One more picture from the island next to the Driewegsluis at Nijetrijne/Nijetrine. Just because of the almost romantic atmosphere it creates. A man walking his dog. © the dog’s mistress

To be able to leave our temporary mooring space we had to pass the bridge that was described last week. Since that bridge is just too low for us it has to be opened. One needs a key to do that, which can be obtained either from the harbourmaster or the keeper of the lock – both at quite a distance. Furthermore we were planning to cruise in the ‘wrong’ direction, i.e. opposite to the position of both key-holders. Fortunately our neighbour on ‘Alpha’ was willing to both open the bridge for us and return the key (by bicycle). We left at 11.15AM on Tuesday the 28th of July and switched off the engine again at 12:44PM at Echtenerbrug/Ychtenbrêge. This picture shows our luxury position there, electricity and much needed water at hand.

At times it was extremely busy in Echtenerbrug/Ychtenbrêge. It’s a paradise for kids, too.

The small island turned out not to be favourable to the dog. It was that tiny that he was unable to run freely, biking was out of the question and two little other dogs distracted him and, as often, were slightly scared of him because he is super-enthusiastic. So we left on the same day(!) at 2:00PM and moored again in the Engelenvaart at Nieuweschoot at 3:00PM, close to Heerenveen/It Hearrenfean. Chains come in handy there, because of the structure of the shore side. We already bought two chains during our narrowboat-era, in this case around 2008, in Gloucester Dock. We used them before in France, when we had to wait on the river Oise for a technician. Unfortunately one of us (‘the rope man’) did not pay sufficient attention, causing one of the valuable chains to disappear underwater. Sh*t! Using a boot-hook did not bring the desired result. Fortunately the neighbour in front of us, seeing one of us struggling, offered a strong, heavy magnet. That helped… The chain was recovered from the canal’s depth. Lucky us!

One night next to uncut grass, full of ticks, was enough for the three of us. Therefore we left on Saturday the 1st of August at 10:45AM, after having contacted our friends in Haskerdijken/Haskerdiken (also close to Heerenveen/It Hearrenfean) because we suspected to be too early. ‘No’ was the answer, ‘do come’. We arrived at Haskerdijken/Haskerdiken at 12:45PM and found a berth inside a box after some manoeuvring in reverse. Our friend’s ship even protrudes more than ours – and they obtained permission. So we’re safe.

Visiting our good friends at their ship, ‘Avontuur’, was very pleasant. Of course our dog followed the hostess wherever she went or whatever she did. She made this picture of him, patiently waiting at the top of the (steep) stairs. © Tineke Heek

Our view during a very convivial evening indeed. Utterly peaceful, accompanied by lively conversation and the intake of a few modest alcoholic drinks. © Tineke Heek