There’s a saying amongst boating cruisers: Cruising is boat work – or in our case, make that renovations – in exotic places. How true that is, as this week Bob and I worked at a pace to complete painting and varnishing the pilot house. By late Saturday, the pilot house reno was finished, with the […]
Week 1 1st to 7th May, 2018 At last, the long awaited 2018 European journey has commenced. The 1st of May saw Bob and I embarking the plane for a flight that took us from the heat of Bali to the chill of Vlissingen in the Netherlands. On arrival at Gratis, it was to find […]
We hope you all had a relaxing Christmas After a much needed break in which the batteries have been recharged, and a delightful Christmas, updating the blog is underway once more. Dokkum to Leeuwarden: Netherlands, Europe Leeuwarden, Friesland: Netherlands, Europe
Queensland this week, Tamborine National Park: Queensland, Australia our day at the ship museum in Groningen, Netherlands Noordelijk Scheepvaartmuseum: Groningen, Netherlands and the motor from Groningen to Zoutkamp. Groningen to Zoutkamp: Groningen, Netherlands
Our European 2017 season has come to a close. We landed in Brisbane after a good flight back. Now it’s time to bring out the ‘Rolling G’ right and head north for a month or so. Check out our 2017 and 2018 journey in the Rolling G rig. http://www.gratisaustralis.com/category/australia-2017/ http://www.gratisaustralis.com/category/australia-2018/
The hard yakka has been completed and today the painting of the pilot house commences. Quick snap shots taken during the last few days. Clean out and removal of fans etc. Things always look worse before they improve… Bogging completed Ducting that covers the wires installed. Bob’s famous bean salad ready for dressing. Last muesli for the season…. […]
During the summer months, Museum Veere offers the visitor the rare opportunity of experiencing a few hours on board a replica of one the smaller traditional Dutch barges. Once used for the harvesting of mussels, today these vessels play a vital role in the tourism trade. This morning, Bob and I did just that! Having […]
The province of Zeeland isn’t that large, so the towns are a hop and a skip apart. On departing Veere, it was a short 8km motor that took us to the beautiful old town of Middelburg. The moorings situated on the outer edge of the old township were peaceful and the view of the 16th/17th […]
Taking the road to Arnemuiden Bob and I then trained it to Goes (pronounced ‘goose’). Today’s trip was a journey through crop country in which corn, spinach, onions and potatoes abounded. The roads were a thrum with the sound of tractors, as crops of onion and spuds were in the process of being harvested and […]
A short 3km motor south across the Veerse Meer brought us to the tiny township of Veere. Having wandered the streets, the afternoon saw Bob and I making the most of the late summer weather as we explored the countryside. And yes: there is more to come once we slow down.
A short 3km motor south across the Veerse Meer brought us to the tiny township of Veere. Situated on the shoreline of the Western Scheldt, the township was once a busy sea port for Scottish ships, and its old harbour now houses pleasure boats. The history of Veere commenced in the 1200s as the small […]
It was day that was peaceful and relaxing as Bob and I partook in a 41km bike ride – just love the electrics. With the barometer sitting at 1027, brought with it a sun filled day of warmth! The colours of Autumn were becoming more prominent with each passing day, bringing with them a more vibrant landscape. […]
Fishing boats were out on the Oosterschelde where tall sapling trunks marked their channels were placed. With it being close to low tide, the guides were necessary. Having passed beneath the last of the major bridges for the year, we passed through the lock that led us from the Oosterschelde National Park into the Veerse Meer, where […]
How packed and long are our days, and what days are they!! A short trip along the canals brought us to to the bucket list item of the day: the Het Schipvaartmuseum. The royal barge built for the first king of the kingdom of the Netherlands in 1815 was exquisite. There was plenty to see in […]
On our departure from Zierikzee, Bob and I were in the process of exiting the channel when a blue yacht drew our eye. Imagine our surprise on realising it was ‘Kind of Blue’, the owners of whom we first met on the far – off island of Cocos Keeling way back in June of 2014. […]
A quick visit to the Tower to look the now uncovered period costumes. Another beautiful tower. And time for a break.
The villages of Oude and Nieuwe – Tonga were until 1284 part of the Grijsoord manor estate owned by Floris V (Does the name sound familiar? He was the guy that annihilated the villages in West Friesland and had 5 castles constructed in the region. We visited one of them in Medemblik.). It was in […]
It Rained!!!!!!!! Grrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! An inside day as it rained all day. What dd we do? Relaxed.
With practically a click of the fingers, the clouds were blown away and out came the sun. We two Aussies don’t deal too well with days of grey! On went Betsy – Bob renamed her – and off down the Spui went we. Other than for a working barge, the river was ours. Some time […]
Having exited the Parksluis, into the Nieuw Maas went Gratis. Heading west, our aim was to reach Hellevoetsluis by mid – afternoon. Upon the Nieuw Maas, it is imperative that the VHF radio be monitored at all times, since the shipping on there is in proportions that defy belief. With the wash created by them, […]
