Sailing on the Ocean Blue and on the Canals with Amigos

Ken and I were meeting our good friends, Alix and Andrew from a small island off the coast of  British Columbia, Canada, in the Netherlands. We had not seen them for over half a year.  They had gotten married since we had seen them last. We drove in our rented car from where we were camping (southern Netherlands somewhere) to Harlingen to catch a ferry. We were going to the island of Terschelling, off the Netherland’s coast.  The ferry ride reminded us of all the ferry rides we had taken from our home on an island into the city and back. We were headed to their boat, a British motorsailer. Neither of us had been in such a boat and were really looking forward to our experience.

Once we arrived in West-Terschelling, where Alix and Andrew were harboured, all of us headed to Big Ann, their sail boat. We are in the Netherlands to buy a boat for ourselves. Our present experience is not only to get together with friends but to gain knowledge about boating, navigating and what is needed in a boat when we make our purchase. Those first few days were definitely all about being with friends and just enjoying our visit. We had not been to coastal, small towns in the Netherlands. This trip changed that fact and gave us a view into further boating experiences.

We talked, walked, ate out and explored their boat and the immediate harbour. Our nightly accommodation was just off the galley of Big Ann. Each night we made the bed and each morning took down our bed. Meals could easily be put together in the redesigned galley of this Colvic-Watson motorsailer. We liked their boat. Now I wish I had taken more pictures of it but there will be some later on in this post. Andrew had done plenty of renovations in the seven or so years since they purchased her. We had never used a boat “head” or toilet before so that was a new experience. 

After the first night in harbour we took our first sail of the trip over to the neighbouring island of Vlieland. Alix and Andrew had been in their boat for quite some time during the last weeks and were glad to be able to get out and about. They wanted to take a walk both for the exercise and to show us around a park they had discovered previously. They wanted to go wild mushroom picking in the pine forest. On our walk to the forest we came across a small farmyard with many brownish, red, friendly ponies. We walked through a few different landscapes - sand dunes, a hilly pine forest and the beach. Andrew found huge, wild mushrooms. Our beach walk was a little windy. We’d worked up an appetite and walked into the small town of Oost-Vlieland. We were amazed by the quaintness of this old, Dutch village. The bonus for me was the stoic looking, gray pooch in the basket of a bike. His owner was able to leave him outside in the bike basket while he shopped, not being afraid he would run away. What a darling!

This is the edible, wild mushroom that Andrew was hoping for. 

Later on that evening, after a wonderful meal in town, we sipped wine and relaxed on Big Ann.

Nice day out!

Next day we headed back to the coast of Holland. It was a rough, choppy ride (Did you check out the video above?) We, however, felt perfectly safe in Big Ann being manned by two experienced sailors. We sailed across to the bigger town of Harlingen where we had left the vehicle. This had real wow factor for us! Us, who had only been on a small sail boat before.  Andrew and Alix’s plan was to take us up the Prinses Margrietkanaal. This canal is wider and deeper than most so that huge ocean going ships can transport goods up the canal to cities up the canal or to smaller vessels along the canal. Big Ann, being a motorsailer, could easily go on this canal because this canal is one on the “standing mast” route. Keep in mind that we had the sails up on Big Ann.

Our journey on Big Ann took us from Harlingen, up the canal passed Franeker and Leeuwarden and south to Grou. We navigated the Sneekermeer and continued on to Heeg and the Heegermeer (meer Meaning lake). Our journey came to an end in Stavoren. 

Maps taken off the internet from Platbodemverhuur Friesland  

This was a great time for us to ask many questions about canal boats and motoring the canals. Both Andrew and Alix have been boating for many years and for about the last seven or so here in Holland (at least for most of each summer). They gave us sage advice about:

• features we would want on a canal cruiser that we would purchase
• how to store food and dishes, etc on a boat
• Tools that we might need for the boat
• Putting water or diesel into the boat
• how to store items in our boat once it is put in storage for the winter
• best wine to have before, with and after tajine. Wine o'clock around the clock

On top of learning all the new things about boats, we learned about canals, of which we knew nothing previously:

• How to actually steer a boat and how to navigate using buoys and markers 
• The usefulness of a depth sounder and VHF radio
• How to moor or camp with your boat for free - Marrekrite (in the province of Friesland)
• How to go through a lock without losing your shoes.
• Navigation was an issue so they told us about maps, books and Navionics (a computer based map) to assist us. Ken did get Navionics for navigating
• How to navigate in the area of a low bridge that needs to rise up for traffic
• How to dock a boat and moor it securely 
• Learning signage for canals (in the Dutch language)
• Etc. 

We were on overload! I was at least. We did enjoyed ourselves so much, however, that all this information did not deter us from continuing out search for the perfect boat.

Both Ken and I were able to attempt pilot Big Ann on straight aways. That made me feel a lot better about having a boat - I would be able to pilot, too.

We were doing a lot of moving from one place to the other. We were mostly on the water but did go a  shore to buy provisions for meals or to buy engine oil, etc. All of us are avid walkers so time was taken during our week long trip to make time for exercise. 

We saw spectacular scenery from a different point of view, a view from the water. 

Included in that water view was an up close view of huge cargo ships and boats similar to what we thought we’d purchase (not like any of the big boats below).

We stopped for supplies and walks in both Grou and Heeg which are small towns on the canals. In Grou we stayed, docked on the Prinses Margrietkanaal. There is plenty of room to dock with washrooms, showers and laundry close facilities, just on the shore. Plus there are restaurants handy. We took a hike into the town for groceries. This is what we saw of note being animal lovers.

Alix on the dock at Grou contemplating something about the boat.

We did the same thing in the town of Heeg - walked around and bought provisions for the day. You have to shop a bit more frequently when living on a boat, especially if you have company. The refrigerators are smaller and so is food storage space.  

Hoping you can see that I am only giving you a very minute glimpse into the beauty of these two places. Even if we stayed there for weeks all that makes up these amazing places could not be fully appreciated. 

I must say something about motoring and/ sailing through the meres or lakes. They, of course, did not have as calm of water as the canals and it was possible to sail, not just motor. 

Our boating trip came to an end in Stavoren, a coastal town. We stayed there over night. We were then off to our vehicle back in Harlingen via  train. 

Alix and Andrew were such great hosts on their boat. They made delicious, culinary meal served with wine each night. We ate fresh fruit and Croissants. Dutch cheeses were served at many meals. I was welcome to change menus for myself as I am vegetarian without inconveniencing others. It was an excellent trip and visit. Hoping to see them again soon!