We finally got our shipment from Rotterdam on July 1, ending the Saga of the Stuff. There was still a wait for a packet of mail to come but that arrived July 9. On July 10, we sailed from Stavoren to Enkhuizen and have since moved on through Hoorn, Amsterdam, and Muiden. I am writing this in Weesp.
Enkhuizen is known for hosting a major port of the Dutch East India Company, at one time, the biggest company in the world.
One time offices of the Dutch East India Company
It was in Enkhuizen, at the Jachthaven Buyshaven that I first noticed that whenever we checked into a marina, someone would hoist an American flag. While in the clubhouse there we witnessed the defeat of Netherlands in the World Cup football finals.
Hoorn was only a rainy daysail away.
Our berth in Hoorn
The trip from Hoorn to the Aeolus marina in Amsterdam was much more “interesting”. We left Hoorn about 08:30 and had fair winds for the first two hours. Then they came around to our nose, lightened and eventually became calm. While we were motoring into the long channel that is the western approach to the city, I was down below and heard a strange screeching sound. It seemed to be coming from the port side. It lasted only about 45 seconds then went away. A short time later I noticed our speed was considerably slower than expected at all engine speeds. We looked all around the boat but could not see anything fouled or dragging.
We came to a bridge that opens at 20 minute intervals and we tied up to wait. Immediately after the bridge is what must be Hollands slowest lock. We waited to get into that then waited for it to operate. On exiting the lock we found or speed had returned to normal. I can only guess that we had fowled something on a keel and it had fallen off when we were stopped.
As we approach were we thought Aeolus would be I could sense there was something unusual going on. The first hint was all the helicopters circling – particularly the big military Chinook. Then, as we got closer, the river became chock full of all sorts of boats. There was everything from little runabouts to fireboats with water displays. Meantime, we are trying to find to entrance to our marina – which we had never seen before. We did spot it it and had to maneuver around a tug and a police boat to get in. The harbormaster was watching the action on his TV. It was the homecoming of the Netherlands football team from the World Cup games in South Africa.
Amsterdam Harbor
We found a fantastic hardware store in north Amsterdam called W. Burger & Zn. It looked very small with standing room for about a half dozen customers. But if you asked a sales person for almost anything, they would disappear for a minute or two then come back with your requested item. I had a pretty long list of things to buy but the salesman kept finding everything. I tried getting creative just to test him. I asked for a sewing palm. To my surprise, the salesman said, “We used to carry those. Let me see if there are any left”. Sadly there were none but I was amazed that he even knew what a sewing palm was. This was just a hardware store not a marine store.
The trip from Amsterdam to Muiden had plenty of wind. Once we got through the lock and bridge we were able to sail all the way. In fact, the GPS clocked us at 5.8kn with just a reefed head sail up.
Muidenslot
Muiden is just a village and aside from the castle there is not that much to see. We had to leave early the next morning in order to catch a bridge that opens only three times a day. Other than waiting for locks and bridges, it takes only an hour or so to motor from Muiden to Weesp down the river Vecht. This part of the river is lined with house boats.
Vecht river between Muiden and Weesp
Further on, I am told, the river is lined with mansions. We will see soon.