Fire drill

June 25, 2007

Eernewoude - Joure: 3 hrs

From Eernewoude to Joure is only a short distance. We have chosen Joure as destination for today, because it offers a sheltered harbour with good facilities, is a nice town to walk around, and has good public transport connection. For tomorrow we plan to stay in harbour because of the nearing summer-storm, for day after tomorrow we expect additional crew - our brother (in law) and his son - hence the need for public transport.

The short distance has another advantage - we arrive early in Joure harbour, so we still have the choice to pick a place. It proves to be a wise decision. The Prinses Margrietkanaal we take, is very, very busy with yachts, mingling with the few commercial barges. It looks like everyone is replacing and going for shelter - leaving the Marrekrites. As we arrive at noon in Joure municipal harbour still quite a few places available, but in the course of afternoon almost all sheltered ones are occupied.

Joure municipal harbour

The afternoon we take our time to walk to the inner town with its typical old church, and have a glance in the old shop where Douwe Egberts in 1753 started to trade colonial merchandise, which later on became the famous Dutch coffee-brand and multinational. Worthwhile to have a look! This his home of the Dutch coffee habit. Besides, Joure is worldwide known because of being the heart of the balloon festivities each year, with dozens of large, manned balloons competing for the peculiar design.

At around 6 pm a noisy fire engine arrives at harbour. And another one, and another one. Mounting up to about ten with full sirens and crews. It takes a while before we realize it is just a fire drill. Obviously from all places around the fire crews were instructed to go to this place, and time is taken to see whether they comply with the given time frame. The last one to arrive is received with a roar of applause by the fellow teams and yacht-crews. A nice break for the moment, awaiting the storm to come...