Waterloo Lego

 After two weeks of cruising South, we have reached our rally rendezvous at Theiu, Belgium.

We leave the land of windmills

Because of a collapsed road bridge in Belgium, our track has taken us westwards through Zeeland,  so for a while we joined the lower reaches of the Rhine river (or Rijn in Zeeland) almost 1000 Kms from the upper navigable limit in Basle where we took Antiope back in 2017. Over the years we have now completed the entire navigable length of this great river

We join the wide Rhine (Rijn) river on our way South.

Almost 1000 Kms from Basle, and 35 kms to the sea.

We share the Hansweert lock with a regatta fleet.

We could have continued our voyage down the Rhine and out to sea and into Belgium at Zeebrugge, but chose to take the short cut cut across Zuid Beverland to the Schelde at Hansweert. With the benefit of the incoming tide, we sweep up inland as far as Dendermonde and lock into the Belgian waterways. 

 

On the tidal Schelde, we pass the old town of Antwerp

We enter Belgian waters at Dendermonde lock. 

Taking a day out from passage making and ahead of schedule, we took the train to visit the Waterloo battle ground. We had passed close by on our way north three years earlier but then had no time to spare. 

The cast iron Lion atop the Waterloo memorial mound

roars defiantly at France.

Our visit coincided with the 210th year anniversary of the battle. There representing the English side were members of the Lancashire regiment that origanally fought alongside Wellington, and were carrying their regimental colours.

 Lancashire regimental colour bearers.  

It is 227 steps to the top, 

We took advantage of an exellent guided tour of the museum with an authentic looking French infantry soldier, with Napoleon's viewpoint of the battle

Our guide looking the part, 

behind him the battlefield.

Wheatfields now cover the battle site  

It was sobering to walk through the gently rolling acres of ripening wheatfields where an estimated 50,000 were killed or injured as a result of a battle that lasted less than 12 hours.

The Hougoumont farm played a critical role in the battle, and is preserved as part of the Museum.

This Chestnut tree, still scarred with shot, survived the battle 

Somewhat bizarre, but within the Museum was also a vast temporary 'Lego' exibition. It was included in our entry ticket.

Lego portraits of Napoleon and Wellington.

Among the many display cabinets was this Lego battle scene  

Life size French soldier entirely in Lego  

We continued our passage Southwards along the Dender and Blaton-Ath canals to our redezvous with the Dutch Barge Association rally at Thieu. 

A tranquil stretch Dender and Blaton-Ath waterway 

It has been a dozen years since we last cruised this delightful waterway

Annie, on bow line duty! 

 

Just one of the four historic lifts at Thieu.

We take Antiope up this lift ! Watch this space.

Cheers Charles and Annie  

Big day, now South

 On the 3rd of June Antiope emerged from her 'Hall' looking all bright and shiny. Johan, one of the new boatyard owners, carefully managed the whole re-launch operation while Annie and I watched from a respectful distance.

Antiope is dwarfed by the 25 ton hoist, 

Cradled in slings, she was swung out over the waterway and lowered into her righful element.

Ready for a new adventure ?

Our plans for this season could now be given a bit more credibility. Before leaving New Zealand we had registered to join a boat rally in Belgium organised by the Dutch Barge Association. This was scheduled for the last week in June, but while we had been working away in the shed the days were ticking by and we also knew that a niggling cooling issue with one of our engines could not be looked at until we were back afloat.    

Ready to head South on her next adventure.

After a provisioning run by Annie on the bus into Steenwijk, we cast off the next day heading to Vollenhove and an engineer 'Joep' who promptly cleared the airlock in the port engine cooling system. 

At last we were on our way.  On cue, the weather turned wet and windy, so we chose to the sheltered passage south inside Flevoland.

Even in the sheltered waters, one poor craft came to grief.

We, too, stood by until the rescue team arrived.

Weesp, on the Vecht river and close to Amsterdam,

 is among our favourite moorings.

4 days into our voyage. We are on our way!

Our plan now is to follow the Vecht river to Utrecht then via the Merewedekanaal and wriggling through to the Zeeland waterways, before we join the Scheldt river to take the tide up to Ghent in Belgium.

It sure is great to be underway again.

 Charles and Annie 

  

The changing of the guard !

 For the past three northern winters, Antiope has slept peacefully in a big shed (hall) in the company of approx 199 other craft of varying size, shape and age. For us 12,000 miles away in NZ it means that we have been able to sleep at night, knowing that she is secure and unlikely to sink.

Early days, 1980s mid winter Hogenberg boat storage

The big lift gantry gets installed.

