The Last Waltz

7 August 2009


Through June & July we enjoyed the "Island(s) of Maurik" during weekends, whenever the weather, family, business and yachtsclub matters permitted. Because of our early season tour to the Friesian Islands, we had "to suffer" - no June tour this year. But frankly, no punishment, the nose on the sand nearby our home port, a glass of whine on the aft deck, and accompanied by our grandchilds some (part of) weekends. Our grandson Bram must have digged quite some big holes, as during this season the water level had an all time low. Even at one night we lost nearly half a meter, causing some trouble for those other skippers with the nose on the sand, not taking care of such a possibility. Water level in the Maurik area is not a tidal matter, but regulated through the movable weirs at Amerongen and Driel on the Nederrijn. When water supply from the Rhine - coming down from Switzerland - drops so much that the level of the IJssel becomes too low for the barges, the weirs in the Nederrijn are (almost) fully closed. The water at the low side of the weirs simply disappears seawards. You must have noticed there in England!


Today our second season 2009 tour starts. The Last Waltz for Cómplice! We are planning to head for Zeeland, and taking a 3-weeks period this time. Last year we had 2 weeks, but experienced such a bit too short, taking into account that (like last year) weather (storm) might make it necessary to stay in harbour for a few days. In addition we promised ourselves to limit our day tours to approx. 4 hours, and relax.



From Maurik such a typical day of that duration going east ends around Vianen. So far, we have always taken the club "De Peiler", west of Vianen on the Lek, as our first stop. This time we like to experience the municipal harbour in Vianen center. We never have, because this municipal harbour so far always was fully occupied. Mainly (typical Dutch) because of its mooring for free. But starting this season one has to pay for mooring, so we reckon a place will be available. And indeed, when we arrive after slightly less than four engine hours, we have a choice. A rather unique experience, no harbour master collecting the money, but a machine teller to pay, like at a parking lot. One ticks ships length, number of passengers and nights, pays with the debt card (sorry forgot to look if credit card suits as well), take out a sticker to put on the shield, and ready for the night.


Unfortunately the place to moor is not as fancy as advertised. The jetty is fine, but the close adjacent mid-rise appartments take away evening sun rather soon. On the other hand, when one needs to do some shopping, several large supermarkets are around the corner. As we just have started our tour, we don't have to. Fortunately.

Unfaithful

13 June 2009

For 902 engine hours now Cómplice has been our loyal companion. Exactly this is what the Spanish word Cómplice means. Companion. This is our fourth season, and she never let us down. We enjoyed most parts of the Netherlands, and even 3 years after delivery in 2006 occasionally we receive compliments about the looks. We very much like the easy handling, especially in the sometimes crowded ports during high season.

But for a year now we are dreaming to be unfaithful. Though still a couple of years, retirement is nearing, which brings us to possibility for longer tours, also outside the Netherlands. Such would be more comfortable with a ship with somewhat more space, without the stairs inside. We have shared our dreams with Linssen, and as they are not only builders of fantastic yachts, but good salesmen too, they kept our dreams alive...


Today we are heading for Maasbracht for the Linssen 60 years Anniversary. As the chairman of the Linssen Owners Group (LOG) I promised to deliver a speech, and together with the co-board members Peter Janssen and Jan Brummel, we will deliver the new LOG flag with one of the first Linssen yachts, half a century old but completely refurbished by our member Ceryll Beckers.

But apart from this duty, we intent to enjoy the sunshed barbeque for a hundred or more special guests, and take advantage of the opportunity to have a demo tour with our dreamt ship. The Grand Sturdy 40.9 sedan. And, frankly, we already have done some more than just dreaming. We are prepared for a good offer...


The atmosphere is right, the sun shines, the demo tour relaxing, and Yvonne Linssen convincing. And we can't refuse the offer... It only takes 20 minutes after the demo tour. Let the champagne arrive!

Our new GS 40.9 sedan will be delivered in June 2010. And our Cómplice, our loyal companion, will return to Maasbracht end of season. But season is not over yet.

