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Published: July 20th 2014
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Sneek Waterpoort
The only Water Gate left in Sneek Our friends duly arrived dead on time having managed all the connections from Schipol with aplomb. The next day dawned grey, windy and cold but the wind was from the South and we were going due North so we decided to put our nose out into the Ijsselmeer, see what it was like and decide whether it would be Medemblik on the West side or Stavoren on the East where we really wanted to go in order to get into Friesland and specifically Sneekermeer. We always try to give our friends albeit a small but varied cameo of Holland and so we were aiming for some town moorings and some island moorings.
So we went for it….and 2 hours later, after a rather bumpy and surfing crossing we entered into the peace of the inland canal system in the rain on the other side of Holland. It wouldn’t have been possible in Isabela (i.e. it would have been possible but very uncomfortable) if the wind had been in any different direction. We finally moored up in Heeg and wandered into the tiny “town” for dinner- our friend had mustard soup and Worst, and eels, a local delicacy. We were impressed.
Model Sailing Dinghies
Includes 4 that we have owned We don’t usually do school holidays – indeed why would anyone if they didn’t have to. And we had carefully planned our time in Holland to be back in the UK for August- without checking that in fact the different regions of Holland rotate their school holidays and this year Friesland is on holiday for the first 3 weeks of July – so we were a little concerned about how difficult mooring would be. To date we had always been impressed with the sheer capacity – you never arrange anything in advance; you just turn up, find a berth if you can and if not the havenmeester will help.
The next day dawned – hot and sunny – we left our little tiny marina and went into Sneek, pronounced Snake, moored up next to some very impressive sand sculptures, had lunch and nearly left Paul in his idea of heaven – a boat museum!! To be fair it was a lovely place, with many exhibits of different sorts of boats including most of the dinghies we have ever sailed and many traditional boats. It also gave information about the history of this area which is rather like the
Norfolk broads on a bigger scale – many meers and rivers all resulting from peat digging. It also told the story of the 11 Friesland cities ice race – which the winners do in about 7 hours – about 120 miles, which is run whenever the waterways ice over completely. In fact the museum lady thought that the last one was in 1997 because the winters have just not been cold enough – and because so many people come from all over the world to particpate that the ice has to be a lot thicker!!
Back on board and now to fight the good fight for moorings with all the holiday makers – we needn’t have worried…crossing the Sneekermeer (carefully because of a maximum depth of 1.7) we found a mooring i.e. a fixed strip of wood a metre off the bank with posts to tie to, all to ourselves and we settled into the evening’s entertainment. Our friends are keen bird watchers and did their best to educate us – our highlight was a yellow hammer and also a reed warbler, a harrier and of course a stork. - and Paul saw many oyster catchers – Albany members
Skutsje Racing
Wednesday Evening Racing on Sneekermeer will know the significance of that! We also watched farmers cutting their silage – not unusual but then transporting their tractors etc. across the waters on a tractor ferry! This was followed by about 10 traditional boats racing, a wonderful sight.
The next day after a dinghy ride round the even shallower little rivers we set off for Akkrum where our friends were getting their train back to Schiphol. This was accomplished in good time and an ideal mooring from which to eject them – so far so good! Back on our own we went back into Sneek to arrange a mooring for Isabela for the whole of August as we think this area is ideal for either going to the Frisian Islands in September or visiting some more towns on the way back to her winter berth in Drimmelen. The day is very hot and although Heather had promised herself a chance to do some clothes shopping, (a very unusual event but caused by the rate at which clothes are worn in this heat) we had to get out of the town and find a mooring. This did prove more difficult but we found a lovely
Poo Tank Barge
Vuilwater is Foul Water spot, next to a windmill, on another meer with loads of traditional sailing boats. The next day the question was to stay put and hide from the sun or to make our way to a national park that is nearby. It is of course the weekend so the pressure on places may be even greater – but then again the Frieslanders – or Fries as they are called – all have to go back to school next week! The need for some supplies won out so we departed earlyish in order to try to find a shop and then get to a berth as everyone is either leaving or finding berths. However we found a berth in the town quay and decided it was too hot to fight the good fight for a more picturesque spot so we have spent the afternoon watching every possible form of craft go past us – it’s like a cross between the Med and Butlins at the height of the season, the heat is incredible – 33deg – and there is everything from windsurfers, canoes, every possible form of motor and sailing boat and even an American landing craft called American Dukw. It’s like
Open Spoorbrug
Note the sides of the rail track have folded up to create room Piccadilly Circus on speed and in the water but at least we don’t have to do anything!
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