Smith's Away

Thought I'd get a sleep in this morning and was dead to the world when Deb woke me up to tell me to grab a fender as we were moving. Glasses on and out in pjs to see a dirty big barge, Hercules, trying to get into our spot to dredge. So Mark backed up, Deb bought the ropes in and I stood around bemused. But I did ensure my fender hit the boats and not our barge. Got in and tied up, exhausted. Fell back yo bed to wake up again!!!! All action in our moorings. After breaky, Deb and I went for a big ride to Harlingen, where we will barge to tomorrow. This is where the Melba was built. Beautiful, flat ride, but hot. Went through lovely fields of cows and baby lambs and some lovely little towns. The bike tracks are so well marked and everywhere. Got into Harlingen and stopped at a cafe. Over a smoothie and water Deb and I caught up on our 'lost'years. Then the breeze seemed to cool, so we headed back, wary of a storm approaching. We zoomed back, even used the battery power and ju

Els joined us again to sail onto Franeker. Lots of rain during the night but still warm. Very misty along the way and lots of bridges that we had to wait to open. Large open spaces along the way and sooo flat. Came into Franeker and Marke had to reverse into our mooring. Very tricky but he managed. We said goodbye to Els and had lunch. We then went into town. Deb and Mark had been here before so knew the places to go so we had hot chocolate and a pancake at the plantarium cafe. I went and checked out the planatarium. Back in the 1700s this guy decided to show that life wouldnt end when the planets alighned so over 7 years he built the solar system which still works today. Amazing. Back to Melba for a quiet afternoon, dinner, Rummikub and Scrabble. Tomorrow we plan to hire a bike for me and head off for a bike ride.

A leisurely start to the morning and then Els arrived to help us drive on. Beautiful sail this time, through little towns with lovely homes and gorgeous gardens. Spring is really in full swing. Not as long today and no locks but lots of bridges to wait for them to go up and often to pay. The bridge guy puts over a little clog for you to put the euros in. Moored in a lovely shady part of Leeuwarden which is much bigger than Dokkum. 125k people. Said goodbye to Els then Mark lent me his bike and Deb and I went for a ride. Much kinder to my knee and a lovely town. Boy bike riders everywhere and some just plow through!!! My bike was very high so tricky stopping so just barreled thru, but felt very bare without a helmut. Deb took me to the permanent section of the canals with permanent old barges, old section of town and the bustling new section. Then around to Jumbo for some more supplies. Back home to gorgeous Melba. Its so warm people are swimming in the canal!!! Bbq tonight as Mark coo

Up bright and early as Els was to join us today to help Mark and Deb sail out, through sluices(locks) and under bridges that we ask to lift up, in Dutch!!! Mark did a superb job reversing out and down we went to where all the commercial barges met to go through the first sluice. We had to wait with lots of huge barges and little boats. We all got in the sluice and the water drained out but only a metre. Then off we went. Through little towns, past cows, sheep and agricultural land, flat as a tack. Across a big lake and lunch as we sailed along. Deb has to throw the mooring rope over, like a lasoo and Mark does a great job holding the barge as we get into the sluices. They work very well as a team and Els teaches them all the time. I stay out of the way as they learn. I had to come in from my favourite spot at the front as very hot. Even the cattle were in the water and a few people swimming!!! Into Dokkum and moored. Els left to go by bus back to Harlingan. She will join us again tomo

Couldnt wait to get up this morning to see Melba in the daylight. What a beautiful boat she is. We are moored in a canal close to the centre of the town and a pub nearby, so people sit out in the sun watching the world go by. And the canal is so busy with Sunday boaters. After breaky Deb and I wandered into town, and I got a great commentary as Mark and Deb had a walking tour yesterday, so Deb knew all the parts to show me. Went past a market where a lady had the most beautiful cakes she had made, then onto the Beer House for hot choco. Very warm but lovely breezes. Back to Melba for lunch and Yanni a friend of D and Ms who they met when staying at her place in France. Lunch reminded me of the lunches we would have in France on the canals. Fresh bread, pate, salad. Yum. Then Yanni, Deb and I played Rummikub. Soundly beaten again!!! Walked to a lovely restaurant for dinner and a lovely balmy evening. Home to Melba and Yanni neaded off. Tomorrow we head off and Deb has taught me some kn