Day 8 - Haarlem

Wednesday 10^th June 2015 – Haarlem – Day 8

A sunny day and at last it is becoming warmer.  Into the harbour office and given good information on how to negotiate the many bridges in Haarlem. 

Prior to leaving we watched a German yacht leave its berth and pass ahead of us an almighty crash as it stopped, they shouted back ‘stones’ (rocks), we will have to be careful.

Schoterbrug

Waarderbrug

We left Haarlemsche Yacht club at 10.00 and by 10.15 we passing through the draw bridge Schoterbrug, our first lifting  bridge of the day.

Then the twin lifting draw bridge Waarderbrug at 10.30 and came alongside the Harbour Master’s waiting berth at 10.45.

In the office, I was given wonderful information by the staff on the city of Haarlem with plenty of maps and brochures.  To pass through the bridges and stay a night in the town would cost 12 euros, what a bargain.

Lay-by

Dave's Bus

We moved across the river to a lay-by berth, as Dave was going home today.

We left the boat at 11.00 and walked with him to the bus station where he caught the 12.15 bus back to Ijmuiden and would leave on the ferry at 17.30 bound for Newcastle.  

Thanks Dave for the help in getting to Holland and your company.

Jack and I returned to the boat and left the quay at 13.15, we circled around in the river waiting for the next set of bridges to open.

Race for the bridges

Prinsenbrug road

Three bascule bridges one road and two rail lifting bridges

Prinsenbrug rail

Concentrate

Yes, we had come through that lot.

Windmill De Adriaan

Next passing the impressive windmill

Another two bridges Catharjinebrug, a swing bridge and the double draw bridge,  Gravenstenenbrug, before we were alongside the Spaarne quay at 14.30.

Alongside River Spaarne Quay

Fifty paces from the quay was the ‘Nobel’ bar, we sat in the sunshine and admired the scene as drank our beer, what a lovely place to park your boat.

Back on board for 17.00 for a sleep, the road and river traffic was not a problem.

Ashore again at 20.00 and into a pizza restaurant, where the waiter promptly annoyed Jack, so we left.  I took him to a polo theme bar, gave him a beer to calm him down.

Moved onto a tapas bar ‘El Pincho’, where we shared a large bowl of mussels, salad, potatoes and red wine, it was great.

Next door into ‘In De Vivin’ bar, this used to be part of the old fish market and had a lot of character, with more red wine, it was a charming place.

At midnight, we returned to our town quay, after an amazing, successful day.