Start of our sailing season

At last the ice and snow have gone and we can get Kwark the Optimist down from the roof and polish her up for the first training next weekend. Got to fix the bailer on my Laser too and the list of things to do to the 16m2 is much longer still. Never mind. I can stop watching others sail on the internet, our sailing season has started.

Lieve's bed

Lieve's bed
Originally uploaded by Sadlr

Bed boards hanging in both cabins. This one is Lieve's - to starboard. Lovely pieces of olive heart ash, Peter has been putting the door frames in using the same wood.

Bed boards

Bed boards
Originally uploaded by Sadlr

Aboard the Willem Johannes things are coming along nicely. Here the bed board are being glued up for the children's rooms.

Jeroen welds a gangplank

Jeroen welds a gangplank
Originally uploaded by Sadlr
Measured horizontally it is 5 metres from the bank to the mooring piles. To bridge this we've built a ... bridge. Here Jeroen from De Lasserij is doing a bit of professional welding - some things have to be done right.

New moorings

New moorings
Originally uploaded by Sadlr

Sunday 7th March. We are all tied up and sorted out. I scull the dinghy through a thin layer of ice to see how it looks from the other side of the canal.

If you must

If you must
Originally uploaded by Sadlr
OK, you can take my picture, but only because I'm really happy with our new mooring.
[we're half way along the row of barges with firewood under a blue tarpaulin on the rear deck]

Jim's magic

Jim's magic
Originally uploaded by Sadlr
We've known Jim all his life and follow his judo exploits with pride.
When we stayed there last weekend he gave Em his last tournament jacket and trousers; he's as tall as Claudia now and they both weigh the same too.
It was almost as if Em grew a couple of inches to fit the suit, proudly showing it to teacher Fabian and then proceeding to throw the heavy boys - as if by magic.

Arrival in Hoogkerk

Arrival in Hoogkerk
Originally uploaded by Sadlr

The entrance to Hoogkerk is nice and industrial. At least here working barges still bring sugar beet to be turned into sugar, tons and tons all winter long. Unfortunately most come by truck these days, and more than half of those will rumble past our mooring each winter. A good incentive to start the DAF and keep the barge moving.

Willem Johannes alongside

Willem Johannes alongside
Originally uploaded by Sadlr

Wednesday morning dawns crisp and bright. Perfect weather for our trip to Hoogkerk. We've moved WJ inside, along the quay, for a smooth getaway. Time for a cup of coffee as we wait for the bridgekeeper.