Day 45 - Terschelling

Friday 17^th July 2015 – Terschelling – Day 45

The shipping forecast is not too good with an increase in wind speed with showers but armed with the Harbour Master’s information on the new route across the sandbank, which would half the distance to our next port, we made ready and left Vlieland marina at 09.00.

Three-quarts of an hour later with our little chartlet, we approached the new slenk (channel) entrance, marked by small yellow buoys, with half hour before high water, we made our way across the sand bank keeping very close to the buoys.  In half-hour we were across the bank and congratulating ourselves, when a little further on, the depth sounder reading began reducing until zero, bump and we touched bottom, stopped the engine, bump again and we were aground. 

Engine full astern and we slowly slide our way backwards until we were afloat again.  Ninety degrees to our right, we could see other yachts and a sailing barge heading towards us and further on, another little yellow buoy.  We headed towards them and when passing the sailing barge their skipper hailed, keep the buoys on your left side.  Sheepishly, I replied, ‘I know’.  Our navigator lost all of his brownie points that day.

At 11.00 we were entering the Dellewal marina on the island of Terschelling, the marina appeared full and trying to find a berth, heard over the tannoy system, garbled messages, so headed for the vacant fuel berth.  A gentleman came strutting down from the office, shouting, if we understood English.  He had spotted our British ensign and it was he, the harbour master, who was giving us instructions on where to go.  I told him, I did understand English but not his quick firing statements.  After we both calmed down and re-addressed the situated, he told me where to park the boat.

Dellewal Marina

  

School Holiday's Parking

We duly went down the correct waterway and ended up on the outside of three other yachts, who thankfully all turned out to be very friendly. 

When, I went to the office to clock in, even the harbour master was more at ease and when enquiring where to go for the night, he told me, it was all around the lighthouse.

Town Centre Lighthouse

The rest of the afternoon was spent tidying up the yacht before venturing ashore at 19.00 and it was only a ten minute walk to the lighthouse. 

First stop the ‘Bandaris’ restaurant where we dined on lamb cutlets with cranberry sauce and the local beer, which was all delightful.

Found our way into another establishment and sat at the bar with a Dutch couple, who were from Den Helder and just there for the weekend, who gave us all the information we needed for these parts and thoroughly enjoyed there company.

Around midnight even more people came into the bar, looking as though they were going to stay for a while.  For us, there had been enough excitement for one day and headed back on board for 01.00.

We had only travelled 7 miles from one island to the next; a lot had been packed into the journey, never to be forgotten.

Day 44 - Vlieland

Thursday 16^th July 2015 – Vlieland – Day 44

This morning it is warm and sunny, quite a few boats are on the move out of the harbour with confirmation from the harbour master in his rib, we hurriedly find our way to a vacant box and all secured for 09.30.

Jack not wanting to exert himself declined the offer as me and Dave hire bicycles at 10.30 for the day.  The normal sit up and beg with seven gears to play with.  Armed with the local cycle map for the island, we set off along the north coast line, through a wooded area which contained holiday homes, camp sites and a hotel in amongst the sand-dunes.

Beach

   

Beach Hotel

The beach near to the camps was deserted, maybe a little too early or the campers or they were hiding in the dunes.

Cycling from this part of the beach, we managed to miss our turning on the track and ended up near to the lighthouse on the south side of the island.

Lighthouse

The lighthouse is situated on the highest point on the island, so an ideal spot to take some pictures.

I left Dave watching over the bics, while I began ascending the hillside towards the tower.

My ascent was blocked by a one metre high fence, it looked as though it was electrified but no notices.  I gingerly touched the top wire, nothing, so I straddled the fence touching the fence with both hands and wallop, I was flat on my back with one foot jammed in the bottom wire doing a St. Fettise dance, extracting my foot, the sensation stopped.

There is nothing like being electrocuted on holiday.

Lesson learnt, I circum-navigated the fence and found the correct route up to the lighthouse.  With a visitor’s platform and a friendly guide, I managed to get the panoramic view of the island, which is basically a huge sand mass with a covering of coarse grass and low trees.

Now following the main road on the south side on which there are very few motor vehicles (only locals allowed vehicles on the island).  We passed only two small cultivated fields which appeared to grow fodder for the horses.  The island literature tells of an abundance of wildlife, so far we had seen, one pigeon.

Hotel Posthuys

We arrive at our destination of the Hotel Posthuys with a lot of people here taking lunch.

A little further to the south, it is a no-go zone for tourists, as the military has taken over the rest of the island.  Therefore, this is the last place to take on food and drink.

I was happy with a small lunch, while Dave unknowingly, ordered a hamburger, which ended up the biggest one I have ever seen, though he did manage to munch his way through it.

Beach Truck

Outside the hotel were two large people carriers which take the tourists off down to the beaches for party time, we had our own transport.  We set off down the correct cycle path on the north side of the island.

