As we followed the Holland Ijssel we passed this wilderness area where there were small huts to accommodate canoeists. The Dutch think of everyone using the waterways.
We passed this unusual building. The lower area used a method we have seen before on garden windbreaks, walls and fences which uses rocks layered in between building mesh. This is the first time we have seen it on such a large scale.
This lifting bridge is a little different..
Soon we turned onto the Merwade Canal then into the lock. I thought we had entered Garden Week, the whole length of this very large lock was lined with ornamental sculptures.
Entering Utrecht we pass this large water tower which is much more elegant than the ordinary looking ones we have in Perth. Nicky this one would look much nicer than the one you have.
Our mooring is in the Catharijne singel graght very close to the town centre, it has a good pontoon, electricity, and grass and trees alongside.
We spent the afternoon riding along the canal which runs through the main shopping and restaurant area to check the width of the bridges. One of the highlights of bringing your boat to Utrecht is to cruise through the town under the 15 arched bridges.
We also checked out McDonalds for the internet and on the way passed the market area, I was amazed at how cheap the roses were, 40 stems for 5euro about 8 dollars!
Arthur and Diana have good folding chairs which can recline back and while we were shopping in Action we saw some good strong ones. So through the checkout we went then wondered how we would get it back on the bike.
Next we tried Arthur’s bike, it looked more promising so back into the shop for some stretchies.
Early next morning Kevin and I went for a ride around town to get photos before the town was crowded. We were attracted to the early morning bells and rode along a small street and came across the Dom tower, it is 112m tall and can be seen from all parts of Utrecht.
It is part of a very large church, a freak tornado in 1674 destroyed the nave of the church and separated it from the choir section.
The carillon has a peel of 50 bells and plays every 15 minutes. The hour played while we were under the tower and was a truly remarkable experience. The street passes through the tower and you enter between where the Nave was and the Choir section which now has beautiful trees dotted around.
You can still see the crypt flag stones and marked areas in black bricks where the columns and walls were.
We had just left the church and were going back to the little street of antique shops when disaster struck!!!! I FELL OVER !!!! And what a fall, as I went down I heard a crack and thought OH NO!! I lay in a heap, my glasses were crumpled, my camera broken and my ankle HURT! Kevin helped me up, I took off my sneaker looked at the ankle which was growing fatter by the second , I limped to our bikes and turned on the electric and motored back to the boat. I managed to get in and put my foot up thinking it would get better when I rested it. However that was not to be, soon I realised I couldn’t stand on it or move and THE PAIN by then we were five steps down inside the boat.
We managed to get me to the back door steps but realised I would never be able to get up the embankment to the road. Kevin phoned 112 for an ambulance. They were marvellous, my leg was immobilised and they came onto the boat and got me off and up to the ambulance.
It was all a bit surreal and Diana was handy with the camera to take these photos.
Now I am newsworthy, a reporter from the local paper happened to be passing by, the next photo will tell the story if you can read Dutch. 
Fortunately after Xrays it was not broken but very badly sprained so back to the boat I went all bandaged up. And the new chair came in handy.
The next night we donned our orange gear and went to watch the soccer half final. Fortunately the tavern was only 50 metres away so I managed to go too on my crutches. The side street was full of flags
And the tavern was full to the brim and people gathered outside to watch through the windows.
Of course the winning goal set off the night and everyone left very happy.
UNDER THE BRIDGES
Utrecht is built on two levels along the waterway with the first buildings built in the 10th century right on the canal, when constant flooding became a problem the street level was raised for the future buildings. Now it is split level with some housing and mainly restaurants fronting on to the canal and under the road and the newer building of houses and shops is on the level above.
The next night 8 of us gathered in the boat with the roof back and we cruised through Utrecht. It was fantastic. We left at 7.30pm and had dinner on the boat at the other end then cruised back around 10pm.
What a fantastic night!!!
We decided to leave Utrecht the next day as I really wanted to see the museums and it was not going to be possible to walk around for a while yet. We would return in a few weeks time.
It was back across the Amsterdam Rhine Canal and down to the Linge River near Gorinchem.
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