Steve Smith

A very hot day, 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 a 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.

Variable from no wind, shifting wind direction and 20Kts, Had to abort first planned stop ( Leips 2 Vlychadia Beach) no buoys available and too crowded to anchor in the gusty wind. So replanned and went on to Kalymnos harbour. Trouble with foresail furling again, had to drop it to the deck. Got complements from dock master for our perfect right first time med stern too mooring. Dock masters work on a tip basis for guiding you in and taking lines. Our man was excellent, big beard. Looks a bit like animal (S it’s Smart esame Street). Gave him €20 Barbour fees paid separately was €9.

Mixture of sailing and motor Sailing. Med mooring in harbour, tricky conditions strong gusting cross wind. Berthing cost €20.45 for nights stay, electricity and Water.