Week 17 The Lockdown Continues

Boat trip with Ben and Boeke

3 hrs out with only one bridge to pass under @ 2.4metres

It was surprising that there were so many boats - particularly at the exact spot we were heading for! (that was where all the shelter was from the Beaufort 4 wind).
So we easily found another spot with only one boat (they had a windscreen to sit behind) - we moored so that we could at least sit outside in the lee of the boat.

We're not sure yet that Boeke actually likes it - he found this spot early in the morning.

An island with history...

(My rough translation) In 1914 Johan and Froukje Hoekstra built a "place" on this island - two farmhouses and a workers house - three houses which probably gave rise to the name Trijehus - (three houses).

The property changed hands several times and in 1961 Geert Vaartjes bought the "place" from his father Gerrit. But, Geert didn't want to do the farming, so he rebuilt the  farmhouse and began a Sailing School - Zeilsschool Trijehus.
The business grew and became well known in Friesland. In summer young and old learnt the basics of sailing. A couple of years after they started they also opened a small cafeteria/restaurant. This became so successful thay they stopped the sailing school. Seven years later they sold the business as a restaurant which was run by a succession of owners until a fire ended the business.

From our mooring we walked along the path to the old site.

Located on the (large) Prinses Margrietkanaal we spotted many (I counted 26) large commercial ships - more than the total number of pleasure craft.

It looks fairly forlorn, but we usually prefer the isolation if we can get it.

The island is now a nature reserve within the National Park. One of the signs gave information about how it had been used to dump "sludge" dredged from the many canals - amid protests it all had to be done in a way that didn't contaminate the surrounding area. It all now looks pretty good.

The sand martin or European sand martin, bank swallow in the Americas, and collared sand martin in India, is a migratory passerine bird in the swallow family. It has a wide range in summer, embracing practically the whole of Europe and the Mediterraneancountries and across the Palearctic to the Pacific Ocean.

Scientific name: Riparia riparia
Phylum: Chordata
Higher classification: Sand martins
Order: Passerine
Rank: Species
Kingdom: Animalia

There is a 30 metre long concrete wall with 300 holes for the sand martins to build nests in.

WARM AS TOAST

I suppose I could Google the origins of this saying, but I found my own meaning in the early hours of the chilly morning. Simply by boiling the kettle and making eggs on toast, the salon soon becomes enjoyable to sit in - it's a relatively small compartment, taking only a few minutes to warm up. The rising sun - turning it's attention to our windows - soon took over - it's that time of the year. Interesting to note that only 2 years ago we had record temperatures in April.

Another night on the boat.

Breakfast - porridge and poached eggs -an unlikely combination perhaps.

As usual my mind began to wander - while I was heating the milk, I remembered a device that Mum used to have - to stop the milk boiling over - a white ceramic disk with a ridged swirl. It occurred to me that I have never, ever seen another one - not that one would go looking in other people's kitchens, nor would it ever occur to ask someone if they had one.
So a Google search - 'to prevent milk boiling' and lo and behold, such a thing does exist and with a scientific explanation of how it works.

It was probably this one from Fowler Ware

Now, to see if it is also a Dutch thing...ah, yes it is an overkookplaatje - this one from Pyrex...

So, it must have been a boring week if it has come to this...

We're still under lockdown, but we are going to have the kids again from Tuesday - just during the day. Some of the parents are starting to wilt.

We're setting things up so that we can maintain the social distancing, including plastic sheeting between the workplaces of the day workers - we'll have a few of them back as well.

Before we went away on the boat, Janny rang them all just to keep in touch - they all want to come back to "work"!

Some kids are going back to school on May 11. There will be no entertainment "events" at least until September 1.

The new date for the next decision about extending the lockdown is the 20th of May.

The Prime Minister speaks well (not like that other place). He comes over quite well and has done himself no harm at all, in a political sense.

Janny won't let me go anywhere - except the boat - could be worse, I guess...

Week 16 One and a half metres

Week 16

Needless to say, not much happening...

Janny does the shopping, Ben does the cooking, I'm keeping busy with pumpkins, workshop, loading the van and trailer, bookkeeping and painting!

I'm not allowed out... Janny and Ben couldn't even find a cup of coffee in Drachten yesterday (Saturday).

And we're all doing a fitness program of one sort or another!

There are long queues at the rubbish tip (recycling centre -  all items are sorted as they are thrown into the various containers). Only 5 cars at one time are allowed in.

The Op Shop in Drachten is also busy as people are taking the opportunity to do a big cleanup!

The 28th of April is the date for the Government to decide the next steps....

Walking the dog...

Still painting...

One good thing...I listen to my audio books whilst doing this - currently "Paris" by Edward Rutherford (38 hours long!). I've finished the last (15th) of my Cliff Hardy novels (lightweight, but a nice bit of Australiana as they are set in Sydney). (I also listen as I walk).

Ben's lemon meringue pie (meringue to come)

Pumpkins

The "Sweet Grey" seeds almost looked like they were painted...(They may well have been to distinguish them from the others - I don't remember the colour from last year).

Some into planter boxes...

Some direct in the soil...

More nesting boxes...

Unloading the bus at the Op Shop...

So much more to go...

Janny even found an old photo of me (and Dianne) from ...pre 1970??

One and a half metres

Can we use the boat?

Translated from a Weekly Boating Newsletter

Boring summer

It is likely to be a boring summer. Only if they do not take place do you notice how many events, parties, reunions, tours, competitions, markets and other kinds of activities are organized annually in the countries. Often organized by many volunteers who often do this for many years in a row. Often with all their soul and bliss. Every now and then we receive messages from organizations that have unfortunately had to decide to cancel their event this year. All logical and right decisions. Even if activities are allowed again in a few months, the time is too short to organize something beautiful. These organizations also deal with sick or volunteers who are now busy with their regular care jobs.

