Dutch Holiday on Sabine

[trambo]

The first two pictures John, that old steam tug looks delightful and on the last photograph, leaving stage, exit right, looks almost like an old NBH boat from Horning. Definitely a boat anoraks paradise! 

 

Fred

[ranworthbreeze]

Hello John,

I know of the gas ring toasters you mention in your excellent blog, I have never used one but have seen them and I think there was a version for camping stoves.

Can you remember the toaster fittings that you could fit to the gas fires of the 60's?

Bread & Cheese shops, sounds my sort of place. In the cheese shops do they have a variety of cheese's or is it like walking into a shop in Cornwall and all they is Cheddar, or in Holland is it Edam & Gouda?

Mary-Jane looks as if she is having the time of her life over there.

Please keep the story coming.

Regards

Alan

[loribear]

hi john, you seem to be really getting into this photography thing, great piccies as usual, it's nice to finally see one of mary-jane, she looks very nice ,very summery lol, how on earth did you resist all those lovely cake shops ? i don't think i'd be able to, ive got a very sweet tooth, & i absolutely love chocolate lol, i even wrote a poem about it, how sad is that ? i bet it feels strange being on a hire boat does'nt it ? knowing you can't leave your own stuff on board when you leave, looking forward to next weeks blog john, lori

[LondonRascal]

I've been lurking reading this, looking at your photos and following your progress using Google Earth. 

 

It is a wonderful trip you are having and thank you to keep us updated during it as well as sharing all your photos and tips along the way.

 

It is not too long (though feels it) until I am next afloat and though will be in good old Norfolk, reading your tales it all is much the same - wherever you are being on a boat, choosing where you go and visting places along the way is always the most magical part and what makes boating so unique.

[Hockham Admiral]

Hello John,

I know of the gas ring toasters you mention in your excellent blog, I have never used one but have seen them and I think there was a version for camping stoves.

Can you remember the toaster fittings that you could fit to the gas fires of the 60's?

Bread & Cheese shops, sounds my sort of place. In the cheese shops do they have a variety of cheese's or is it like walking into a shop in Cornwall and all they is Cheddar, or in Holland is it Edam & Gouda?

Mary-Jane looks as if she is having the time of her life over there.

Please keep the story coming.

Regards

Alan

They do have other cheeses, Alan and Gouda is the most popular, it seems, about half of the market. We have this page bookmarked on the laptop for reference:

http://dutchfood.about.com/od/aboutdutchcooking/a/SayCheese.htm

 

But then, our Cheddars are so varied too, aren't they? The difference, say for example, between Cathedral City and Pilgrims' Choice and the myriad others you can buy. But over here, although Gouda, (the 'G' pronounced with that choking sound), is most prevalent, all the little cheese shops offer a large range of locally produced cheeses. It's truly a cheeses lover's Nirvana!   

[Hockham Admiral]

hi john, you seem to be really getting into this photography thing, great piccies as usual, it's nice to finally see one of mary-jane, she looks very nice ,very summery lol, how on earth did you resist all those lovely cake shops ? i don't think i'd be able to, ive got a very sweet tooth, & i absolutely love chocolate lol, i even wrote a poem about it, how sad is that ? i bet it feels strange being on a hire boat does'nt it ? knowing you can't leave your own stuff on board when you leave, looking forward to next weeks blog john, lori

Lori, Hi.

When Mary-Jane read your post, last night, she laughed and said "But we've only had one each!". So we have been good in that sense!

 

Every town or hamlet seems to have at least one cake shop, many have several. With the exception of one chain they are nearly all independent bakers, turning out the most marvellous varieties of cakes. I'll take a pic for you when we go walkabout later today.

 

No, it doesn't for us (feel strange) as we've grown to love this little boat. . She's 34ft loa, and she feels just like one of the family! Now, when we pack on Saturday morning that will be a different matter! 

[Hockham Admiral]

I've been lurking reading this, looking at your photos and following your progress using Google Earth. 

It is a wonderful trip you are having and thank you to keep us updated during it as well as sharing all your photos and tips along the way.

Wherever you are being on a boat, choosing where you go and visting places along the way is always the most magical part and what makes boating so unique.

Thank you, Robin.

 

What a great idea, following us on Google Earth.      

 

Does that have the little man you can put where you want to look at? (As does Google Maps).

 

This part of Holland is made for you, Robin. You can guarantee to find an island somewhere were you can moor up alone and watch the bird life or cast your line. It is indeed magical.   

[Hockham Admiral]

I've just spent an interesting half hour looking around a small boat-yard here. They build their own wooden 'tenders' not far away but too far for me to walk.

 

The old crane is from another time I guess and the slipway into the workshop has its own railway system! Whatever, the quality and workmanship are outstanding, which is probably reflected in the prices! I wonder just how long it would take to hand-craft these beauties?

 

So here's a selection of pics.

 

 

 

 

[ranworthbreeze]

Hello John,

You can tell a lot of love goes into those wooden tenders.

The quality reminds me of the boat that is moored at the rivers edge to one of the bungalows in Brundall, the owner also has a boat moored in one of the other properties with the same ropework as the tender.

