Haarlem to Braassemermeer

Plenty of passage planning before this journey as we had to make a railway bridge that only opens infrequently. Although we can work out mileage and average speed it is always a guestimate when we have lots of bridges to go through. It can work like a charm or we can we waiting ages.

We also had a plan for getting off the mooring - John did the ropes, I steered. Even the wind did it's bit correctly and it was a text book leaving. It's not always like that so we are pleased when something goes to plan well.

The first hurdle was getting out of Haarlem, we were moored between bridges 3 & 4, so only 6 bridges to go through. We slipped our moorings at 8.50 am and were moored up by bridge 4 ready for it opening at 9 am. Luckily it did open at 9 am to let a boat through northbound so we were able to go through southbound. Even better was the makings of a convoy on the other side. (They open bridges more readily to conveys - also if you are not number 1 in the convey you don't have to do all the radioing.)  Now the down side of this was I had the convey song going through my head all day. Not the original you understand but the Jasper Carrot parody - that shows my age!

We were through bridge 8 by 9.30 am so a good run through Haarlem, the final Haarlem bridge is a good way out and we passed through it at 9.50 am.

As usual on this visit there were no red  dusters to be seen. I can count on one hand the number we have seen and spoken to, there seem to be far fewer this year than last. The convey was mainly Dutch boats with a couple of German boats thrown in for good measure. At this stage there were about nine yachts and we  were brining up the rear. This can be tricky if we have to wait at a bridge as there are lots of boats jilling around with not a lot of room, adding wind to the mix it can be very tricky. This was the case at Cruquisburg, we'd been waiting about five minutes when the message came down the line that it would be about 15 minutes before the bridge opened. Rather than sit up on deck being a back seat driver I decided this would be a good time to go below and make a cup of tea and bacon butties.

When we finally go to the railway bridge at Sassenheim (12.28 ) there were more boats than mooring space. Although by this time we were not at the back of the line we needed to moor up to another boat. They were very helpful and were able to give us more upto date timings of the bridge. The bridge was due to open at 13.38 for North bound boats, but if the bridge operator was in a good mood he might also let the South bound boats through. If not we would have to wait until 15.09.

Luckily there weren't many boats North bound and it came over the loud speaker that we could go through. The translation was courtesy of the boat we were rafted up to. They also called instructions as we were passing through as we needed to stay very close to the boat in front.

All in all it was a pleasant if long trip, it was mainly through the country side and there were some beautiful houses to look at. The harbour master, like all the others we have met, was very accommodating - helping with ropes etc. He also presented us with a large jar of gerkins. Braassememeer lake is very picturesque and there are lots of different boats passing by.

It was a boiling hot afternoon andI quickly did a load of towels at the laundrette, the weather was so good they dried quickly on the railings.

I will add the pictures later as the internet is not being very accommodating today and I can't down load the photos. As normal I don't get all the photos I would like, when something interesting is happening we usually need both sets of hands on deck.

Boaty information.
18 euros per night (but free mooring on the canal if you want it - we are enjoying creature comforts)
electricity - 50 cents  (We only need it for charging the lap top, charging the Dyson and the emersion -day three and we are still on our second 50 cents. Our wind generator and solar panels are doing the trick.)
Showers 50cents
Washing machine 4 Euros  Tumble drier 4 Euros.
Restaurant on site (superb prawns in garlic)
Supermarket - well stocked DIRK, 5 minutes walk maximum