Life on The Waterways of Europe..: July 2017

BELGIUM…Long straight stretches of canals, not much to see as these were solely built for transport of goods, sand, steel, bricks and gas/oil etc from big ports to/from industrial areas. The boating maps of Belgium are not too good, and not in English but with a mixture of what we have and a new map we are doing ok. No need to rush this area as we have time.

These bunkers are all along the canal Zuidwillemstvaart,

They were built in the 2nd World war to protect the waterways if invaded.

Stopped at Lommel, and cycled and found this amazing Summer camp, Comfort Parc, that covered acres and acres of bush, with again these big lakes from old sand pits, fed by the river. Has 600 chalets, all around 3 main lakes. Its so well set up its like being at the seaside. Most clever thing we saw was a circular zip wire, motorised so it pulled the skiers at a steady rate, no boats involved… a thought for NZ…

Nice shady spot…

and if you look closely, ((well we know they are there))

We had several groups of Bambi deer come past us.

Lier, lovely stop on the Netekanaal. Went for a walk into town, and find its National Belgium Day.

The town Council at the end of the parade, then into the Town Hall.

Lier has a 3 clock towers, the most famous is the Zimmer Tower, which has 12 dials, measuring a 7 day calender, sun and moon, planets, horoscopes, and others we weren’t sure about, as we missed the Museum, one dial shows the position of the planets, even found out that Venus and Uranus circle the opposite way to the others planets and 7 day calender is not a new concept...

And then a lovely tapas lunch…

The next bit of our journey is on tidal rivers, so after speaking to the Captainaire at Lier, we are advised to head off 1.30 min before low tide at Antwerp to go with the river flow after the next lock, then when we turn into the Ruppel River we will be with the incoming tide going down towards Gent.

The tidal rivers flow very strongly here.

So off we go, through the lock and are flowing nicely down with the tide. First sign of what was to come, would have been when we lost the NZ flag over the back in a gust of wind (Not sure I put the flag pole in properly), Confused smile Be right back So somebody will get a lovely flag wrapped around their shaft or it will wash up on a beach in Antwerp!!!

THEN we run aground……………………by the time we have even tried to go forward or backwards the water level as fallen and after about 15 mins the arse is not in water anymore…………….nicely stranded in unknown waters !!

Max was very calm but I wasn’t too happy… it was fine at first but we had to wait for the incoming tide which was about 2 hrs away… I was OK I think until the water level dropped and the

boat started to list over, bow still in the water but bum NOT.

At that point I went downstairs, closed all the windows tight (just in case), locked all the cupboards and collected money, passports etc…just in case… and wrapped them in 3 plastic bags…..Max all this time was really supportive if a little astounded at my actions……. When it listed over even more, I thought, jeez how far can she go???? so I just sat on the floor of the wheel house wats=apping Aileen and Graham in Paris, …just incase it was our last words….

Aileen and Graham were great and supportive, even giving Max advice like…be a good time for Max to clean the bottom of boat!!! Belgium is alive with cyclists and we realised we may not be an uncommon sight as they hardly looked at us,,, until we were fully listed over, then a few glanced our way.. I suppose what concerned me was how far we could list over… (Its not a sail boat)

Thank-god after 2 hrs the tide came in and a lot bloody faster than it when out and we lifted off. Of course by then we had an incoming tide on the Ruppel so had to battle it up till the turnoff onto the Zeeschelde, where we once again could go with the incoming tide up towards Temse, where we moored. …………………………………………………………I had a cider or 2 at 2.30pm and max went to sleep….

Nearly high tide and Max out with the CRC to try to stop the squeaking of the pontoon.

A good 4-5 m tide here just about 40 kms in from the north sea.

Lovely weather now, jeez does in rain and blow in Belgium. Seems as soon as we moor anywhere the rains come…(our usual luck!!).

Here at Temse we can’t leave again to go to Gent until after 50mins past LW at Antwerp to run with the tide again, so can’t leave till after 12.30..

Why and for what reason this plane is perched on top of a factory building.

Even going into a lock, this woman was not going to stop using her sewing machine,

( and I thought I was mad !!)

And an easy way to moor your boat in a tidal river so you have access at all times….

As we were cycling past a pet shop,,, This is a special for all those animals lovers….only in Europe, the land of bicycles and dog lovers..

SO if you don’t have a carrier on your bike, and can’t leave your dog at home, or its too lazy to walk, …then this is a must have !!! Rolling on the floor laughing Confused smile

Feel like this comment is not true only of NZ as the weather has been horrible in Northern France, and UK.

DSCN6893 6th July,

Left Namur continuing down the Meuse,

and the river gets bigger,

we go faster and

we meet bigger boats !!!,

This bugger is 120m long and pushing another slightly shorter barge. !!

Up through Leige where we didn’t stop but took photos going through the main bridge.

Big Industry,,,

and on to Maastricht, where unfortunately we didn’t take photos. BUT it is a lovely city, with an abundance of street cafes and loads of shops. Andre Rieu, the violinist, (he does it each year as he lives there) was having a series of concerts in the main square so you couldn’t get into see it.

Had to double moor as public mooring pretty full, so we approached a boat, (Dutch), that looked closed up. Later we are greeted with a Dutch voice saying ‘’‘how come we get the Kiwis??’’ !! Turns out that Hendrick and Christa have lived in Mission Bay since 2000 and now in Tutakaka, but find its all too complicated to fly the kiwi flag. (small world so take nothing for granted).

We plan to leave Maastricht on the Sunday only to find out Saturday that the new flood gate on the Julianakanaal had collapsed on friday so the route was blocked—took a cycle ride to have a look…..

All the supports were bent, and they were going to bring 2 big cranes in to lift it up. ?? They needed to work fast as it is a major commercial route…not sure how they will manage it but we decided to cut our losses and go around it. It would take us a further 25 kms, going down the Zuidwillemsvaart and Kanaal Wessem-Nederveert but at least we could get to Wessem that night. Pretty route and a real windmill house.

Wessem Lovely quiet mooring at the Van Kessels yard. We have met this family run yard before a few years ago when we were enquiring about getting Kiwi Rose repainted. They have been very helpful…… . There is a house boat (3 bedroomed) here for sale a few up from us for only 130,000 euros , so much cheaper than Pauanui and you can moor a big boat to your deck !!

All sorts of locals around !!!!

Quick cycle through Wessem into a lovely historic town of Thorn. (and church)

Wessem, Maasbracht and Roermond is a huge playground for boats. Its full of connecting old gravel pits --- equals NZ, and no tides. Can throw anchor and just swim etc. Sorry map not too clear.

Roermond, which is the shopping mecca of Holland, with a huge outlet shopping store of all the good names, Armani ,Ben Sherman, Burberry, Daniel Hechter, Diesal, Dolce & Cabbana, Escada, Fred Perry, Gucci, Guess, Karl Lagerfield, Lacoste, Ralph Lauren,lee, Marc O’Polo, Mulberry, Mustang ,Polo Ralph Lauren, Prada, Ted Baker, to name a few then the shoes shops, bag shops and jewellery shops. Everywhere soooo clean.

Planned meet up with Rob and Sue Cooper, good friends from Akaroa, NZ, ( and daughter Becky, the photographer) in the Marina at Roermond. (why do I always feel a little fragile after a night with these guys? Can’t think why ?? )