Ditches & dykes

30 May 2009

The last part of our Waddentour includes a less pleasant stretch to go. Specifically the part of Amsterdam-Rijnkanaal between Maarssen and south of Utrecht is not only very busy with barges, but mainly also because waves bounce back from rectangular sides all the time and every direction. The exit south of Maarssen from the Vecht to the Amsterdam-Rijnkanaal is particularly dangerous because of the lack of any sight on the passing barges upon entering the AR Kanaal, because of the Opburenbrug right at the exit.

Dangerous crossing at Maarssen and prefered way to enter Amsterdam Rijn kanaal

It is strongly recommended by the Rijkswaterstaat to radio the traffic post (channel 61) and tell that you are upon entering the AR Kanaal at the Opburenbrug, so they can and will tell you if any traffic near (as they see by radar). At the same time the nearing traffic will have listened as well so they know you are coming. For anyone that has planned to go via AR Kanaal, a pdf file with crossings and advised way to enter the AR Kanaal is available on the internet (see left box with links).

From Maarssen to the river Nederrijn (near our home port) it would be perfectly possible to go in almost straight line via the AR Kanaal, but rather boring. As we have plenty of time we prefer to exit the AR Kanaal at earliest possibility, taking the Merwedekanaal at Zuidersluis south of Utrecht. Passing Jutphaas and the lock at Vreeswijk, and we are on the Lek, which becomes the Nederrijn close to our home port. But we are not going to home port yet, and take place with the nose on the sand less than a mile from home port.

Tomorrow our (grand)children will arrive, we are very much looking forward. On this last day of our Waddentour I do what grandfathers and grandsons in the Netherlands very much like to do. Excavating ditches and building dykes. It is in our genes.

Uneventful

28 & 29 May 2009

Sometimes one likes to explore the new, sometimes one prefers the "tried & tested". Though we have navigated the Dutch waterways now for quite some years, there are still a lot waterways and harbours we have not explored yet. But from our return home from the north, specifically from Friesland area, we have one prefered way to go: via Randmeren, the Vecht, a bit of Amsterdam-Rijn kanaal, and than we are on the Nederrijn again, close home port.

On that course we have tried several different mooring places along the way to stay for the night. But everytime our fall back position is stopping at Weesp - prefered inner harbour between the bridges, and Maarssen, alongside the municipal quay close to inner town.

It does not take a long deliberation to decide for the same today. Let's go to Weesp again, which is a long estimated 8 hours stretch for today, leaving at nine sharp this morning, with calm, lightly clouded weather. Not particularly evenful, but relaxing. For the major part of the Randmeren one has strictly to follow the buyod shipslane, outside one gets grounded very easy. A few locks only: one at Nijkerk, one at Muiden. During high season, for both quite some waiting time can be expected - including the dark side of human being not having the patience to wait for ones turn - but this last May week season has not started yet, so no waiting time at all.

We arrive at around 16:00 in Weesp, but unfortunately no place left for us at the quay between the bridges. So we have to try another spot. Taking the Vecht further on, just outside Weesp but still on walking distance from the center, we find a nice place with friendly people in the harbour of WV de Vecht.

Next day our familiar and prefered place at Maarssen, opposite the romantic "tea house' is still available. Tried & tested, so why not. Uneventful maybe, but not boring at all. We relax on the sunny aft deck. Our pre-summer tour nearly over.

Familiar spot

27 May 2009

We have modest ambitions for today. Our aim is Elburg, which is only a few hours from Kampen. Most of the times we plan for 4 to 6 hours a day, this is only 3, including the lock Roggebotsluis, which can be rather crowded and cause some waiting time. Elburg is a familiar stop for us. We like the little town with its city wall, nice shopping street behind the wall tower, and cosy restaurants (not to forget the fish bakeries). But we only like it if it is possible to moor in the inner harbour, amidst the Elburger botters. If there is no mooring place there, there are plenty alongside to canal that leads to inner harbour. However, this is parallel to the regional road to the Flevopolder and therefore rather noisy.