Today. Undercover storage for 200 ish boats

Back in the 1980s an enterprising young Dutchman, Jan Hogenberg, acquired a remote piece of waterside land and with a mobile crane, offered onshore winter boat storage. The location was at the sleepy, shopless settlement of Scheerwolde and about 9 kms from the nearest town of Steenwijk.

 These old pics were on display at the farewell party.

A transformation has taken place since then! It was fellow Kiwi boaters, Max and Robyn, who introduced us to Jan and his wife Roelie three years ago when we brought Antiope up from France to explore the Netherlands post Covid. Those adventures feature in preceeding blogs. 

Antiope loses her skirt, but all in a good cause

The same shed (hall) while still under construction some years ago.

Luxury to be able to work inside a big shed !

It is now 10 years since we have been able to repaint the topsides of Antiope, and once some of the tightly stored craft are out of the shed, we are given space to work around the hull. 

Meanwhile in the shed next door !

This year, Jan and Roelie are retiring and handing over the boatyard to new owners. An occasion worthy of a party, and we get invited.

Roelie and Jan, in front of their own motor launch 

Party time in the warm hall

 ( This shed is maintained above freezing in winter )

Topsides now shiny, 'tis time to re-dress the lady

Lots of strings, a very heavy skirt!

A little bit at a time, and mind the new paint!

Something not quite right with this picture ?

Ah that's better, and ready now for the re-launch.

                                              The skipper gets spoiled after another day's work.

It has been two weeks since we arrived back aboard Antiope, and living in the shed has been useful time and out of the fickle weather, but we now really want to be back afloat.

Cheers, Charles and Annie  

 

Victory in Europe Day 80 years on

2025 is turning out to be a significant year!  To my astonishment in February of this year, I clocked up 80 years of survival on this planet. The occasion was marked with a party or two. One of which was held at the Ponsonby Cruising Club in Auckland. I joined this club soon after emigrating to New Zealand from the 'Old Country' as it fitted with the type of boating that I was familiar with, and it still does!

At the Pons party, I was presented with this framed and signed 3D image of Princess by her current owner Jon Nash. I had sailed Princess for many years under the Ponsonby flag.

Once the hoopla was dipensed with, Annie and I rented out our house and packed our bags for another Northern Summer. Annie managed to persuade Emirates airlines that we were worthy of Business Class seats for the long haul flight to Dubai.  From there, we flew into London for a catch up with old friends in the 'Old Country'

 

English Bluebells in Wanstead park, close to where I grew up.

The 8th of May is 'Victory in Europe' day and this year marked 80 years on from the day hostilities ceased. Inevitably, we found ourselves caught up in the street party celebrations. It occured to me that I would have been a mere 3 months old on the day when my mother's friends were probably jumping into the Trafalgar Square fountains.

A hand knitted guardsman perches on a bollard, untouched by vandals.

Friends, old enough to remember VE day

 "Traitors' Gate" adorned with ceramic poppies at the Tower of London, just a few of the thousands placed around the tower, representing those who did not return.

The portcullis entrance to the Tower of London, from the Thames river, has seen many pass for the last time on their way to the axe.   

This ship's figurehead washed ashore among wreckage in Sole Bay, Suffolk after the sea battle in 1672 between Dutch and English fleets. It has since adorned this pub in Martlesham. 

On a trip to the coast, we called in at some old familiar pubs, and I enjoyed the occasional warm flat beer. While in London, Annie and I took time out in sunny springtime weather to explore. 

Stunning views from the 'Rooftop Gardens' in the heart of the 'City of London'

From the rooftop, the landmark 'Gherkin' in the background once dominated the London skyline.

Looking down on a city building site. 

This medieval tower is being carefully preserved in its original location. 

Looking down on Tower Bridge, 130 years old and still opens for any vessel on request. 

I was delighted to watch as Tower Bridge halted the traffic and effortlessly lifted to allow a traditional sailing barge to pass. A simple footbridge in Auckland failed after 10 years and took over a year to fix.

Just around the corner we found  'Leadenhall Market', a market place since the 12th century, and a welcome quiet spot to enjoy another draft beer.

We spent a full day at Kew Gardens, uniquely English and worth every hour spent there.

   

The exotic lily pond house at Kew Gardens

Kew Gardens and the Victorian Palm House, like a tropical 'Tardis' inside.

I remembered the iconic Kew 'Pagoda' from a long ago visit with my mum. 

The time came to head back to Antiope, a 40 min flight to Amsterdam from the London City airport which is in the old docklands and close to where we first stepped aboard Antiope sixteen years ago.

We find Antiope tucked neatly away after her winter sleep

Next step, a bit of maintenance, painting and relaunching.