Regards

Alan

[loribear]

hi john it's a lovely little boat, i love the colour of it,it's chocolate coloured lol,oops there i go again with my addiction, lori

[loribear]

here you go john, just a little something to tickle your tastespuds, for you & mary-jane, & if you find she's suddenly dissapeared just look in the sweet shop lol,

CHOCOLATE HEAVEN

I'm afraid i'm a chocoholic

i just can't resist the taste

it's such a delicious confection

& should'nt be eaten in haste,

as soon as you open thd wrapper

that aroma goes straight to your nose

which stimulates your braincells

into forgetting all your woes,

& there's so many nice flavoured centres

there must be a thousand or more

from pralines to soft centres & caramels

it's whatever your tastebuds Dore,

for me it's those ones that are crunchy

like cinder toffe, thats my little treat

or sometimes it's the dark & creamy ones

that you really fancy to eat ,

& it's that lovely smooth texture i love

when the chocolate melts on your tongue

it's just sooo delicious & creamy

how can something so heavenly be wrong,

eating chocolate is pure delight

the velvet taste is a chocolaholics dream

out of all the confectionaries around

it's chocolate that reigns supreme.

this will make your mouth water lol, lori

[Hockham Admiral]

Det is geel goed, Lori!    :clap  

[Hockham Admiral]

Monday,27^th August

 

We had changed our minds later last night and Joure was to be our next destination. Terherne would come later. Along the Princess Margaret canal for about 8 miles and then turn right after the Woudsend turnoff and just before the Heeg one.

 

I know some of you have expressed an interest in commercial  traffic; so here’s a selection of pics of just that. What impresses us is the sheer size and carrying capacity of these ships. From small tankers to gravel and rock carriers, they use them all.

 

When I worked at Schipol Airport, in the 90’s, I walked the perimeter of the airfield one day and came across a bargee in a watering hole I frequented. He told me that he and his family made their barge their home, the only one they had. He was permanently transporting Jet A1 fuel from Rotterdam to Schipol and said that he made a good living out of it!

 

Frequently you see one, or two, cars onboard (usually Mercedes or BMW's) and they are far from old bangers! In the pics of REZOVAR I have taken you can see their two cars on the stern end.

 

The rock-carrying barge was discharging one lot onto the land and another onto a smaller barge; the man you can see above the numbers is either very brave or foolhardy  (he certainly must trust the crane operator!).They use these rocks to line the river/canal banks in places (see pics).

[Hockham Admiral]

Next I've listed some pics of boats we saw yesterday, one of a fisherman cleaning his nets. We were also in a narrow marked channel when the wafi brigade came straight at us also in the channel! 

 

I hope Dan can tell me a few things about the Alpha-type! Perhaps an old 'Buccaneer Boats' one? :

[ranworthbreeze]

Hi John,

All I can say with regards to the commercial craft is wow!

The size of that barge with the pin prick sized cars must be anything from 120 to 150 foot long!

Regards

Alan

[Hockham Admiral]

We finally arrived in Joure about 11.40 and tied up as far up the river as you can get into town. I've taken Robin's idea and lo and behold you can see where we're moored right on Groene Dijk. If you go back towards the bridge and look across the tiver you can also see " 't Syl " where I'm having a beer in real time now!

 

In fact (in the third and fourth pics) the owner of the house to the left of Sabine has just come up, chatted and bought me a beer... great peeps!

 

[

[Hockham Admiral]

As an aside, I've already mentioned that the Dutch will go on the water in or on nearly anything that floats! Here's a couple of pics to show that; whatever will they dream up next?

 

 

 

 

[Dan]

I hope Dan can tell me a few things about the Alpha-type! Perhaps an old 'Buccaneer Boats' one? :

 

Jonzo's almost right....

 

It's a Bounty Musketeer, more commonly known as a Buccaneer (which was the big sister/37ft's name)

 

Not liking the new colours to those windows frames though, if you do get chance to tell them on the way back

 

Dan

[Hockham Admiral]

Hi John,

All I can say with regards to the commercial craft is wow!

The size of that barge with the pin prick sized cars must be anything from 120 to 150 foot long!

Regards

Alan

Alan, Hi. It was over 100 metres long; I recollect about 115 and its weight was over 3,500 tons. Whether that was empty or not I'm not sure. (And yes, they do put the weight in tons, not tonnes, over here on commercial traffic).

[Hockham Admiral]

That's a Bounty Buccaneer, John. I believe that yard has quite a few Broads-type cruisers for hire.

You managed to locate the yard, Alan?

[Hockham Admiral]

Jonzo's almost right....

 

It's a Bounty Musketeer, more commonly known as a Buccaneer (which was the big sister/37ft's name)

 

Not liking the new colours to those windows frames though, if you do get chance to tell them on the way back

 

Dan

I knew you'd be able to recognise it, Dan!

 

Tony B, who works out of Brooms' yard is refurbishing Friday Girl's windows while we're away... I'm very hopeful that he's not following this blog and getting any ideas!

[loribear]

Det is geel goed, Lori! :clap

Goedemorgen john, je gemaakt een lichte kleine spelfout denk ik haha,think you should have said was , dat is heel goed i assume thats what you trying to say lol. Sorry flower ,Lori

[Hockham Admiral]

       I bow and scrape........ you assume correctly but who's your translator? Mine is only in my head and though my Dutch vocabulary is reasonable I don't make any claims on my spelling! (and the Dutch do pronounce a 'g' as an 'h', hence my mistake).

[Ebbtide]

My word John. Such an interesting blog, and the pictures are just wonderful. Love the variety, and number of the different type of vessels. The Dutch are without a doubt still very much a maritime nation, and seem to be very proud of it. Looking at the different vessels they all look so smart with nothing out of place, including your Sabine of course!!

 

Liked very much the pictures of the boatyard building in wood.

 

Maurice

[loribear]

       I bow and scrape........ you assume correctly but who's your translator? Mine is only in my head and though my Dutch vocabulary is reasonable I don't make any claims on my spelling! (and the Dutch do pronounce a 'g' as an 'h', hence my mistake).

hi john, i just used an app on my fone & sort of got the gist as what you were saying, but when i typed it in, it dic'nt recognise the det, & geer came up as yellow lol,lori