NE from Leeuwarden

26 July 2015

The storm vanished as fast as it arrived.   We were on the move by 1030 heading NE towards Dokkum.   This is on the N outskirts of Leeuwarden:

After a couple of miles, we were in open country - what a change from yesterday…

We had decided to stop at one more nature mooring before we reached Dokkum so by 1330 we were moored at a Marrekrite pontoon (LM 18) and watching a rapidly changing sky:

What a strange afternoon … the weather alternated between mirror-flat calm to 35 knots within a few seconds and then back to flat calm again.   And more heavy rain.  This went on until late evening.   At this same time we were looking at the weather in S France where some friends were … it was averaging 35C and sometimes over 40 - at night and no breeze.  Perhaps we were actually better off.   Only later did we learn that it had been so hot and dry over there that the canals were being closed because of lack of water, trapping any vessel which hadn't escaped.   Not so funny.   

We were cozy - gezellig - an important word in Dutch. 

Although it looked like we were in a field next to a river, ...

…we were actually on a pontoon which, by the way, are made of recycled plastic.   They are solid as a rock, don't rot and not covered in slippery green slime.   Brilliant.

/Rich