Edam - Volendam- Amsterdam
From Den Helder we took small canals down the eastern side of North Holland. Overnight spots were on an island in the middle of a lake
beside the canal
As always the canals provide lots of interest. Here is a line of houseboats, one even has a thatched roof.
Always something to learn. Usually we have called up on our VHF or the mobile for a bridge to be opened but this was a new experience. Press here did not really mean here we had to press the black round button at the top.
This bridge was operated by the guy winding it up then swinging on the rope later to bring the bridge down.
This was an interesting way to go fishing. A tiny rubber duckie powered by the guys feet suitably clad in long waterproof pants and flippers. He also had a fish finder attached. He spent hours going up and down alongside our overnight mooring.
We found a nice mooring in Edam but as usual we are paying 11 euro a night.
While riding around Edam we came across this house. Quite a lean up.
We rode our bikes out to the Markermeer which was absolutely crowded with sailing boats of all types.
A ride along the dyke, look at the difference between the sea level and the land level here.
took us to Volendam where we enjoyed the day overlooking the harbour
and roaming through the old town. Land here is so precious, this street is used for hanging out the washing and the rabbit hutch is outside the front door.
Then it was time to head back to Edam then back on the canals to Amsterdam.
Back in Amsterdam to SixHaven Marina, rainy skies but a little blue was showing through.
Once again 3 Australian boats in the harbour as Bob and Lois Carr were here.
Today we visited the Rijksmuseum as we wanted to see the Nightwatch painting again and relly enjoyed all the other paintings.
While wandering around town I came across these interesting toilets.
The modern one must be for tall men only who are not shy.
Another interesting bit of parking
There is always something different to see.
Staying in SixHaven Marina makes visiting Amsterdam city very easy. There is an easy walk or bike ride in either of two directions which takes us to the free ferry to cross over to the city, then it is a short walk through the train station.
This week I visited the Van Gogh Museum which is a free tram ride if you catch the number 5 and I really enjoyed seeing many of his paintings that are not usually reprinted in books.
A good supermarket is within an easy cycle ride and I got some really good lamb by shopping in the muslim area.
We have become expert at following the rules of Amsterdam traffic, making sure we walk on the footpaths not the cycle ways and when riding remembering to keep on the right side of the cycle path.
The marina is very popular with yachts as well as power boats. Mostly the yachts range beween 30 and 50 feet and each night they just keep coming, it is quite a United Nations in here with flags from many countries flying. We still fly our Kangaroo flag as well as the Australian flag as few people recognise it on its own.
It becomes quite crowded in here but it is a lot of fun meeting people.The pontoons take 7 boats a side and there are about 10 rows and then all of the aisles leading onto the pontoons a filled with 6 boats. In the morning no one leaves until the boat closest to the entrance gets ready then it is a juggle to get everyone out onto the main canal. Courlis is tucked up to a pontoon somewhere in the middle of this photo amongst the yachts.
It is a never ending parade of ships going past the small marina opening,the huge cruise ships make a great sight as they go by.
We have been here a week now waiting for a parcel to arrive from Melbourne with a part for our electric bike. It hasn't arrived, so it is time to leave and maybe get it later if it gets here.
No comments:
Post a Comment