Feeling home

June 27, 2007

Joure-Vollenhove: 8 hours


When we arrive in Vollenhove harbour by the end of this afternoon, it feels like coming home. We have been here before with Cómplice http://mylinssenexperience.blogspot.com/2006/11/beauty-contest.html, and have the same friendly and helpful welcome as last year by a new harbour master. Of course, we go to visit the well known fish shop before it closes at six, and buy our evening meal. Superb! Most people aim for Blokzijl as their destination, which is nice for sure. But we prefer Vollenhove a few kilometers south. Nice place to walk around as well, and less crowded.




Our route for this day also has been familiar, but never boring. With nephew Peter most of the time on the steering wheel, via Tjeukemeer (still rather shaky because of yesterday's storm), and the Jonkersvaart to Ossenzijl, where we have to wait whilst the bridge-keepers and us have lunch. On the small and busy canal, with still very strong wind on the side, it proves to be impossible to leave the low-wind side quai without using the a spring on the bow-side.


Just after having past the bridge, following the Kalenbergergracht with the many little houses on both sides, we are in for a surprise. At the quay of the first free-nature mooring after the bridge we discover the first other 299AC we have seen during our tours (except of course "Indira" during the Linssen Easter tour!). It has German crew, but bares the Dutch name "Aalscholver" (a water bird). Therefore we assume it to be a hired ship, which later on is confirmed by Linssen who has sold one or two to a charter company in Zwartsluis. We pass by with a lot of waving, of course. With so many 299's sold, we are still amazed that so far we have seen so few on the Dutch waterways. Probably such will change in the next few years, and maybe in other parts the country (Friesland itself has a lot of competing shipbuilding companies).


Despite, everybody seems to recognize the typical Linssen hull immediately. A lot of people show with thumbs up, and even a skipper passing by coming from other side making gestures that he wishes to be packed for him as a present. It takes some time before we understand what he wants...but than have a mutual laugh.

Noteworthy:

• Visit the widely known fish shop adjacent to harbour and buy some superb fried fish and/or smoked eal - excellent
• Walk around the town with its peculiar old - circle shaped old fisherman harbour behind the church