keep

 

A short stop for lunch on an island & Mrs B found an Orchid. Mrs B likes Orchids! Mr M gained a few bonus points – much needed……….

Mrs B’s Orchid!

  

That evening we locked out into the wild Waddenzee and set off for the island of Schiermonnikoog. This is the most easterly of the Dutch inhabited Frisian Islands, and you can only get to it at high water (or an hour of so either side). It was blowing a good 6 & Mrs B had her doubts about this. To try to shorten the trip Mr B took a buoyed shortcut across the sands and all was well until 2 buoys before the end when we went hard aground. We managed to back off and turn around, as Mr B calculated it was too risky hoping for a bit more water in the remaining hour before high water. So we went back to the beginning of the shortcut and went the long way – with no problem. When Mr B paid the bill at the marina on the island the lady said they had only just found out that the channel was no longer useable. Anyway it was worth a try.

Schiermonnikoog harbour at low water

 

It was howling by now – a good force 6. This increased to force 7 the next day, and we had to delay our departure by a day. But we managed a day’s cycling around the island – fine downwind, but a struggle into the wind – especially when you are 82. But David did very well and only fell off a few times………….

Intrepid cyclists at the east of the island

Cycling into a gale

 

Re-fuelling with a Bacon & Cheese pancake

A field full of ? Godwits on Schiermonnikoog

 




Cattle Egrets on the Lauwersmeer

 

On Saturday morning we did manage to make the trip back to the mainland (only an hour) and then went back through the Lauwersmeer (a very beautiful wildlife area) and got to Groningen where David leaves us tomorrow.

Our mooring in the centre of Groningen with a “Rondvaart” going through a lifting bridge 

 

 

Groningen is a very old university city - & we found an excellent restaurant last night. But it’s raining hard today – the first real daytime rain we’ve had.

 

Jenni Ann

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