Our first week in a new country has been all we hoped for.
Two seasons of preparation are now beginning to pay off. After the crossing from England we spent a couple of days in Middleburg before heading up the waterway to the historic port of Veere.
Antiope moored in the old harbour at Veere
Little has changed in this picturebook dutch harbour here since my youth, here on family sailing holidays.
The dutch have been hard at work for centuries, keeping the North sea out of their back yard. in doing so they have created landlocked recreational waterways, like the Veersmeer, where we found a quiet island tied up and set up the BBQ.
First BBQ in Holland, on an Island on the Veersemeer
The morning after this magical evening, there were rumblings in the sky, heralding a dramatic thunderstorm,
Drama in the skies, over the Veersmeer
The trend for restoring and sailing traditional boats is strong here. We were overhauled by this Botter yacht on the Oosterschelte.
Traditional restored Botter yacht
We are getting familiar with lock etiquette. The general rule is that when the gates open and the lights turn green everyone makes their own run at it.
Survival of the fittest, tis good to own a steel boat.
Zandkreek lock at the head of the Veersmeem
July should see us heading northwards towards Amsterdam and the Isselmeer. but just now we are in no hurry enjoying the new found Summer weather.
Solar powered hydrofoil
While moored in Middleburg we watched a competition between solar powered craft, the winner, a hydrofoil reached speeds of 36km per hour.
Cheers Charles and Annie, in Zeeland
No comments:
Post a Comment