If you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll end up somewhere else…...and if you miss your way as you go along, it could be even different, but that’s for later.
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| Gill checks for extraction damage |
Sunday morning in Willemstad was bright and warm. The forecast was for little or no rain, and with sunny periods, perhaps a few showers. Our plan was to head North along the “Staandemast Route”, and see what the day suggested, as we were in no particular rush to arrive anywhere. The water tanks were full, our fuel now low, and engine hours were reading 861. We were 4 in against the harbour wall, with another 4 rafted fore and aft.
Nobody was in a hurry to move on such a fine Sunday morning, even though we had announced previously that we would be leaving at 1000. The fun began , and the extrication was as painful as ever seen in any dentist surgery, with boats drifting off at angles, leaving us only feet all round. Finally, after a few bumps to our stern against the wall and a 29-point turn, we were off, and tied up for fuel. Extracts from the log:
1015 Extricated from the wall.
1025 Fuelling up. Port 192, stbd 207 ltrs, total 399 cost Euro 555 (about £500), the record so far.
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| The Haven at WV de Lek |
1045 Join Hollands Diep channel at HD13. 1300/1500, giving 6.7 kn log/sog. (engine revs adjusted for sound, sync, and fuel usage balance). Still stering on paper chart, referring to buoy numbers—easy. Busy barge traffic, wonderful conditions—not even enough wind to flutter the pilot jack! AOK
1115 Passing abeam of a Shell petrochemical plant, otherwise perfect picture-postcard scenery. Difficult to resist the urge to keep taking yet more photos of scenery (which never do proper justice –as Gill said “you just have to be here”)
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| Throwing a wobbler? |
1145 Crossing from Hollands Diep into Dortse Kil, following v.large barge. Outgoing stream slows us down—log 6.6, sog 4.5, but who’s in a hurry? Keeping in contact via texts—all ok.
1215 Still making leisurely progress. 6’5log/4.0sog. Passin a “Barge Marina” at D9. Cloudy with longish brightb spells, calm water, slight breeze. Impressed by the leading lights system for the barges on river bends.
1245 Steering starboard into Oude Maas, not easy to see. The red/green bouyage system mostly follows the flow, but not always, and gets intermingled at confluences (I think?) We had thought of stopping here (Dordrecht), but it looks too industrialised .
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| On the ferry to the windmills |
1300 Belay that last entry. As we moved through the city, it became clear that Dordrecht could indeed be a good spot for a touristical visit on a future occasion. Lunch on the go.
1315 At “The Ark”, a huge building in the shape of an ark, with animals poking out every where.
1330 But, alas, we shouldn’t be here! So busy admiring Dordrecht that the skipper/navigator mistook one islet for another, and took a wrong turn. This was discovered when an unexpected bridge turned up, and the reds and greens were on the wrong side.
1400 Moving back to where we went astray.
1415 Back on track, now in the “Noorde”. AOK. 1300/1500 6.7 log/6.0sog.
1445 Passing under Ablasserdam bridge. AOK. A little spurt of speed required to get ahead of a gaggle of yachts which had been waiting for the opening section.
1515 A very warm welcome and a number of helpful rope-takers as we entered and tied up at “”VSW De Lek”, just across the river from the UNESCO-sponsored family of windmills which are a major attraction in these parts. This is a very peaceful little marima (about 90 boats) in a calm little inlet of the Lek, abounding in bird-life, with only the sound of the tweetie-birds and the occasional hum of passing barge engines. Not far away can be seen the ferries which ply to and fro with local commuters and windmill tourists. The marina costs £10 per night incl electricity, showers 50c. Engines 816, fuel 7/8 ea, water full.
After a short breather, and the obligatory cup of tea, we took a stroll around the vicinity and the Sunday-quiet shops, and found a hole-in-the-wall machine to replenish the cash which is quite often the only way to pay in Holland. Then back to the marina to continue enjoying the perfect environment, to inform the harbourmaster that we would stay another night, to dinner on board, followed by cocktails on the veranda overlooking the river before retiring.
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| vv de Lek from across the river |
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| Fuelling up at Willemstad |
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