Splitting up

23 May 2009

Back to work again, pleasure needs to be taken seriously! We have planned for a rather early departure with our convoy today. But first, we of course first a suitable group picture needs to be taken. So we all collect on the front deck of Vivente and Adje Nooitgedagt, mobilise the harbour master in his dinghy for two cans of beer, and shots are taken.

Looking around, one could easily imagine that it will hours to set us free before being able to leave Terschelling harbour. Because of the long weekend and excellent weather, our Linssen group is fully packed around. But with an amazing organizational talent, moving around with his dinghy and blowing the whistle, the harbour master makes a path for us to leave.

One outside the piers of Terschelling-West harbour at around 08:30 AM - again taking advantage of the tidal current, I can't stop taking pictures. At the tail of the convoy, curving around the sand banks, all the time we have a different view on the cord of Linssen yachts. This return trip is a kind of countdown, like the story of the ten little children. Very soon GiGi, the DS45 of Dick Moerman leaves us. Dick will take the route between the islands of Terschelling and Vlieland, going around the north side of Terschelling, Ameland and Schiermonnikoog. It is amazing to see him walk the aisle board with remote control, no other crew aboard.

Arriving at Kornwerdersluis within 2 hours, and lucky (again), no waiting time, both locks in parallel on our side opened, half of our pack in one lock, and other half in the other one, and almost at the same time leaving the locks again. Now the countdown continues. First Adje Nooitgedacht heads west to Medemblik. A few miles further on we say goodbye to Amphitrite and Vivente. They are heading to Enkhuizen. And next is our turn. With three of us - together with Beluga and Serious Pleasure - we take the direction to Workum.

To our surprise, the waiting area before the lock is very crowded. We expect a long waiting time for this rather small lock. But the lockkeeper probably was very good in jig saw puzzling in his childhood, and still practices this when filling up the lock. He waves us to enter as the last at the third turn. The lock door only can close, with our bow on one side, and our stirn on the other side of the lock. No damages, but I do have some concerns!

When we are mooring at cosy place with Workum churchtower on the background, we see dozens, no more than 100 very antique cars pass by. They are having a Antique car tour this day, visiting all eleven Frisian cities that are famous for the "Elfstedentocht" (the well known skating tour).

Though we still have a week ahead for our way back home, the Linssen Owners Group "Waddentour" ends here.