Amsterdam to Haarlemsche Jacht Club

31st July 2016


Making the most of our last day in Amsterdam we just walked around the canals following our noses. We enjoyed seeing all the different buildings and for once we weren't dodging rain showers,

Waiting for the ferry -very black clouds.

This submarine was by where we caught the ferry into Amsterdam.

Coming back to the boat after our last tramp round Amsterdam we were amazed by how full the ferry was and how young (late teens early twenties) were. It turned out that there was a 'rave' very near to the ferry terminal. I had seen the signs advertising 'Craft' all week and had assumed it was a craft fair!
the DJ and music were in full thump thump mode, but we couldn't hear it on the boat.



We had one final visit into Amsterdam and that was to eat at the Sea Palace. It was a very nice meal but not cheap. Interesting conversation with the waiter about sculpture. We were able to tell him about the Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

The next morning was an early alarm call as we had to meet a motorway bridge between 8.30 and 9.30 am. The books were a bit vague so we thought we ought to aim for the 8.30 opening. Walking to the shower block at 5,30 am we were amazed to see the most enormous cruise ship gliding past. She was all lit up and we knew exactly where she was aiming for. Obviously they timed her arrival this early as when she arrived at her mooring point she would have to do a three point turn - this would not have been easy on the busy North Sea Canal during the day.

Slipping our ropes and we were away by 6.05am - on our way up the North Sea Canal we went past a smaller most probably illegal rave on the shores. The music was still going, some were still dancing, but many were just sat by the side. we got lots of waves as we went past.

It was quite a quick journey to the off shoot canal we needed and we quickly moored up as there was a road bridge to go under. However, I could not raise the bridge control on VHF and as time passed I was beginning to get worried as it was a Sunday the motorway bridge only opened twice and if we missed the first opening the next one would not happen till early evening. After half an hour I had the bright idea of calling them up on the main radio rather than the hand held VHF - success! The bridge opened within five minutes.

We got to the motorway by 8.15am and then discovered that the opening time was actually 9.30 am. never mind - John occupied himself with Angry Birds and I got the Dyson out and did my domestic goddess bit. Had we realised this we could have had an extra hour in bed, but then we would have missed the cruise ship.

We also had a lock to go through - for the first time we had to pay to go through the lock. It was 3.50 Euros.

It was a very short journey today just over 9 miles and we were moored up by 10.40 am. A lovely little yacht club and very helpful harbour master. The cost was amazing 14.30 Euros a night - up to press we had been in expensive marinas. The yacht club is on a lake and is only  short cycle ride from Haarlem. The yacht club loans  bikes free of charge. So we took the opportunity to cycle into Haarlem that afternoon.

'I saw three ships....'

Bicycle, windmill and canal - can't get much more of a stereotype than that!

I have been working on this page of the blog ever since Haarlemsche. The internet there kept dropping out and we had no internet on the boat in Haarlem. Never again will I wonder why some of my favourite blogs take ages to appear. I have a weeks worth of blogs to do. but I will try to catch up. this one is being problematic as it won't load up all the photos. I might publish and add photos later.

Boat information.

14.30 euros per night with free drinking water

electricity 1.60 euros a day

washing machine 2 euros a load (no tumble drier)

good supermarket 10 min bike ride away
free bile loan