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| DIARY | Click here for previous entries 25 September 2012, Schipol Airport, Holland How did that happen? Suddenly our time aboard Sirius is over and I am at the airport ready for the trip home. There are signs of winter here now so getting back to a potential Summer in Tasmania is perhaps a good thing. We did indeed have a successful 3 months. Sirius is now well set for cruising anywhere in the canals of Europe, we have learnt a lot about the boat and the benefits of cruising and wintering-over in this country and we have very much enjoyed the last 2 months aboard in Friesland in Holland's north.3 August 2012 Giethoorn, Holland Sirius now has 20 engine hours on the clock under it's new owners and has proved to be more than up to the job. She has been through a number of locks, under many bridges and has easily done 360's in tight corners. Whilst underway the 140HP engine purrs quietly below while we have a bird's eye view from the upper deck.The upper steering station is under cover, the chart easy to read as we go and there is room for a cup of tea too!Alison is comfortably seated negotiating a narrow section running beside reed beds.The great thing about cruising this way is the short, yet interesting legs between towns. Then at each town there is a wealth of history to be absorbed, a market maybe or a maritime festival of old botters or tjalks, many over 100 years old. In the town of Elburg we were invited in to this shed where restoration of a botter was underway.Our new folding bikes are great for tieing up and exploring the town (we are usually right in the old centre of town), then riding a few Km to nearby villages.21 July 2012 - Amsterdam, Holland Yes, that's right, Alison and I are in Amsterdam. We are aboard our new canal cruiser named "Sirius" and about to begin a new journey. Talk about exciting! The process of buying a canal cruiser in Europe was successfully concluded on 30 June and along with 2 other couples we became owners of this 10.9m, steel power cruiser. Alison and I are the first to spend time aboard so after the 27 hour journey from Hobart and 2 weeks of intensive activity we are finally close to unravelling the complexities of a new boat - one without sails!. The last 2 weeks we have spent shopping for the essentials needed to live aboard comfortably and today will be our first leg of our holiday cruise. 6 Weeks lay ahead of us and we plan to head north to Friesland where we will see beautiful countryside and friendly locals. Our new boat has been designed for canal cruising8 June 2012, Kettering, Tasmania Life is fine aboard illywhacker, she is still as good as new, cosy and warm below decks in this Tasmanian Winter and host to many interesting cruisers on their way through this part of the world. We were fascinated to meet Jeanne Socrates, a very competent single-hander of my age on her 3rd non-stop circumnavigation attempt. Three times fate intervened to force a stopover due to a roll on one occasion and gear failure on others. When she arrives at Port Townsend in a month or so she intends to re-stock and take off on her 4th attempt - phew! Her website is www.svnereida.com. We also met Paul and Caroline from the Dutch Beneteau, SY "Giebateau" who seem to like cold climates, sailing from 80 North in Spitzbergen to similar latitudes of Antarctica. Their interesting weblog is Giebateau.weblog.nlI must admit to itchy feet when meeting such people but there are other adventures brewing in my life as the next blog will show.Kettering, Tasmania Our three months in Holland were wonderful but it is great to be home. Illywhacker was patiently waiting for me and came alive with a flick of a few switches. The engine started at first turn, refrigeration hummed, water pump came up to pressure, lights glowed in a warm welcome and the heating reminded me that Spring was a bit late. We've had some beautiful days lately though with that clear sky you only see in cold climates, reminding me of Cordova, Alaska. It's time once again to haul out for a bottom paint and to fit new engine mounts and a new shaft seal so November will be a busy time before illywhacker ventures out for Summer cruises in Tasmanian waters - can't wait! Edam, Holland aboard our canal barge Burra Billa In the last week, Burrabilla has been covered daily in autumn leaves, the trees beside the canals are now almost bare. The temperatures are dropping and the rain and grey skies continue. Not exactly the conditions you would choose for a canal barge holiday in Europe! Neverthless, like the locals we don our wetgear, hop on our bikes and wander the cobbled streets of Holland's many ancient cities. We've splashed through Gorichem, Montfoort, Gouda, Leiden, Haarlem, Alkmaar, Purmerend and many places in between. Today we are in lovely Edam, a bit late for the cheese festivals but nevertheless, a charming city. Two things stand out for me in Holland. The first is how well the place seems to run. Not only does the country's infrastructure work exceedingly efficiently, but the beautifully maintained houses, farms and factories and the friendly and considerate attitudes of the locals in what is a very crowded country, all point to a strong social