Waiting at Euro Tunnel

2^nd May Wednesday 4am. Off to the Euro Tunnel and over to Calais and straight to the Carrefoure ( Hypermarket ). Managed to come out of there with 36 bottles of Red wine for 40 Euro. Loved that place !!!! Good stuff to. Arrived in Oostvoorne early afternoon and started to unload the Yaris. The weather is crap. Cold and wet.

Cornelis and Claudia

Thursday spent still unloading and starting to organising Kiwi Rose. Had a brief visit to Breille, an beautiful ancient fortified town completely surrounded by a moat. Back at the boat met up with Mario and Petty and they have invited us into Rotterdam on Saturday to a Bar/Restaurant where they sing. Should be fun. Also met Cornelis the marine carpenter who turned up to measure for various things we are altering. He has offered to take us next week to a special wine warehouse where all the restauranters go for there wine. Prices even less than supermarkets. That’s me….

Cornelis showing us his culinary expertise

Next couple of days just shopping and sorting.

Saturday 5^th May. Mario and Petty turned up at 6PM and we followed them into Rotterdam and had a evening in this Bar listening to them sing. Great night listening to Dutch music. Drove back about 11pm through the Rotterdam Euro port. 30km of port and every light in the place is on. Like driving down the Las Vegas strip but goes for 30K… Amazing place.

Since then constant shopping and organising boat.

Had an afternoon off on Wednesday and went to Scheidam to visit with Cornelis and Claudia. Cornelis is doing some very fine carpentry on Kiwi Rose. He then took us to the Zegro. The restauranters hypermarket. Couldn’t resist.. More wine.. stupid prices. Then back to Corns place where he cooked us a real Dutch meal and a bit of wine sampling. He cooked Tongue fish lightly browned in half a pound of butter. A few more Lipex that night, but worth it. The hospitality of people we have met is overwhelming.

Paul at the launch

Once again weather is crap.

Thursday 4PM went to watch Paul and Anna, a great couple from Stillwater, Auckland eventually launch there boat after 4  trying weeks of sanding and repainting. Anyway all went well.

Saturday 12^th May Helped John and Maureen a couple from Hull, UK who have bought the boat next to us ( 45ft River Cruiser ) lift his carpet. Then off to the pub on the mariner. Had a couple of strong ales and then down into Oostvoorne for dinner.

A bit disjointed this blog but had to catch up as we now have regular Wifi for the next couple of weeks.