Double hat

August 13, 2007

Venlo-Gennep: 5 hrs

In Dutch there are quite a few 'sayings' with the word "hat" in it. They are not always positive. One saying is about 'wearing two hats' , which is mostly used in a not-so-positive way. It can be one, or the other side. Now Cómplice was going to have two hats - and frankly we did not know what to think of upfront. The hood we had as a "standard" wasn't suitable to have a Bimini zipped to it, so Gommans Sails (located in Swalmen, close to Venlo) who makes all the Linssen hoods, proposed to have a separate Bimini (partly) over the current hood. A Bimini - which is meant to protect from the sun - sounds a bit silly in this not-so-summer, but we ordered early in season with the memory of the abundant sunshine of 2006.

The Bimini fitted within the hour, and frankly we experienced the days after it to be very worthwhile. Not so, because protecting from the sun, but mainly because keeping out the rain for a greater part of the aft-deck. So we were and still are very satisfied with the investment.

Going north again, downstream the Maas, on our way direction Zeeland. On this Monday-morning quite a few more commercial traffic on the "road". Instead of being allowed to enter the locks right away, now we had to wait quite some time. Sambeek lock kept us waiting over an hour before being able to enter. But holiday, so no hurry.

Several times we had just passed it, but now we wanted to have a look at the little harbour of yachts club Gennep (WSC De Paesplas) . It is hided behind the commercial harbour of Heijen, (the Paesplas) and so far we had been somewhat reluctant to enter, because the maps says the entrance doesn't have much depth. Our meter however did not show any obstacle when entering carefully.

It proved to be a very good choice, this lovely little one, to spend the night. Very friendly people with a harbour master which goes great lengths to please his guests. Even going to the bakery early morning to pick up the ordered fresh rolls, and deliver them on the gangway early morning. Together with a good piece of Limburgse vlaai (the famous cake), before leaving the southern province.