conscience. Behind the scenes there is no doubt much to dislike of course but to an outsider, it could be (apart from the weather), a good place to live and I believe the country is well-equipped for the future. I am also delighted to be constantly taken back to our time in Huis Ten Bosch, the Dutch village/theme park in Japan where we stayed for 2 years. Huis Ten Bosch re-created the “best” of Holland in a precise display of famous buildings, windmills, gardens and a million Van Gogh replicas. The Gouda Town Hall photo below could have been taken in either country. Town hall at GoudaDutch architecture behind a traditional bridge, 16th century?Aboard Burra Billa in Utrecht, Holland Burra Billa beside the River Vecht at MaarssenUtrecht is one of Hollands first towns, almost 2000 years old but is still fresh and well kept. Our approach was stunning. The River Vecht runs through a semi commercial/residential area where it becomes a canal which led to our first lock. A 1 metre lift, it was a very sedate affair compared with last years experiences in France. From then on it was pure Holland. The canal is set several meters below the road and the lower level is lined with restaurants, full with holidaymakers enjoying the rare sunshine as they sat under umbrellas at tables set on the cobblestones beside the water's edge. The canal twisted and turned and, as we motored beneath bridge after bridge, our seamanship was open to fearsome scrutiny from the crowds just meters away. We were so close we could have nicked one of their delicious Dutch pastries!Following the crowd of boats through UtrechtOne of many stately homes along the river's edgeWe have bought museum passes and have seen five or so already. Each has been well worth a visit and there are many more to see. We've been using our bikes too, joining the throng of cyclists - it's the most popular way to get around.Weesp, Holland I'm in another world! Airline travel seems to highlight the difference between my life in a small yachting community in Tasmania and as it is now, living aboard a canal barge, currently in the town of Weesp in Holland. It is holiday time in Europe and the waterways are packed with sailors guiding craft of all shapes and sizes from sleek sculls through traditional Dutch barges to 760 ton commercial barges gliding just metres past our saloon window. Alison and I have just farewelled the 2nd partner (there are 3 of us) in our newly acquired canal cruiser named "Burra Billa" (aboriginal for distant river). It's a time to learn about the boat, plan a route through Holland for the next 3 months and do some walking and bike riding trips around this very pretty area. Our options are to take the boat to as many places as we can or to use the excellent train network to visit this relatively small country while we leave BB in marinas close to Amsterdam. I've spoken to 3 skippers on nearby boats and already have 3 different suggestions - all adamant in that enthusiastic Dutch way.In the few days we have been here we have enjoyed a dinner at a canalside restaurant and have climbed the ramparts and towers of Muiden Castle, a mere 700 years old. There is so much to see and do, it all adds up to a really exciting and different holiday ahead of us.Picture perfect Muiden castle - MuiderslotA tight squeeze through the opening bridge for this 760 tonnerKettering Snow on the mountains, strong, cold SW winds and long underwear. That's Tasmania in the Winter! There are occasional fine days though and these are great for short cruises "down the Channel" to protected anchorages like Port Huon and the cosy pub at Kermandie with it's roaring fireplace and convivial company. That's where I was recently but our thoughts are focussed on our upcoming trip to Europe. In a few days time, we'll fly to the US west coast for 2 weeks then across the top to Holland where we will pick up our canal barge to live aboard for 3 months. No lumpy seas or hopefully any snow there, so we are looking forward to the change. With some luck I should be able to post a few pictures of life aboard a different craft while illywhacker stays curled up in her berth at Kettering.From the website, click on the link in the diary to see the blog and a photo of "Burra Billa".2 March 2011 Port Davey, Tasmania Bleak, rainy, cold yet magnificent, that's Tasmania's SW coast - in Summer! The winds here at 43S howl in unencumbered across vast distances of the Southern Ocean. Illywhacker is tied in a web of lines to stunted trees ashore with 2 other boats in a small cove off the Bathurst Channel. We need to wait 2 more days for a projected lull before we can explore this fascinating place. The surface waters are such a dark tannin that no light reaches down more than a metre or so and the sealife there is more like that found at much deeper ocean depths. It is a unique and beautiful waterway just a few days sail (plus some judicious picking of the right weather) away from illywhacker's berth in Kettering. Very special cruising. |
Old yachtie with new boat.. and new crew! Alison and I beside Sirius, a 35' canal cruiser built for Summer cruising on the canals of Europe. Meanwhile illywhacker waits at home in a wintery Tasmania.
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