Although we described our mooring-spot at Nijetrijne/Nijetrine already last week we can’t resist posting some more pictures, made on Monday morning. It’s foggy and wet during autumn (nights), resulting in this kind of views.

Another one. When walking the dog in the relatively early morning one’s treated to this kind of images.

While in Blokzijl, in the daytime the weather was absolutely summer-like. That resulted in a lot of bustle around the harbour. There was even a visit by a group of ‘over-aged teens’ on their well-preserved Zündapp mopeds, type KS50. In proper Dutch this type of moped had the charming nickname ‘buikschuivers’ (literally ‘belly-slivers’). Note the yellow number-plate. Obviously they are considered motorcycles (most mopeds nowadays have a blue number-plate – and rush illegally like madmen). The owners did not object against being pictured as they are unrecognizable anyway.

Alas! We left Blokzijl the next morning – to find another mooring-spot, preferably for free this time. After leaving at 11:52AM we were forced to skip the first spot we had in mind because we did not see a proper possibility to run. The dog, you see. So we continued cruising, more or less forced. On the way, when entering the Kadoeler Meer, we passed this high-voltage-cables-pylon (?). The lower beams were occupied by, what seemed to us, a multitude of gulls. Admittedly we were not sure of the species; it was clear however where their toilet is!

After a three hours cruise we stopped at a (former) branch of the river IJssel (in itself a branch of the migty river Rhine), named Goot (= gutter). We moored there at 2:55PM, the idea being that is was dog-friendly there. In a way it was but the tall uncut grass kind of ruined things. Try to find the dog’s droppings in the dark – even with an electric torch. Unfeasible!

Things were not made better by a sign, next to a gate, offering several products from the farm nearby. The gate, however, remained firmly closed.

After one night we left at 9:24AM to moor 31 minutes later at Grafhorst, the waterway now named Ganzendiep (= geese-deep) – where we had been before, at the beginning of this year’s season. It felt like we’d been there ‘yesterday’. That’s not the only occasion we had that feeling, by the way.

Morning-view across the Ganzendiep from where we were moored at Grafhorst.

It’s not always party time when living on a little ship. Sometimes there’s work to do, like here: re-oiling the mast. The skylights are already done.

The second night in Grafhorst we had neighbours. Although they spoke the Dutch language fluently and told us their home port to be somewhere in the west of The Netherlands they had a strange flag flying. We’ve never seen this one before!

Two nights at Grafhorst was enough, we thought on Friday. So we left at 10:15AM. When leaving the Ganzendiep and entering the river IJssel the beautiful Kampen-skyline comes into view. No further comment.

A close-up of which can already be distinguished in the previous photo. Kampen’s ‘bruine vloot’ (brown fleet).

Still on the river IJssel at Kampen one sees the houses safely built on a higher level, so the river will be unable to harm. Some of them came up with something. They simply bought a ladder, thus able to reach their boat or swim. Clever!

The ‘Dutch touch’, so to speak. Visible from the river IJssel. All that can be said about is already said.

That day we cruised during even almost 4(!) hours, subsequently Ganzendiep, IJssel, Reevediep and Drontermeer – three locks (yes, three!) included, braving a downright storm at the Drontermeer. You know, one with real waves, foam traces and water splashing against the windows of the wheelhouse. Fortunately the strong wind came almost straight from the front. We switched off the engine at 2:10PM inside Elburg’s attractive harbour. This picture shows our current position, in front of the former fish-auction building (now a museum, closed indefinitely because of Covid-19).