Our dog, although unable to speak of course (remember, it’s a dog), is perfectly capable of pointing out his desires. This picture was taken around 5:00 PM, when he is of the opinion that it’s time for his dinner. We always try to postpone it until 5:30PM, achieving varying degrees of success.

We’ve been next to the Malebrug (on the river Eem) for 6 nights this week. Yes, yes, we know, one’s only allowed to stay there for 3 nights. We would, of course, happily obey to this rule but it still seemed off-season, as the entire period we have been the only ones there. What does one do then? Well, among other things, we do walk. The two of us, of course accompanied by Jay, our dog. Sometimes one’s lucky, like last Monday. In the centre of a meadow we discovered four roe deer of different seizes. We pictured this fascinating sight. Sorry for the poor quality of the picture: it was at a considerable distance, so we had to crop the original one substantially.

The result of number two, as performed by the dog, is visible on top of our male half’s hoodie… (He, the dog that is, does not need a muzzle, it’s a gentle lead you see – to prevent him from pulling.)

For the number three (we read, what on earth is number one??) the dog just picks one of the poles next to the walk-/cycle-path. Initially we were puzzled by the abbreviation ‘gld’. Normally that’s an abbreviation for the province of Gelderland (Gld). We are, however, still inside the province of Utrecht. Later on we concluded it was an abbreviation for Grebbeliniedijk. For more information about the Grebbelinie, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grebbe_Line (higly recommanded).

After having had a swim (or two) the dog has to dry up using the warmth of the sun. Our mooring spot as well as the weather (although a cold wind during almost the entire week) provided a ideal surrounding for the dog.

We’ve been biking together with Jay, too. He needs the exercise (well, not only him!) and loves it.

Our view on Saturday the 17th, after having had an extensive bike-ride (with the dog) and just before we left the spot next to the Malebrug at 11:11 AM.

After having left the Malebrug (Soest) this is what our dog did. Sleeping, well, sometimes, in his own place inside the wheelhouse.

From where we are moored now, another walk-/cycle-path leads towards Eemnes, along the side-waterway (Eemnesservaart, see https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eemnesservaart - only in Dutch) from the river into the village. After a few hundred metres a small marina is created in front of the only lock (the ‘Eemnessersluis’).

A detail taken from the previous photo. Our little ship is just visible left from the power generating propeller - and right from the mast in the centre of the picture. (Can you find the name ‘Eemnes’?)

The elegant lock, part of the Eemnesservaart, at a distance of about 250(?) metres from the river.

A detail again, this time taken from the lock-picture. The gates at the high (river-)side of the lock are brand-, brand-, brand-new: 2021. Newer is, at least this year, simply impossible!

(Translation to the best of our abilities) ‘History of the little marina at the lock. After 1945 there were already 'pleasure'-ships in the chamber in front of the lock. Over the years, the number of ships increased, especially after the lock was closed in 1953 and a concrete wall was placed in 1958. Before this closure, there were also ships in the inner harbour of Eemnes. After the lock had been closed, two ships were moored in the entrance opening of the lock and the other ships along the north side (= Eemmeer-side) and self-made jetties in the zod (what’s that?) on the south side. The ‘dike-count’ at the time, Mr Tijdeman, also mayor of Blaricum, did not like all those 'unorganized' boats. The water was then the property of the municipality of Eemnes, but the land around it and the dikes and banks belonged to the water board. When the dike on the north side began to crumble along the bank, the berth holders were convened on 26 April 1972 in a public building at the Kerkstraat in Eemnes by mr Tijdeman. He said that the boats had to leave along the north side, because the dike was damaged too much by them. From the subsequent discussions with a delegation of the skippers, it was decided in consultation with the municipality of Eemnes to set up a foundation. On January 22, 1973, the permit for the Eemnessersluis Foundation was approved by the municipal council and on November 29, 1973 the foundation was established. On January 12, 1973, the water board proposed to construct a shoring with braided azobé (hardwood) mats near the north wall of the chamber in front of the lock, on which the foundation could build a scaffolding. The southern (= Amersfoort-side) jetty was constructed in a provisional form against the zod (what’s that?) with anchored buoys and as a handhold at the rear. However, the boats were in front of the discharge opening of the pumping station, so the foundation had to consult with the water-board again. Old drawings and a painting showed that it (= the ‘zod’) was created after the demolition of the old windmill that drained the polder. Previously it had been the discharge of the mill. For this reason, the harbour on the south side was allowed to be returned to its old form in 1978. Where the 'sheep pasture' is lies the mud of the (earlier mentioned) zod. Initially 1 meter high, but soon reduced to the current height. The definitive south jetty was initially built too low, but after being replaced by a hardwood jetty, it was raised by 18 centimeters. In 2014 and 2016 respectively, the north and south jetty were renovated with plastic scaffolding parts. Almost all work in the port was carried out by the berth permit holders in-house.’ (This story lacks information about demolishing the concrete wall and re-installing lock-gates. According to Wikipedia that happened in 1993(?).

The entire complex: pumphouse and adjacent lock.
Eemnes’s tower is visible in the background. The lock is only used once a year: for the Saint Nicholas boat! Perhaps more about the interesting pumphouse next time… Both pumphouse and lock are national monuments.

The view as seen from the pump-house towards Eemnes. The appropriate description seems to be: lovely!

Yesterday, later in the afternoon, a flock of sheep was 'placed' after a light movable fence was installed. It made our view for this morning. Fabulous!

A few hours later today the sheep broke out and grazed in peace next to our little ship.

This picture gives a good impression of almost the entire flock and shows where the fence is still intact.

Together with an impressively trained sheep dog (a border collie), the shepherd gathered his flock and moved it to an adjacent meadow (presumably the ‘sheep pasture’). You now know that we take a bike ride with our dog every day (weather providing). When we returned, the flock of sheep blocked the cycle-path while on the way to the other pasture. The shepherd ordered his dog to make the flock to clear the cycle path. The dog solved the 'problem' in seconds and we were able to pass uninterrupted. Note: the meadow is still partly flooded. It’s a paradise for the wading-birds.