Weeibben Wilderness Park - Ossenzijl
After leaving Steenwijk we stayed 2 days on a free canal mooring alongside the wilderness park. The water wilderness parks in Holland are mostly areas where peat or turf as the dutch called it was dug out and the land was then inundated by water. They are very popular camping areas. We saw a notice where they have had success reintroducing otters to the wild here. We are now finding more free moorings on a canal side or lake side than we have found elsewhere. It helps with the budget as the town moorings average out at 11 euro per night plus electricity and water.
The park has some lovely cycle tracks and guided walks.
We had been wondering about the little piles of soil we see in grassed areas. One was on the side of the canal next to our boat and I sank a little when I stood on it. The sign said they were made by Moles digging under the ground. I will have to be careful or I might end up meeting Alice.
We passed a roped walk to show what the ground is like if you go off the track in the marsh.
We found one of the old water wheels for draining the polders.
And some more thatch waiting to be collected. We hope to come across a thatcher building a roof one day.
Leaving Ossenzijl we went under a 2.6 M bridge and cruised down the Linde, a small canal through farming area. There were a lot of fishing nets set out on this canal so we had to be careful.
Kuinre - Flevoland
When we were passing through Kuinre, Kevin noticed a small private canal where a man was working on restoring work boats so we pulled in to have a look. He had six boats dating back to 1910 and was very happy to show Kevin around. I guess this is the Dutch equivalent to restoring vintage cars.
Sloten - Friesland
We crossed the lower part of Tjeukemeer and the next town we visited was Sloten, one of the towns in the Eleven - city ice skating marathon along canals and lakes around Friesland. Although the race has not been held since 1997 due to the lack of ice, the circuit is very popular by bicycle on paths following the waterways and by canoe. The day before we arrived 200 canoes visited here on their way around the circuit.
We moored just outside the city wall.
Sloten is an old fortified town with beautiful step gabled houses lining the small canal running through the centre.
Just inside the wall was a pair of stocks which was a great source of fun. No one could pass them by without trying.
We took this picture about 10.30pm as we strolled around the town.
This was early in the morning. We thought the blankets on the back of the chairs were a nice touch for the early morning paper readers as they sipped their coffee.
The bridge in or out of Sloten collects a Bruggeld (toll) of 2 euro. Check out the blue clog which is lowered from a fishing pole by the bridge operator for every boat which passes through.
As boats waited to go through the bridge our Australian flag and our flag with the Kangaroo got everyone’s attention. Ellen who was born in Australia and came back with her family to Holland noticed it and asked us for a drink and a chat with her and husband Jan while they were waiting for the lunchtime closure of the bridge to finish. It is great that almost everyone speaks some English here and we have some really interesting chats.
The bridge leads out of town to Slotermeer passing Sloten’s traditional Skutsje fleet, large flat bottomed cargo boats which are about 100 years old.
During July and August the Skutsjesilen races take place on the lakes around this part of Friesland with entrants from 11 towns racing in heats11 times in the 3 weeks. We hope to see one of the heats in the next week or so.
After leaving Steenwijk we stayed 2 days on a free canal mooring alongside the wilderness park. The water wilderness parks in Holland are mostly areas where peat or turf as the dutch called it was dug out and the land was then inundated by water. They are very popular camping areas. We saw a notice where they have had success reintroducing otters to the wild here. We are now finding more free moorings on a canal side or lake side than we have found elsewhere. It helps with the budget as the town moorings average out at 11 euro per night plus electricity and water.
The park has some lovely cycle tracks and guided walks.
We had been wondering about the little piles of soil we see in grassed areas. One was on the side of the canal next to our boat and I sank a little when I stood on it. The sign said they were made by Moles digging under the ground. I will have to be careful or I might end up meeting Alice.
We passed a roped walk to show what the ground is like if you go off the track in the marsh.
We found one of the old water wheels for draining the polders.
And some more thatch waiting to be collected. We hope to come across a thatcher building a roof one day.
Leaving Ossenzijl we went under a 2.6 M bridge and cruised down the Linde, a small canal through farming area. There were a lot of fishing nets set out on this canal so we had to be careful.
Kuinre - Flevoland
When we were passing through Kuinre, Kevin noticed a small private canal where a man was working on restoring work boats so we pulled in to have a look. He had six boats dating back to 1910 and was very happy to show Kevin around. I guess this is the Dutch equivalent to restoring vintage cars.
Sloten - Friesland
We crossed the lower part of Tjeukemeer and the next town we visited was Sloten, one of the towns in the Eleven - city ice skating marathon along canals and lakes around Friesland. Although the race has not been held since 1997 due to the lack of ice, the circuit is very popular by bicycle on paths following the waterways and by canoe. The day before we arrived 200 canoes visited here on their way around the circuit.
We moored just outside the city wall.
Sloten is an old fortified town with beautiful step gabled houses lining the small canal running through the centre.
Just inside the wall was a pair of stocks which was a great source of fun. No one could pass them by without trying.
We took this picture about 10.30pm as we strolled around the town.
This was early in the morning. We thought the blankets on the back of the chairs were a nice touch for the early morning paper readers as they sipped their coffee.
The bridge in or out of Sloten collects a Bruggeld (toll) of 2 euro. Check out the blue clog which is lowered from a fishing pole by the bridge operator for every boat which passes through.
As boats waited to go through the bridge our Australian flag and our flag with the Kangaroo got everyone’s attention. Ellen who was born in Australia and came back with her family to Holland noticed it and asked us for a drink and a chat with her and husband Jan while they were waiting for the lunchtime closure of the bridge to finish. It is great that almost everyone speaks some English here and we have some really interesting chats.
The bridge leads out of town to Slotermeer passing Sloten’s traditional Skutsje fleet, large flat bottomed cargo boats which are about 100 years old.
During July and August the Skutsjesilen races take place on the lakes around this part of Friesland with entrants from 11 towns racing in heats11 times in the 3 weeks. We hope to see one of the heats in the next week or so.
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