It rained for much of the day and we won’t mentioned the bone numbing cold. Despite the unpleasant weather, with the tram stop right outside the marina, Bob and I still had the opportunity of having an outing. Forgetting most museums are closed on Mondays and not checking opening times, the Maritime Museum – one […]
A mid – morning start took us to through a lock and out of the Gouwe Canal into the Hollandse Ijssel River. Within seconds, Gratis felt the gentle current giving a helping hand and her speed increased slightly. The rain had passed thankfully, but a chill wind swept the air and we were both well […]
After almost two full days and a night of rain of rain, the skies commenced clearing around mid – afternoon: enough for Bob and I to walk the kilometre and a half into Gouda. World famous for its cheeses, the centuries old tradition of the cheese market still takes place every Thursday – sadly, we […]
Sadly, the weather forecast proved spot on for a change: a deluge of rain poured down upon us throughout most of the day. It truly has been a wet season! With numerous days of similar ilk predicted, and only three weeks remaining until we arrive in Vlissingen for the winter, a change in the last […]
Yesterday, the intention had been to moor in Katwijk, however a late start had us spending the night in Lisse. This morning, a morning trip should have put us there, however two bridges determined otherwise. All was going well as the landscape was being admired. Then bridge one, in the shape of a small wooden structure, struck!!!!! […]
After months of searching Bob at last found them!!! Two good second hand e bikes with a reasonable price tag at ‘De Groene Tweewieler’, a bike shop that deals specifically with e – bikes in Haarlem (new and second hand). The friendly salesmen couldn’t have been more helpful and we highly recommend them if you […]
A bike ride and train trip took us to Zandvoort this morning. The aim had been to explore the region south of yesterday’s exploration. Known as Kraansvlak, this is where the visitor has an opportunity to sight the endangered creature called the Wisent. A species of bison that colonised Europe, its Asian forefather wandered the […]
There are natural hills in the Netherlands, believe it or not! Not large ones of course, being only hillocks, but enough to make one’s legs a little wobbly if not enough bike riding has been undertaken, and just 8km out from Haarlem in Zuid Kennemerland National Park! Having arrived, whilst wending our way along the bike […]
As we said yesterday, Haarlem is an exquisite township full of history and beautiful architecture. Dating back to the tenth century, a time when the counts of Holland set in place a toll post in order to collect fees from the marine traffic, the name itself originated from the word ‘Haarloheim’, which meant a wooded area situated […]
An early start in the brisk morning air, soon found us on our southward bound journey once more. Rain heavy cloud formations northward bound, left us with feelings of relief to have left those rainy days behind. The lighting was perfect for photos this morning. Turning left into the Noorder Buiten Spaarne River the motor became quite picturesque. A […]
The past one and a half weeks had been marvellous, but as the season of Autumn commenced its advance, it was time………. Water tanks filled and decks washed, to the west of Amsterdam Gratis motored: one more must do job before we could be Haarlem bound that afternoon. With four more weeks of travelling ahead […]
It’s been a delightful couple of weeks that Bob and I have experienced, exploring South Holland’s city of Amsterdam. One last trip to the washerette, and then we are on our way. Washerette in the Netherlands. One makes the most of these when they can them in the Netherlands, as the coin laundry is […]
Another two items on the bucket list ticked today. Initiated by the Amsterdam council in 1638 as a medicinal herb garden, Hortus Botanicus in Amsterdam is among the oldest botanical gardens in the world. In those days, medicines were created from herbs and with the plague running rampant through Europe at the time, the race […]
A relax day today, in which I sorted through the pamphlets collected and Bob completed the electrical connections to our new hot water system: It works a dream! Taken on the phone from my walk And it’s just outside of the city.
A tram trip or two took us south of Amsterdam to Sloten. Just loved the Molen Van Sloten and Kuiperijmuseum! Run by volunteers, our guide was a font of information. This photograph was beautiful – my image of it doesn’t do it justice, but you get an idea. This image shows the levels of Amsterdam in […]
This was market day! First off, the Dappermarkt. Other than for a few food stalls that served foods not usually found in these markets, it didn’t hold our interest, so on we dinghied. The Noordermarkt, now that was worth the effort! A wide variety of healthy fresh bio foods, numerous cheese stalls – one of […]
The plan today? A visit to the Molen Van Sloten en Kuiperijmuseum. Where the hours went, we shall never know! Morning departure was the earliest, yet. We paused on occasion, as I attempted to procure that perfect shot of the timid blue heron. What are you looking at, says he! A stop here and there […]
In a combination of cycle and train journey, Bob and I travelled to the modern township of Lelystad. An unexpected tour through the exquisite Zuigerplas, with its creeks, lake and multitude of wood and heath areas. This was a large parkland and pond area that was created from the sand extracted when the dyke that now […]
Day two of the Bucket List to in The Nemo Science Centre. Adults, let out your inner child. One has need to experience the electrical buzz in the atmosphere, as words can’t describe this place! Fun packed floors of activities (work labs and lectures), covering all areas of science, there is something to find there […]
A few short hours of motoring took us from the smaller canals to the main waterway and western edge of Amsterdam. The chart plotter was a mass of black triangles – each one represented a watercraft that carried AIS. After travelling through the western canal, we discovered it was impossible to reach the marina that […]