In this way, applause for all volunteers who spoil us all these years with all those fun, exciting and fun activities. We hope that we will all have a full agenda again next year.

One and a half meters of water sports

In recent days, much has been said about the one and a half meter economy and society. One and a half, of course, refers to RIVM's advice to keep at least a meter and a half away when we go out and meet others. Is it possible to return to work if you have to keep at least a meter and a half away from colleagues? Can a café or cinema run rashly if far fewer customers are allowed to enter? We wondered what a meter and a half of water sports can look like.

Keeping a distance of one and a half meters on board most pleasure yachts is out of the question. With a little organization, keeping more distance than usual is still possible, but really fun and practical probably not. And what if you have to help a fellow passenger quickly during a tacking maneuver. Not to do, unless you have a yacht in the superyacht category. It is therefore better to sail alone with your own family members and from each other again that you are certainly not infected. On the water itself, there is of course automatically enough distance to other ships. But when passing locks, it is important to pay attention. Mooring alongside is no longer a matter of course and we may no longer have to take a line for someone else.

It will also be difficult in ports. After all, many jetties are dead ends, so one-way traffic is not possible. Pay close attention and wait on a side jetty until the oncoming vehicle has passed. Measures are also being taken at the other facilities. For example, only one person can use the sanitary at a time and it is then immediately cleaned. That does mean that a port will have to have extra cleaners.

If a mechanic has to come on board, he will actually have to be instructed on shore and have to do the job on board himself. Not impossible and it is best to have a cup of coffee together afterwards as long as we keep our distance. The consequences for passenger shipping, canal cruises and charter ships are already dramatic. If they will soon be able to sail with guests again, that will be much less and only if it is also possible to organize on board that they can stay at a sufficient distance. Not really a basis for healthy operation and we do not expect these ships to get off the ground again soon. It will be different with the rental of yachts. As long as the ships are cleaned extra thoroughly and care is taken when the keys are handed over and instructions are kept away, the rental can probably start. But of course all this only makes sense if you can also sail freely and bridges and locks work according to normal (summer) operation. And that sailing and staying on board are allowed everywhere again.

Sailing schools and, for example, classroom lessons for the small boat license will also prove to be difficult. If you are alone in a sailing boat during the lesson, it is still going, but the fun of a sailing camp is of course just being together with peers. Also during the activities ashore. And taking lessons in a room with a group is also difficult. As with most activities, organizing it is no longer profitable with fewer participants.

Of course, the above is not a complete picture, but our cautious conclusion is that the one and a half meter of water sports is partly possible. Especially on your own ship or with a rented vessel. But that there are still quite a few practical hurdles to overcome to keep it workable.

Week 15 Pumpkins and vogel hokjes

Week 15

Just another week in lock-down...

On Monday I installed a new toilet...took me all afternoon but it doesn't leak. Many years since I did one of these - not my favorite job. (We have 17 of them!)

So, I must have earned a day on the boat!

We went to join Robin and Joy in the marina at Heerenveen.

Moved the boat *sideways* into a mooring spot next to their boat!

It all feels so unreal - most of the boats would be going into the water by now, but there is barely any movement at all.

Andrew and Terry's old boat Houtrib won't be going out at all. The new owners, Ron and Annette, are stuck in Australia.

The marina has been closed - but we could still "hang around" a bit - just relying on our own facilities. Robin and Joy have a heater,shower and composting toilet - so their only contact with other people is when they go shopping.

Boeke slept on board - a little restless, so I guess he'll just have to get used to it - or get left at home!

Commercial shipping seems to be continuing...

We finally got some life vests - in preparation for the Big Trip  - which won't be going ahead this year!

Even our consolation trip to the Admiralty Festival in Dokkum won't be going ahead. It's not until September but the organising committees can't get together to do the organising!

We'll probably go there at some stage anyway - just because we can get there with having to open any bridges.

Janny is doing all the shopping, but we did order some food from our local supermarket chain - but they are so busy with home deliveries at the moment that ours took 8 days! This load mostly for the boat...

It looks like the business will be able to stay afloat - for the time-being at least. 

Our local Councillor rang Janny the other day - just to ask if we are managing OK. There are not many Care Farms in our Council, so it is good that they know we exist! I have mentioned before that Local Government is much more important here - there is the Federal Govt. and also a Provincial Level - but the Province is not as involved in the nitty-gritty of making things run - that is more the role of the Local Goverment.

Theoretically, we are still providing "care" if we maintain contact with the clients. Janny and Ankie do "face time" with them a couple of times a week - Janny even went fishing with one of them - before she came down to the boat.

Peter 19 - Janny 7

Apart from the boat days, I am maintaining my routine of paperwork, fitness and a few work hours. Day 11 today!

Walking and rowing, mostly. I'll be doing Triathlons next week - ie. adding cycling...

2kms at 3 mins 31 secs per 500m

Sunday, Sunny and 22°C

Sunday was another boat day - this time just a short run up to an island about 30 minutes away - just to stow the food, read a book and have a snooze!

On the way home - at Wijnjewoude - a couple of men had set a up a music show (Vocals, keyboard and electric guitar) in their front yard - one way to beat the boredom!

Pumpkin Patch

I used the rotary-hoe on the back of the tractor to prepare this year's Pumpkin Patch.

Trying a few varieties:-

Sweet Grey

Wintersweet

Black Kat

and Queensland Blue

and zucchini and carrots - that's about the extent of my "black thumbs"! (Our volunteer helper has green thumbs - but he's not allowed to come here for the time-being).

...and cutting more kits for nesting boxes (vogel hokjes) - one of the clients will be assembling them at home...