Steve Smith

A shorter passage today, due to the hight forecast winds for Saturday we decided to return to the Marina a day early. We did refuelled Foxtrot at Grue 102 ltr. €193.50 and went on to a wild camping site island. This was clearly On a main barge route, saw many including a gas carrier. The U-turn in the track today was to move us out of the way of one barge who just got under the 7.4m bridge. The depth of the canal was the deepest seen at 5m. We finished the day with a perfect reversing manoeuvre back into the tight berth in blustery conditions. Well done to Brian.

Started the day with a walk down allegedly one of the longest and straightest high streets in Holland. Picture in the log shows the clock Tower in the middle of the town. Leaving Joure was problematic as you need to turn around in the marina cut and there’s only enough room once turned round for one boat to exit between all the boats moored each side of the Canal. Unfortunately there seems to be a lack of consideration for leaving boats coming in, they just steam at you. Exiting boats have to try and find an empty space to drop into. Stopped for lunch at our favourite island then decided to stay for the night wild mooring. During the afternoon the staff came and mowed the lawn on the island, bringing the lawnmower trimmer and crew by Boat. We had a competition for Lap time for a Walk around the island perimeter. Results Brian 1m 19s special commendation for collecting litter (Glass Bottle) Steve 1m:28s Gill 1m:32 Daphne 1m40s amazingly Daphne predicted her lap time at the start as 1m:40s During the Daphne had no time measurement devices. The island was one of a pair Adam and Eve. The shape of the island clearly influencing the name. We were on Eve. Today it was good sailing weather with a good number of sailing craft out including traditional craft. See photo. And to finish the day a lovely Sunset. I

Started day with finally finding the water supply to top up. Well hidden. We were behind a German in the Queue, when he finished filling he rolled away the hose and we had to then immediately pull it out again!!! Had a great lunch stop small island on the ether of a Meer. See photos. Arrive at Joure was able to get a good mooring a the bank just down from the Dowe Egberts coffee factory. Electricity is extra to mooring fee. Have to purchase a €7 card (€2 euro of electricity included and €5 deposit return when card is returned. However peculiar sequence to get the power started. We failed two attempts office was no help but we found out eventually circuit breaker tripped inside the box. We were able to reset it and all was good. Bonus was it had probably tripped sometime ago and €5 of Power had already been credited and not used so we had no concern about paying an extra. Evening meal was very good at Fred‘s bistro well worth a visit. €35 a head with tip. Berthing fee was €28 Facilities Plenty of showers €0.5 for three minute shower No control of temperature or flow rate but warm enough flow just adequate. Okay, size cubicle nicely set out with imitation wood as the decor. Very limited opening hours by Harbour Master 17:00 to 18:00 each afternoon, with a half hour between 8:00 and 0830 for a refund of electricity card. To cross canal an electric drive yourself ferry exists very interesting see the video. Note final destination selected by SailTies is Shown as Snikzwaag but is actually Joure. F

A very hot day (41.7 in Cabin), went over three aqueducts today. Fantastic scenery and lovely houses on the canal banks some with boat docks. Marina berth in Grou, scan QR code on pontoon and complete on line form and pay on line with credit card all in English. Email received with code for shower etc. €25 for boat and 4 People.

Very warm day, tee shirt and shorts. Spot the Robot lawnmower reached a new level at start of passage. See video Steve and Brian took turns in paying bridge fee by Clog. Many bridges today. Berthing Fee €18 including water, Electricity and shower facilities. Facilities clean 5*, 50c coin gives very long shower, temperature 5*, shower head fixed hight, good flow and spread, cubical standard size, wet clothes possible for unwary/rookie shower user, shelf for shoes and bag. Excellent meal, drinks and deserts plus tip. €150 for four of us. In hotel De Stadsherberg. Web site allows table reservation, worked well. Plus English menu available. https://www.stadsherbergfraneker.nl Visited Amazing planetarium. The oldest working one in the world completed in 1781 made from wood and pegs driven by a weights and pendulum. A UNESCO world Heritage site granted in 2023. https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1683/

A warm, windy overcast day, canals were not very busy, met extremely large barge on the corner which caused some excitement. Went through two bridges where we had to pay Steve feeding money into a swinging clog from the Bridge operator. Video is available. On arrival, Dokkhum it was quite busy. But we found a berth at the end of the line. Mooring Fee at Dokkum for two nights four people plus Electricity €36.30 Total engine hours for day Start 4017 End 4020

Stopped for Lunch in the middle of Burdaard village between two bridges and adjacent an authentic wind mill which was operational, the sails provide power to grind grain or drive a saw mill.

Traversed Three Aqueducts, four lifting bridges. Berthing €29 for berth, electricity and four adults. Engine hours 4013 to 4016 Note error in auto log we started from RFU Jachtspecialist BV - It String 9 - 9011 TA - Jirnsum Ended route at Leeuwarden

A great lunch stop little Bay interesting rocks, all swam with snorkels amazing fish Steve Nikita and T how to go paddle boarding. Nikita was really taken with it.