Our stay in Heerenveen/It Hearrenfean wasn’t over yet on Monday the 18th of July. Although we especially returned to be part of a birthday-celebration (see last week) we feel happy next to the Heerenwal. Unlike the Breedpad (see week 22) where we experienced young cheeky drunkards sometimes jump on our ship, especially during the weekend.

Before we finally left on Wednesday we had to make a picture of an, as far as boats are concerned, empty, yes: empty!, Breedpad. That’s a real rarity in Heerenveen’s/It Hearrenfean’s centre.

Eventually we left Heerenveen/It Hearrenfean on Wednesday the 20th of July at 9:12AM. Among other waterways we cruised the Heeresloot/Hearesleat, waved at our friends on ‘Avontuur’ when passing Jachtbemiddeling Heeresloot (https://www.heeresloot.nl/), negotiated the Deelsbrug (a bridge that is part of the train route Heerenveen/It Hearrenfean – Leeuwarden/Ljouwert and finally moored once more at the Meinesloot/Meindesleat in Akkrum at 11:22AM. In case you wonder: yes, our little ship is somewhere to be found in this picture.

One of the things worth mentioning in Akkrum is the 'Coopersburg' building. An explanation: Folkert Kuipers (Frank Cooper), born in Akkrum in 1843, emigrated to the United States as a 22-year-old. He made his fortune as a co-owner of major department stores in Chicago and New York. Folkert remained loyal to Akkrum. He decided to provide good housing to poor, old, inhabitants of Akkrum. In 1900 he founded 'Coopersburg', a building with 22 houses, located in a beautiful park. The residents paid no rent and received a substantial weekly allowance. The Coopersburg Foundation was an early example of elderly care. See for more: https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Cooper (in Dutch or, if you prefer, in Frisian).

We stayed in Akkrum for two nights. It's so nice there that, although we initially planned one night, we 'sticked' a second night to it. Besides, the weather was not inviting at all, to put it mildly. So we left not earlier than Friday the 22th at 10:22AM with a plan to travel in Dokkum’s direction. That’s all, as we are not very familiar with the area to traverse – let alone knowledge of favourable places to walk a dog. (‘We’ll see.’) On the way, when crossing one of the lakes that day, we spotted this typical Frisian sailing vessel. Majestic!

After an intensive search (the choice is limited when it comes to exercise for the dog) we ended up at 3:26 (about 5 hours of cruising!) next to an artificial island within the Bergumermeer/Burgumer Mar. We forgot to make a photo but are saved by....Google Earth of course.

The next day, Saturday the 23th of July we left the artificial island (not that favourable for dog owners, unless it’s a very calm and obedient dog) at 9:30AM. Destination: Dokkum. With temporarily lowered flag and mast because we would have to pass several fixed bridges with a vertical clearance of just 3 meters. If you forget to lower your vertical sticking out parts you will know for the rest of your (boating) life… We arrived in Dokkum after almost 3 hours of cruising and switched our engine off at 12:24PM. Here we are – after turning 180°, we like to use the starboard side as an entrance and exit.

Dokkum, when arriving from the south/west. We arrived from the south/east. Dokkum has a very high 'beauty level'. By the way, also a high ‘boat-content’!

During the history lesson, in the old days, at school, we learned that Boniface (British born) was allegedly murdered near Dokkum. Be that as it may, there is a Boniface chapel in Dokkum. It looks like this photo shows. See also: https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonifatiuskapel (in Dutch and Frisian).

Stations of the Cross in the park around the chapel. 'Catholic processions on public roads were banned for a long time in the central and northern Netherlands. Frisian Father Titus Brandsma took the initiative to build a processional park in Dokkum on private land. Participants in the procession walked past the stations of the cross in the park. The stations of the cross were completed between 1936 and 1949. The 'chapels' are largely built from monastic bricks/rocks from the former Franciscan monastery in Bolsward. The terracotta images are by the artist Jac Maris from Malden, who was friends with Titus Brandsma.' This is number 6 (of 14) ‘Veronica wipes the face of Jesus.’