Stellendam (13-8-2011

On Friday July 12th the Echoes was steaming up to Stellendam. We departed at 06.00 AM. At16.00 PM we entered the lock (Goeresesluis). On the VHF we heard that the lock was out of order; 300 meters away from our homeport Stellendam. Waiting to continue our trip we saw a seal nearby our boat eating a big fish.
At 22.00 PM we decided not to wait a went to bed. When we woke up all the ships were still waiting. At 14.00 PM the problem was solved and half a hour later we moored at our berth in Stellendam.

It was a never to forget holiday. We sailed around 1300 NM and visited 35 ports in 104 days.

Coming back home the children had organised a welcom home party. The coming days we need to change our daily rhythm. We need to do some cleaning work on our boat and do some small repairments.

We have noticed that this sabbatical leave loaded our batteries and we looked back at a very very pleasant journey.

NEVER TO FORGET! 

Blankenberge (9-8-2011)

This morning we started early to go to Roompot (Netherlands). First we went to the fuel berth for some diesel. We had to wait more then 30 minutes, because we were second in the row after a big motor yacht. The yacht needed a lot of fuel; more then 1000 liters I guessed.

After we had filled our tank the engine would not start; water in the fuel. In took half a day to remove the water and renew the filters. We sailed away around 15.00 PM. New destination is Blankenberge (Belgium); 20 NM.

On Thursday we went by tram to De Haan aan Zeen. Nice houses and beaches.

Nieuwpoort (3-8-2011)

We woke up early today; 05.00 AM. With the tide in the direction of Calais and then to Nieuwpoort Belgium. The weather condition were nor good, nor bad. It was sunny but hardly any wind. We arrived at 16.00 PM in Nieuwpoort. Tomorrow we will meet our (grand)children.

We went to the amusement park Plopsaland

Boulogne (2-8-2011)

After a few days in Saint Vaast it was time to go further. The (grand)children skyped and wanted to visit us. We decided to go to Nieuwpoort (Belgium) before to weekend. The fasted way to go to Nieuwpoort is to go across the 'Baie de La Seine' to Boulogne. The distance is 131 NM. That means that we have to sail at night. We left Saint Vaast at 14.00 PM and we sailed to whole day and the next morning to Boulogne.

Around 10.30 AM we arrived in the marina. The weather was excellent. The temperature above the 30 degrees Celcius. It was hot and very busy in the marina. The next day we will go further to Nieuwpoort.