Last week (week 32 – 2020 (I)) we only published a short video showing our departure from Haskerdijken/Haskerdiken on Monday the 3rd of August. Our departure was seriously delayed because during our initial attempt we immediately found out that our rudder failed us completely. After laboriously manoeuvring back into the nearest box (using our bow-thruster extensively) our host (Ad Verroen) started inspecting the ‘entrails’ of our instrument panel – see the picture. He quickly discovered however, that the problem was to be found in the lower area around the top of the rudder blade, where 4(!) bolts had given way. Three of them had completely disappeared (untraceable in the depths of the hull); the fourth was no longer inside its hole… Thanks to Ad, without whose knowledge and help we’d certainly have been in dire straits. Eventually we left late in the afternoon.

On our way from Haskerdijken/Haskerdiken to Heerenveen/It Hearrenfean we cruised the Hearresleat. It’s shallow near the bank, as proven by loads of ‘pompeblêdden’ (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seeblatt).

When arriving in Heerenveen/It Hearrenfean one has to tackle 3 bridges before reaching the centre of this town. Because we had to wait around 3 quarters of an hour in front of the first bridge we could walk the dog and explore the possibilities. We discovered a convenient mooring space in front of the second bridge – so passed only the first bridge. This is where we’ve been for the first night.

That evening we witnessed a fierce rain shower but the sun was never far away. Therefore, around 8AM a rainbow was visible in front of us. Sorry for the grey smudge. We’ve no idea how this could arise.

Our mooring space was close to the train-station, where our visitor for a week had arrived on Tuesday. In the meantime we had discovered (walk a dog!) that room had become available in the centre of town. So on Wednesday the 5th of August we passed another two bridges with a view to not being forced the next morning to do five bridges. Because of the size (height in particular) of our little ship we are unable to use a through-route, so we have to turn at the end of the canal to be able to leave the town. Here we are, on our second mooring space inside Heerenveen/It Hearrenfean for one night only. By the way, this town does not charge anything for mooring. Every facility one can think of is available within walking distance. Great!

The three of us left Heerenveen/It Hearrenfean the next morning, Thursday the 6th of August, at 9:05AM. On our way we witnessed this quintessential Frisian landscape, a splendid herd of cows included (Heafeart).

Our engine was switched off already at 11:07AM, when a convenient spot to moor came in sight. This is on the Heafeart, close to a village called Gersloot/Gersleat (295 inhabitants in 2019). Nowadays we look at mooring possibilities from a different perspective. That has to do with our lovely dog. Can he run freely? Are there other dogs around? That sort of things. He is young, playful and full of energy. He simply needs exercise, you know. If necessary by trotting next to a bike. This looked convenient. Besides, we were suffering a real heatwave.

Sunset on the 6th of August around 9:20PM.

Two days/nights at Gersloot/Gersleat on a free Marrekrite-space (https://marrekrite.frl/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/2001_marrekrite_kaart_EN_def.pdf) was enough reason -we want a visitor to show a few things- to leave on Saturday the 8th of August 2020 at 9:25AM. We immediately had to push a button -only reachable from a boat/ship- which miraculously started the process of opening a bridge in front of us. On the way we traversed Oldeboorn/Aldeboarn. Exciting! Narrow! Our plan was to end up in Akkrum/Akkrum – mainly for taking in water. We didn’t make it that far, as we spotted a convenient mooring space in Nes/Nes. Since the village is close to Akkrum/Akkrum, they usually speak about Akkrum-Nes. An anecdote of something that happened on Sunday. As you can see we are entirely moored next to the grassy municipal part. Despite this fact a grumpy old man approached our female half (the other half was… yes, walking the dog) and more or less ‘ordered’ her to move on a bit ‘as she was occupying his space’. Well, it happened that the harbourmaster had informed us the evening before about this man illegally occupying a part of the public area. Without paying a cent, that is. Although he was informed about the absence of 50% of our crew (‘I’ll see what we can do after his return’) he kept nagging. So our female half, knowing about the ‘stolen’ space, told him that we payed for it (a reasonable amount, by the way) and asked him how much he did. (She could have said ‘buzz off, whiner’.) He obviously pretended not to hear this question and disappeared. After our crew was fully present again we moved a bit forward, just as much as he asked for – and was possible without touching our front neighbour. It proved to be not enough for him. Bad luck, grumpy old man!

On Monday the 10th we left at 9:35AM. Our goal: a tiny island inside the Pikmeer/Pikmar near Grouw/Grou. A big ‘if’ though: providing there’s room. Lucky us, we found a space exactly the length of our little ship and at the very end of the shore-side and stopped the engine running some three quarters of an hour later. Ideal for human(s) and animal alike, as we were in no-one’s way sitting outside – the dog could run around free sometime and even swim!

Just another example of a Friesian lake. In this case Suderburds Wiid, a lake that was opened in June 2018 for water sports recreation, as seen from our position.

When cruising the Langdeel the charming little hamlet Warstiens comes in sight. It comprises of the inevitable church, 12(?) houses and has 30 inhabitants.

Leeuwarden/Ljouwert! Here we are again, moored at the quay immediately when entering Leeuwarden’s/Ljouwert’s town-moat (‘singel’ in Dutch). We arrived after almost 4 hours of cruising, crossing a lovely area where we’ll return asap. We are, by the way, next to a square called Mata Hariplein (‘Mata Harisquare’). She was born in Leeuwarden/Ljouwerd. Curious? See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mata_Hari.

There are various activities in Leeuwarden/Ljouwert at present. Crowd-supping among them. The Dutch verb for this activity is ‘suppen’ (or even ‘peddelsurfen’). In case one’s interested: it derives from the English (to) SUP – being short for Stand Up Paddle-boarding. Just so you know…

The last picture for this week. Next to where we are moored there’s a superb park – mostly named ‘De Prinsentuin’. We spotted this lady, 100% enjoying the fabulous weather while reading a book. And Leeuwarden’s/Ljouwert’s leaning tower is visible in the background. Someone tried to make us believe this tower tilts more than the one in Pisa, Italy. We’re not convinced.