Amsterdam to Volendam via Ijmeer & Markermeer, 25 km
Fuel 3/4=, water3/4, engines 879. Dry, overcast, but rain lurking in the clouds.
.0900 Cast off from Aeolus, promising the harbourmaster that we would return in a week.
……. A note here about Aeolus—the reports we had heard from other sailors give a very false impression. We found that security was good, the staff could not be more friendly, and the residents of the neighbourhood were as peaceable as you would find anywhere. Add to this that a very large supermarket is literaaly next door, that it’s only an extra 10 minutes walk over Sixhaven, and that the clubhouse price for a glass of wine is Eur 1.00, and there’s no contest.
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| A horizon view |
.0930 Clearing Oranjesluis, which seemed to open when it saw us coming. Then, out into a delightful expanse of broad, calm water, where the sky was brightening up. Dotted with islands, it was great cruising country. We cruised along on the edge of the main channel, watching the ships and barges of all sizes as they plied along their ways.
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| At the lighthouse |
.1000 Pootling along at 8kn on a flat sea (although it felt more like a lake), at buoy MIJ9. Depth out of channel still 3.0m. AOK.
.1030 AOK. Some weed to be negotiated. Lots of yachts now on the move, requiring a wide berth (Middlewatch does make a sizeable wake, even at 8 kn). Now at MIJ3. Starting to rain, but still a glimmer of hopeful blue above the horizon.
.1100 Rounding Marken Island at MN5. AOK. Great scenery, albeit still cloudy and dry.
.1130 Approaching Marina Volendam. Tie up on reporting berth (“meldsteiger”) and phone for berth. (We learned later that there was a push button on the notice board which gave a direct connection to the harbour office)
.1200 Astern into box B31, and, amazingly, next to Roger & Jenny of several previous entries!
The marina looks super, fees Eur 13.50 per night +1 for electricity. Showers and wifi free
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| Volendam waterfront |
To our disappointment, the wifi was not working properly. Even though they had told us at the office that their regular service was faulty, and had given us free access to a commercial hotspot, the signal strength was low, the speed terrible, and the dropouts regular. (Is it not remarkable that the internet has become such a mainstream part of everyday life?)
Anyway, after sorting out and settling in we unfolded the bikes and pedalled round to the Volendam waterfront, and what an experience—it was like when Blackpool met San Fransisco Pier 59– thousands of tourists, hundreds of cafes, dozens of tourist day-trip boats, and even 1 very large hotel-ship which berthed very gingerly before disgorging its contents to join the tourist throng. It was a great holiday feeling to be a part of it all.
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| A tourist in Edam |
We spent some time taking all of this in at a pavement coffee table, and then, suitably amazed and refreshed, we cycled off to Edam, 5km distant. (By now, we are much more in control of the bikes, and can even ride 2-abreast without disaster.)
Edam is enchanting, with its canals, bridges, buildings and beautifully-kept residences, which we meandered around for long enough to merit a coffee in one of its squares before cycling back. When we arrived, our “neighbour” Jenny of “Avocet, Felixstowe” suggested a get-together, so, after dinner, we had a late evening soiree on Middlewatch, and finally a hand or two of cards to round off the day. A cracking day out, Gromit
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