Last Monday, the 25th of September 2017, we were ‘forced’ (explanation hereunder) to leave pretty Elburg. But first things first, as they say. Therefore, before leaving we got rid of old engine-oil and a used oil-filter -both replaced a few days before- and a pile of rubbish, we bought 88 liters of diesel and took in as much water as possible at the same time. As this picture shows the quay was partly abandoned – unlike during the busy weekend. There’s another striking something visible here, being two (former) fishing boats (‘botters’) with the same registration EB18. A local man suggested that the blue-rimmed boat is an antique one and the brown one a new built. Whatever the explanation, it’s odd nevertheless.

Here’s the explanation of us being ‘forced’ to leave. Using harbours for overnight stops is a necessity sometimes – for properly topping up all batteries, taking in water, shopping and visiting interesting places. As far as the latter is concerned, think museums, restaurants and pubs. There’s a large ‘but’, however, see the receipt for a 2-day stay. On a monthly basis this is over € 750,00 – which is more than we are prepared to pay for mooring-fees. Over € 25,00 a day is ‘normal’ for a ship of our size, by the way.

We entered one of the Randmeren, the Veluwemeer, again after staring the engine at 2:25PM. It was, to be frank, a greyish, dullish, day. A ‘highlight’ was meeting this impressive twin-master around 4:00PM. It was just a matter of steady going forward, at a speed of around 3.7 nautical miles (over 4 miles/6,5 kilometers an hour). The Veluwemeer was followed up by the Wolderwijd. Wijd = wide, and the only thing one sees is, indeed, water – in any case under the circumstances of that day.

We crossed the aqueduct north of Harderwijk around 5:00PM. Our intended mooring space was next to the motorway, leading from Harderwijk (former fishing port) into Flevoland (former Zuiderzee), in front of Harderwijk’s harbour-entrance. ‘Providing there’s a space’ we said to each other. Well, there was – we were the only ones and switched off the engine at 5:23PM. That were 4 hours of moderate boredom.

Harderwijk from the position as shown with the picture before this one, with a view towards the dome of Harderwijk’s Dolfinarium (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolfinarium_Harderwijk). An interesting read, related to the Dolfinarium, is to be found here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morgan_(orca). Keeping wild animals in captivity will always remain controversial.

A farewell view, at least for this summer, to the last of the Randmeren, being the Eemmeer. The Stichtse Brug is visible in the far distance and the island Dode Hond (Dead Dog, the name is discussed before) to the left. We have already left the highway; the ‘side-road’ leading towards the river Eem is marked by the large red-green buoy. The still hazy view creates an almost unnoticeable transition between air and water. That’s deadly dangerous when flying without using instruments. Lucky us, we’re on a little ship, kept exactly at the required level by the upthrust of the water. Only thick fog is a real enemy for us.

The ‘side-road’ is very well maintained – as is visible by this combination of dredger and mud-carrying ship. The two blocked the way partly, but we could pass without a problem. In line with the kont (= rear) of the mud-carrying ship the entrance of the river Eem is visible. One knows by (1) experience and (2) the direction of the buoys.

We reached land again, in this case represented by the river Eem, around 12:45PM – and subsequently our home-province of Utrecht. Quickly after entering there’s a 400 meters/quarter-of-a-mile long quay for pleasure-boats. We decided to stay there and switched off the engine at 1:15PM. We would describe this scene as ‘typical colourful Dutch’. Several wind turbines at Flevoland’s south bank are visible in the distance.

Our stay at the Eemmonding (‘Eemmouth’) was made history on Saturday the 29th of September at 9:30AM. After a most pleasant cruise we arrived at the attractive city of Amersfoort. For the second year this will be the place to be for us during the coming winter. We could find a gap to our liking in between other boats. This picture shows our current position. Maybe we’ll move a bit backwards after the boat behind us has left (tomorrow?), but not all the way towards the last boat. We have been there last year and that space is situated in front of two benches on the quay. Those benches are very popular with young people, having (shouting) conversations at, say, 100 dB(A), endless using their mobile phones and frequently ‘forgetting’ to put their rubbish in the large and convenient bin next to the benches. And they look at us in the wheelhouse….