Cycle Path

   

Circling Gulls

Along here there was more bird life to be seen, with nesting sea birds in the dunes, we stopped for a while and walked across to one of these sites and rested on the soft mossy dunes while watching the gulls circling above.

White Sands

Further along we came to another idyllic spot with fine views across the white sands, lying back on the top of the dunes in the warm sunshine, sleep came very quickly.

Alex's Bicycle

   

Dave's Bicycle

  

We managed to get ourselves along the rest of the cycle path and back into the village.

Parked up the bics and wandered in and out of the shops, before residing in one of the bars for some refreshing beers.

A short ride to the hire shop and we handed back the bicycles at 19.30, returned to the boat, where we had supper on board, tucked up in bed for 23.00.

It had been an adventure, a well recommended cycle tour of the allowed part of the island.  The beaches are in pristine condition and miles of it to enjoy, with an inviting village to relax.

Day 43 - Vlieland

Wednesday 15^th July 2015 – Vlieland – Day 43

From the information received last night, I called Oost-Vlieland marina, who informed there would be a berth available on arrival.

Jack is feeling better today, so we left our pontoon in Noorderhaven, headed through the bridges and out of the harbour for 10.30.

It is raining by 11.00 with mist and poor visibility, as we headed up the narrow channel between the sand banks with a favourable tide underneath us.

Terschelling Fast Ferry

Vlieland Fast Ferry

On passage we were passed by the fast ferries either plying between the islands of Terschelling or Vlieland.  They are operating at over twenty knots, while at our more leisurely pace, we still move outside of the channel to feel a little safer.

     

While buoy hopping along the channel we also pass some interesting local sailing craft, a fine sight and more to our liking.

In between the islands you enter the Vliestroom where the tide is at its strongest and enjoyed the ride until turning into the Vliesloot, here the tide is against you, heading for the marina entrance with engine doing its best to make head way into the harbour.

True to his word, one of the harbour masters met us in his rib inside the harbour entrance, and guided us alongside the Dutch yacht ‘Buiteorus’.  At 14.00 we were all secured after making it to another Frisian Island.

Village High Street

Off to the Harbour master’s office at 15.00 but it was closed, so after a 15 minute walk along the shoreline came to the village, bustling little high street and adjoining narrow thoroughfares. 

Lots of people milling around in the many shops,bar/restaurants, maybe they are all on holiday, or day-trippers off the ferry.  In amongst the many stalls there was a jazz band playing which was a joy of listen to, while enjoying the warm sunshine. 

The office was open when I returned to the marina and received all of the tidal information, times for leaving and more importantly, the position of a new route over the sandbank to Terschelling.

At 18.00 a German yacht ‘Lazy Day’ came alongside us for the night, the marina was now almost full.

Ashore again for 21.00 and went to the marina restaurant ‘De Dining’, where with a fine view over the harbour, dined on mussels, chips and salad, an excellent meal with the local beer, finished off a successful, interesting day.

Day 42 - Harlingen

Tuesday 14^th July 2015 – Harlingen – Day 42

It is another warm day but overcast.  The yacht alongside us left at 08.45 and thereafter a convoy of boats, also moved out every half-hour, when the bridge was open.

With sufficient space, we also moved across the dock to one of the vacant pontoons and would be happy there for the rest of the day.

Street behind marina

Jack and Dave wandered off at lunch time, to explore the town but Jack came back early feeling very tired, maybe he has not fully recovered from the cycle ride on Texel.

Fine buildings around marina

In the evening Dave and myself went off to the supermarket for stores before exploring more of the town, ending up on the high street, sitting outside a bar enjoying the beer and watching the world go by.

At 20.00 we went into the Chinese restaurant ‘Xin Hua’, where we had an excellent meal of pork dumplings, then more pork with prawns with a bottle of white wine, highly recommended.

Back to the marina and into the ‘Noorderporte’ bar, the lady behind the bar appeared to be not too happy but we struggled on, as she began to mellow.  While another lady at the end of the bar, gave us wonderful information on the Frisian Islands our next stop.

It is now the school holidays and ever one who has a boat takes to the water, especially to the island of Vlieland, where they have been known to close the por,t because of too many wishing to enter and you have to anchor.  Not the best option, I thanked her for this very important information.

Left the bar at midnight to find the marina full of boats once more, looking forward to tomorrow and the escape to the islands.

Day 41 - Harlingen

Monday 13^th July 2015 – Harlingen – Day 41

It is a wet morning, as the light rain falls from the overcast sky.

We moved the yacht over to the fuel berth and took on 55 litres of diesel, then went onto a lay-by pontoon for two hours to await the lock.

In the Zeedoksluis, I done it again and ended up the wrong way round, but this time ending up alongside a kind-hearted Dutch yacht.  When the gates opened, I managed to turn the boat inside the lock and headed out bows first and waved a goodbye to the lock-keeper.

