We left the lovely mooring in the Biesbosch, which means forest of reeds and stopped at a local chandlers to get a new fender and some bits and pieces we had difficulty getting in Germany. Then it was on over busy rivers to Briellesemeer a lovely small lake near the fortified town of Brielle. We anchored wild in the lake on what would turn out to be the last fine day this week.
Next day we motored through the heart of the Port of Rotterdam looking at all the big ships, passenger liners before turning off into a smaller canal and heading for Delft where we were going to stay the night. It was drizzling and a lot colder then the weather we had enjoyed before. When we got to Delft it was all full as three passenger hotel boats had commandeered most of the small available quay. We got a mooring further up the canal and next day arrived at Leiden. Leiden is a lovely small town and as we tied up we spotted a NZ flag flying on a boat nearby. A small world as we had only seen 2 other NZ boats all summer. The picture below is the view of our boat and a wedding on the shore taken from the other NZ boat.
We were invited over for drinks by Don and Inja and we had a great yarn about boating around Europe as Don and Inja had been doing it on their boat for 7 years or so. Don runs a Palm Tree business in Brookby and is a property developer as well, and is hosting the next NZers Afloat in France lunch next February which will be something to look forward to.
Then it was on to Gouda where we had moored last year. Last year it was rainy and this year it was too. There was a brief pause in the rain which enabled us to walk to the main square and admire the lovely town hall that dominates it.
Then next day onto Montfoort about 4 hours away to pick up Petra who was joining us for a weeks cruise to Roermond where we are leaving the boat. After an early start we headed off back to Gouda, then through very busy waterways past Dordrecht and spend the night in the Biesbosch again. The weather at last lifted in the evening.
The Biesbosch is certainly a favourite of ours - a wilderness in the heart of Holland. So close to big cities yet a haven of peace and with lots of wild birds.
We are slowly heading up the Maas River to near Maastricht where Roermond is. This is our last week on the boat and on Friday we pick up a brand new Renault Megane Coupe and head to Provence and the Cote d’Azur.
