Even though we no longer have Shangri La, I still love looking back at the photos and reminiscing! We think those few years were the best of our lives.
I was reminded of the huge number of bridges on the Netherlands Waterways – which of course is not surprising given the amount of water there.
During the summers of 2013, 2014 and 2015 when we cruised these waterways, we passed through 442 bridges (I know because I noted every single one in our logbook!).
The bridges are either fixed bridges or Beweeg Brugge (moveable bridges) and these could be lift bridges or swing bridges or hef (vertical lift) bridges. And the range of style and designs is amazing. Enough waffle – I selected some 30 odd pics of bridges and will put them out in 2 or 3 posts – with maybe a brief explanation.
Dokkum was amazing. Loved it. The bridge in the pic above was one of the old traditional bridges where you paid bruggeld by putting in a clog swung out to you as you passed through. Such fun!
This one is I think the most radical design we saw.
Most railway bridges seem to be swing bridges – I suppose something to do with the weight of the rails?
Eilandbrug – fixed bridge on the Ketelmeer. Interesting thing is the numbers indicate the available Airdraft!
This was one of three identical Hefbruggen on the route from Alphen and de Rijn to Gouda.
More next time!
Happy boating.
My love of boats goes back to my early years when I went on holiday with my parents to Knysna in the Cape.
We stayed at a hotel on stilts, and I played in rowing boats and little motor boats on the lagoon.