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August 15 & 16, 2007

Heusden - Terheijden: 4 1/2 hours

When we arrive in Heusden at around 15:00 hrs, it seems to be rush hour. Quite some skippers try to find a mooring in the cute little town, as poor weather conditions fore casted for next day. Indeed, this is a good place to stay for a while, with historic grounds to walk around, and a dozen of restaurants around the marketplace.

Several places to moor here. One possibility is the harbour to one of the two yachts clubs - we prefer the one at starboard site facing the town. It as a clubhouse build on a Normandy pontoon (really!), very nice & efficient harbour team, to be reached by marine radio (channel 31) before entering - so upfront knowing which place one can take. What I dislike, specifically in this busy moment, is the rather narrow entrance, and the crowded boxes with low fingers. With the strong side wind like today, I feel it like to be miracle if I can get in without damage.

Another opportunity is the small inner harbour, to be entered through the high old bridge besides the mill. We have moored there before, but experienced the disadvantage of the high quays, taking all the sun away. And no shore power, by the way.

The third possibility is the municipal quay, just outside the city wall and managed, by the way by the yachts club as well. We find a place there, sheltered for the increasing wind, and close by the evenly sheltered marketplace. Still some restaurants we did not experience yet to choose from, and just before the rain starts have dinner on the terrace. In case you might wonder why in such a small town so many exclusive cars being parked and driving around (by men alone)? Last year Heusden became a gossip town because the street price of Postcode Jackpot hit the ground here. And by the way, another tv-series "Men without there wives" has started here.

Terheijden on the Mark river

Next day, indeed completely different compared to our terrace night dinner. Rainy and stormy. Going further west, where the Maas enters the Amer with strong bow wind, we decide not to follow that route straight to the widening Hollands Diep and Volkerak, but enter the Markkanaal at Geertruidenberg. The latter place has a nice inner town as well, but we pass because the small inner harbour seems already to be crowded at noon. We continue our way to Terheijden, where we find a cosy and sheltered little mooring and have a superb dinner with our friend Kees & Thea, who live nearby.