At 13.30, clear of Den Helder harbour into the Waddenzee with the Texelstroom underneath us, the stream was pushing us along and ¾ hour later we were passing Oudeschild on Texel.

In the light airs and overcast sky, we made our way in the bouyed channels, watching seals on the exposed sandbanks. At 18.00 passed the Kornwerdsandsluis, the eastern end lock which takes you into the Ijsselmeer.  Then into the Boontjes, narrow channel and at 19.00 we were at the Harlingen harbour entrance.

At 19.15 we passed through the Sasbrug and waited in the basin for the Prins Hendrick brug to open and into the marina at Noorderhaven.

Noorderhaven was very full with yachts and cruisers moored everywhere, the harbour master put us alongside the quay wall telling us to have long mooring lines because of the tidal range.  An hour later another yacht came alongside us, the place was now packed.

We had a walk ashore but the rain did not cheer us up.  All being very tired, we returned on board, had our usual ham, cheese and tomato sandwiches and in bed for 23.00.

Day 40 - Den Helder

Sunday 12^th July 2015 – Den Helder – Day 40

An early start, as we want to catch the outgoing Texelstroom tide, leaving the pontoon at 06.45.

West Cardinal Mark

Out of the harbour by 07.00, running with the tide and on our way back to Den Helder on the mainland.

A very fast passage as we were inside the Zeedoksluis by 08.15 and alongside the Willimsdok pontoon at 08.45.

In the pleasant sunshine, spent the rest of the morning in the cockpit asleep, while Jack returned to his bed.

In the afternoon, I went to the station and met Dave Durrant, who came off the 15.30 after his flight from Newcastle to Schipol airport and onward train journey.

In the evening, Dave and myself wandered off into another part of the town, while Jack stayed in his bed. The walk did not prove to be fruitful, as we could not find anything resembling a bar, so headed back to the centre of town.

Once more had a meal in the ‘Sphinx’, the owner remembered us, and we were well catered for, after he had explained to the Armenian waitress, we drank large cold beer, not the wee bottles she was serving.  The steaks were excellent and the waitress turned out to be a lot fun, practising her English.

Into the ‘Bar 60’ Eaten & Drinken in the dockyard, for our night caps, enjoying the oude genever.

Back in Noord Holland with three on board, can now turn my attention to making our way back home.

 

Day 39 - Texel

Saturday 11^th July 2015 – Texel – Day 39

This morning it is bright sunny and very warm.

Today is an adventure as we hired bicycles from the nearby marina shop for 9.5 euros (£8) for the day.  The usual Dutch sit up and beg model but with seven gears, although most of the island is flat, they did come in handy.

Oudeschild Church

On the way out of Oudeschild following the dyke, we came across this lovely church, the cycle path led us past the low lying fields and their irrigation channels, until we came to the island’s main road. 

This connects the capital Den Burg and the ferry terminal at t’Horntje.  There is no problem cycling,as there are well defined paths for cyclists which are respected by the motorists.

After a mile down the main road, we turned right and headed off for the village of Den Hoorn.

Jack's Bic

Here we stopped at a very busy café and enjoyed an iced tea, with lots of other cyclists, so we were on the correct tourist route.  This fine example of the village church built in 1646, the church steeples are the highest points on the island, therefore fine reference points.

De Dennen Forest

Although coming out of the village, we managed to miss the correct path and ended up passing through the De Dennen forest, this was very pretty with a suitable path which eventually led us to the west coast of the island, over the sand dunes before reaching De Koog.

   

Here the area was very busy with many camp sites hidden away in the dunes, the white sandy beach was packed, as we watched from a café, while having a ham and eggs lunch.

There are many bars and restaurants overlooking the beach, we later found out the big influx of people was because of a beach party staring at 18.00 and finishing at 04.00 (dawn).

De Koog 

Town Square

Moving off the dunes into the village, it was a thriving, one street was just more bars, restaurants and shops.  It became very clear this was the main tourist spot on the island; we sat in the square watching the people going by, enjoying this beautiful summer’s day.

Time to move on, the main road taking us to the capital at Den Burg.

Jack at Rest

Alex's Bic

In the centre of this wonderful town we found a small park just off the main square with convenient empty benches. In the shade of the trees a nice resting place after all of this exercise on the bics.

A refreshing ice tea and ice creams in the square before heading back on the road for the journey to Oudeschild.

Passing the pretty villages on the way surrounded by the well cultivated fields, it was a joy to be out exploring this beautiful island.  We handed back the bicycles at 18.00 after covering a distance of twenty miles.

Jack headed back to the boat, while I went off to the harbour restaurant of ‘De Kombuis’, here I had a wonderful meal of pork satay with a local beer, before  returning to the boat and in bed for 22.00.

It had been a grand day out, something different, a cycle tour and well worth the effort.