June 19, 2007
Steenwijk-Joure, 6 hours
The Netherlands have two official languages: Dutch and Friesian. In Friesland the latter language is even teached in primary school. All or most Friesian towns and villages have two names on the sign (in both languages). If Friesian people talk their language, we can't understand a word (or misunderstand every word). Such might be the same for some other provinces, but they are talking dialect (not an official language).
This day brings us to the real heart of Friesland - for watersport people "Marrekrite" land. Don't know where the word Marrekrite stands for, but it is a network of over 270 well preserved free mooring places with good quays and containers to leave your (household) waste. At some of them (not all) it is allowed even to place a tent for the night (not during the day!), if you have guest that cannot or don't want to sleep on board (obviously this is for the crews of the small sailing ships). Marrekrites are very well kept (mowing the grass, etc) by volunteers, and organized by an association of 21 Friesian municipalities together with the province of Friesland. The Marrekrites even can be found on Google Earth now, or on a free down loadable map. Not only they rely on volunteers, but also on gifts and actions. Of course we did buy the little Marrekrite flag for Cómplice, this year a magenta coloured one (normally blue) because of the 50-year jubilee.http://www.marrekrite.nl/
This morning starts with bright blue skies and sharp white clouds and as forecast sounds stable for today, we are taking the hood off. Such enables to take some bridges (like a highway bridge and a railway bridge) not having to open (if, of course, in due time we also lower the mast). First the Ossenzijler kanaal with its very efficient automatic (photo cell detection) bridges (signs show when one is detected, and they immediately start there operation). I notice my radar-reflector still on the mast, so I take it off (I prefer to have it fixed on the large rivers with low visibility because of the showers - some think it non-sense, because a steel ship will be detected by radar anyhow, but don't know).After the Ossenzijler kanaal a sharp turn right with a bridge immediately after, we know, but one can't see the bridge and the canal too small for a waiting place, so need to take care. We are just in time to take the Homans-lock before the lunch break. Passing the Drieweg (three way) island with quite a few free mooring places and restaurant. Nice place to stay, but crowded all the time and all place occupied rather early during the day - so on better be early to find a place. Taking the lock in time before the lunchbreak of the lock keeper doesn't bring us very far. We're not in time for the Oldestrijnse bridge, so we have to wait for almost anyhow, having our lunch ourselves as well.
After our lunch we continue to Echtenerbrug with its tiny bridge (first one on our route we have to pay for via the clump, many to follow). Always crowded here, even outside the season. Taking diesel just after the bridge. What amazes us that even in its second season our fellow shipsmen keep glancing at Cómplice, looking back after having passed them, even pointing thumbs up when they reckognize the small Linssen! They like it, obviously.
Cómplice at Joure Marrekrite
Noteworthy:
- Checking bridge heights before leave. It might be worthwhile to take of hood and lower mast if such means that some bridges (specifically railway and highway bridges that might take long waiting time) not need to open
- The Marrekrite opposite the entrance to Joure
- Tjeukemeer with > 4BFT can be rather rough, also because with SW wind one cannot take bow-course
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