That's why we leave rather early, despite the short distance we have to make. We reckon to arrive at a moment that other skippers just have left, so leaving a place for us. We are lucky with the Roggebotsluis, no waiting time. When we arrive at Elburg, indeed we find a familiar spot that just fits Cómplice. It is funny, but in no time already during the morning hours inner harbour gets filled completely, other skippers with same thoughts to arrive early.

Cómplice surrounded by Elburg botters

We have a walk through town, buy a newspaper for a change as well as some fish & chips, and note upon our return to the harbour that Renate and Hank have arrived with their Octopus, inviting us for a glass of wine. So lets read yesterdays newspaper tomorrow...

A fan!

26 May 2009

After hours of distant lightning and thunder, the outburst hit our direct environment in the middle of the night. Heavy rain and hail, fierce strokes of wind, and direct hits around. Generally speaking no safer place than a steel yacht for a shelter. But what happens when lightning hits a metal box with the shore power sockets? I feared my electrical on board systems, so decided to leave the Faraday shelter for some minutes to take shore power off.

At daylight we experience the damage of hail and winds. Leaving Giethoorn harbour and in the canal heading south we need a close watch in order not to hit numerous broken branches of the trees aside the canal. At the Beukerssluis we have bad luck. Just before us, the lockdoors got stuck, one ship inside. Might be a tree branch that keeps us waiting for hours.

Much colder today than the preceding ones, indeed, with a fierce wind blowing and heavy showers. Instead of our plan to go to the Randmeren via the Ramsdiep we decide to take a shortcut. Mostly because we can't see anyting more than grey colours. Via the Ganzediep, a familiar route we have done before, we arrive in Kampen soon after noon. With BFT 7 we decide to have the work done for today, and seek shelter in yacht harbour of WV Buitenhaven, surrounded and sheltered by high stone walls and an historic rebuilt of a Kampener koggeschip at its entrance.

Shortly after our arrival the Octopus from Hamburg arrives, with a waving crew. We don't know the skipper, but once they are moored they come to visit us. The German owners, Hank and Renate, who have 's-Hertogenbosch as home port for ship (not a Linssen), are enthousiast readers of this blog, taking the routes we have taken and described, and have recognized Cómplice. And of course, we have a look at their self with great craftmanship refurbished Octopus. It keeps us warm inside.

Hot & Sticky

25 May 2009

When we leave Joure Marrekrite at 09:10 it is already humid warm. Today a 30C is forecasted, with hardly any wind. The Tjeukemeer we cross very soon is flat like a mirror. Such can be quite different as we experienced a few years ago. It is recommended to stay within the buoys of the ships lane, which is not a favorite course when the southwest wind blows. But today no issue. We pass Echtenerbrug and are surprised about the amount of idle hiring boats moored all over. Must be the crisis.

Just before the Linthorst Homan sluis (the old lock is called "Three Way Lock", which indeed it is!) we encounter from opposite direction the Sonne-Claer of Teun & Els Peek, member of the Linssen Owners Group as well. Having some chat over the marineradio, they are heading up north the Wadden now, could not make it for the tour. At Ossenzijl bridge we need quite some patience. Wrong timing, as the bridge is closed for lunch hour and the waiting ships line up. Once opened a fleet wrings itself into the small and curving but beautiful waterway, which slows us down to the minimum, because overhauling is impossible here. But we have all time of the day.

This morning it was already forecasted temperature to drop down tomorrow by at least 10C. The change will be accompanied with thunderstorms. During the day warnings start, getting more severe by the hour. Nothing shows like that. We plan our destination for today at one of the free nature moorings at the Beulakker-Belterwiede lake, but when we arrive there the westfront show some disturbing clouds, with now an official warning for all (not just navigational) traffic. After some hesitation we decide to go for a more sheltered harbour place, which we find in the municipal harbour of Giethoorn (Passantenhaven De Zuiderkluft), a bit up north the Kanaal Beukers-Steenwijk. It's entrance is not easily to be found, but the harbour is much larger than we expected, and has comfortable quays.

Evening is still warm, but as the lightning starts at darkening night, we decide to put the tent up again. Lucky us, as we experience during the night.