On Monday the 24th of August we started our engine at 9:48AM. As our destination for that day we choose for Akkrum. We subsequently cruised the Doekesloot/-sleat, Folkertssloot/-sleat, Gracht/Greft, Siteburense Ee/Sytebuorster Ie, Paanster(?) Ee/Peanster Ie, Gracht/Greft (again), Burstumer Rak, Bokkumer Meer/Mar, Nesker Sylroede (Dutch?) and Boorne/Boarn. In between there’s, according to Wikipedia, the Douwe Tseardsrak. We missed that one. Are you still with us?? When underway the ‘weather gods’ were definitely against us, proved by the picture of our view ahead when crossing one of the lakes. (The leaning mast is a bit disturbing.)

We stopped the engine at 11:30AM, after finding a comfortable space – in front of both shore power and water. What more could we wish for?

Heerenveen’s/It Hearrenfean’s centre can only be reached by passing three bridges. For our size that is. We reached our goal at 1:00PM. On Sunday the 30th friends of ours would arrive and accompany us for some days. As we have published (a) picture(s) before, this time we show the view from the inside of our little ship to you. Take the visible church in mind for the next video.

‘And now something completely different’. The male half of the two of us is a bad cook – to put it mildly. But he is capable of making high quality bacon pancakes, as sufficiently proven by this picture. The female half of the two of us only appreciates this, say, once in a quarter of a year (at most) as it is changes the galley into a greasy, slippery, part of our living space.

Our guests arrived on Sunday around noon. We decided to leave on the next Monday. So, after contacting the bridge-keeper, we started at 11:10AM and, after a beautiful but serious detour, reached Oldeboorn/Aldeboarn at 3:10PM. Here we are moored, amidst a most charming little Friesian village.

A view onto the ship in front of us – moored on the opposite bank. (She’s for sale!!) © Sylvia den Hartog-Tangel

We were moored more or less in front of a house named ‘De Boarnstee”, a former B&B (https://bedandbreakfast.be/bed_and_breakfast/detail/Nederland/Friesland/De_Boarnstee). Mind the word ‘former’, please. Boarn = the name of the river on which we’re moored. Stee = farm (ranch). An intriguing feature was the portrayal on the wall inside the hallway. The vast majority of the houses alongside the river were absolutely very well maintained.

The next morning, Tuesday the 1st of September (yes!, the ‘r’ in the name of the month is back – autumn is looming around the corner) we left charming Oldeboorn/Aldeboarn at 10:15AM for our intended new destination, being the exciting town of Sneek/Snits. After passing Akkrum again we had, among other waterways and lakes, to cross the vast Sneekermeer/Snitser Mar as well. That produces these kinds of beautiful pictures.

To our unspeakable happiness we were, after passing three bridges inside Sneek/Snits, able to moor alongside a relatively short quay next to Sneek’s/Snits’ most distinctive feature, being its ‘Waterpoort’ (water gate (Nixon!!)). See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterpoort, where we switched off the engine at 1:25PM. We almost instantly decided to stay for two days instead of the intended one. © Sylvia den Hartog-Tangel

Before entering Sneek/Snits we noticed ‘Robbedoes’, another Amersfoort-based ship, moored inside the Houkesloot/-sleat, just before Sneek’s/Snits’centre. To our surprise this big ship (also B&B, see https://woonschiprobbedoes.nl/en/home), passed us later that day. Based upon some advice from the harbourmaster, we read, the couple Wim & Anneke decided to tackle the narrow waterways of Sneek’s/Snits’ centre. It looked absolutely glorious.

We pictured them; Anneke, staying on the roof of their ship, pictured us. Wim, of course, was busy controlling their big ship. You really have your hands full with that job. © Anneke Robbertsen

Another view of our position – and the hustle and bustle in front of the opened bridge (closed for the ‘land-traffic’ – so it’s all relative).

Two boats leaving after passing the bridge. Another three waiting.

The superb view from our little ship. In the early morning of the 2nd of September 2020. Utter tranquility before the bridge opens, which is 9:00AM.

It was a slightly different view the next morning, on Thursday the 3rd of September around 8:00AM. Nevertheless we left at 10:15AM, after the weather had improved somewhat.

Leeuwarden/Ljouwert again. We arrived at 3:15PM, so after a five hour cruise in the rain, which is more or less a record for this season! (The hours, we mean.) Here we are, under the watchful (hmmm) eyes of three ducks. Our friends offered us an exquisite dinner in a restaurant in town (https://roastleeuwarden.nl/) and left us the next morning, to collect their car in Heerenveen/It Hearrenfean, followed by their journey home.

The space that was before occupied by the ducks, offered an overnight stop to even two sailing passenger-barges. They are beautiful, impressive and, of course, need an extensive and experienced crew. Seen from our wheelhouse this is what they look like.