Latest Adventures
French recollections 1
Our boat Bouccanier at Joigny in France In 2008 Karen and I spent nearly a month on a boat in France, cruising on the River Yonne and Nivernaise Canal. This was our first trip to France. We thoroughly enjoyed it, and afterwards, we were hooked - both on boating...
Reflections on the French Waterways
Reflection on a French Waterway We're making progress on the boat buying journey again - I think! I have joined the RYA, and am trying to do the CEVNI test. We're back in Aberdeen. This is good and bad. Yes it is in the UK. But it is way north and it's a mission to...
The journey is still continuing!
Falkirk Wheel Someone asked me on Twitter - Have you bought your boat yet? Briefly - No not yet - but it must happen in 2012. At the moment though, boating is far from my mind - unfortunately! - Its all very well wanting a boat, but one must be able to pay for it,...
Holland Waterway Cruise – The search for our own boat.
De Ruiter Grand Star The purpose of this blog was to record our journey to buying our own boat. And, part of the reason for going to Holland was to look at some Dutch Steel Motorcruisers. We saw loads of boats, and managed to view 2 boats that were for sale. The first...
Holland waterway cruise – Bridges and Locks Part 2
Lock at Urk Holland is not particularly noted for locks, but there are a few. Still the most fascinating aspect of Holland is that, being predominantly below sea level, as you go inland, you lock down! In our brief travels through Holland, we negotiated some locks,...
Holland waterway cruise – Bridges and Locks
Mastenbroekerbrug Holland is a boating paradise - criss-crossed with a huge network of rivers and waterways. But a lot of bridges. Very many are big, high bridges which can be passed under without a problem, but very many are small lift bridges. (BB or Beweegbare Brug...
Holland waterway cruise – Marinas, harbours and moorings – part 2
Busy marina of Elburg Costs and facilities in Holland The cost to berth overnight at marinas or town visitor's berth is usually Euro 1 per metre per night. Sometimes this includes the Tourist Tax of Euro 0.80 per person, and other times it is extra. Possibly the...
Holland waterway cruise – Marinas, harbours and moorings – part 2
Overnight mooring at De Belt One of the big differences between the Holland waterways and those in UK or France, is the casual stopping places. On canals in UK and France, there is invariably a tow path on one side and one can almost stop anywhere one feels like it,...
Holland waterway cruise – Marinas, harbours and moorings – part 1
The trip on the Pedro is already fading into memories. I had hoped to be able to post frequent updates from the boat, but the lack of internet access was the one and only disappointing part of our holiday in Holland. During our 2 weeks, we only had good wireless...
Finally a Dutch Steel Motor cruiser!
Solida - our Pedro Solano 33 At long last we arrived in Urk to collect our boat for 2 weeks cruising in Holland. The Dutch are friendly and laid back - Truida, the lady at the charter base volunteered the use of her car so we could go up to the supermarket in Urk, to...
About Me
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.