Weather prediction. Morning: mostly cloudy with some rain; Afternoon: mostly cloudy with some sun. 11am, all looking good, off set we: destination, the church. What was that? A spot or two? It couldn’t be! Looked up; pretty clear, a drop or two won’t hurt. On to the church – yes, there was one on the […]

This was a day of exploration. Originally surrounded by a moat – some of which still survives – Blokhuispoort, was originally constructed as a fort – like structure by the Saxons. This enabled them to govern the Friesland region. From 1580 until 2007, the structure was used to house prisoners. The Frieslanders have looked outside […]

The weather not at all promising for Dokkum, the decision was made to continue to Leeuwarden rather than go on the planned bike ride up to Holwerd and other northern townships. Here, if the forecast proved correct, it would be possible for us to explore during the afternoon. Frisky cows, raunchy cows, Loved this one […]

This morning Gratis took us along the Dokkumer Dijp, followed a few kilometres later by the Dokkumer Grutdjip Canals. With the bridge operators taking time off for lunch, we dined on the canal bank for the midday break. Upon the canals today white swans dined on their culinary delight of water weeds and small critters, […]

This is the region of the Wadden Sea: a seascape of blue that turns to a grey – brown silty slush during the ebbing of the tide. Today, it’s a series of UNESCO World Heritage parks that cover the North Sea coastal regions of Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany. We have been informed that the best […]

We are only a few hundred metres from the sea lock at Lauwersoog in the Netherlands. It is from here that one can motor out to the Frisian Islands, then the North Sea. Beautiful country and so different to the nearby Ost Friesland of Germany. In between rain showers we made it out for a walk and found […]

This day’s journey took us upon the Zoutkamperril Canal. Today the landscape became significantly different to that of Germany’s Ost Friesland: so much so that it is difficult to comprehend. From what we are experiencing, the weather patterns and rainfall are dissimilar: maybe it’s effects created by land formations, ocean currents and so forth???? For […]

Had a lovely motor through the centre of Groningen, followed by a delightful motor through farming country. It’seems quite different to Oster Friesland, Germany. Many low bridges required lifting and made for a relaxed saunter.

12:30pm and the time for us to depart had arrived. The kindly couple behind motored out so as to provide more room in which to manoeuvre Gratis as Bob backed her out of the marina berth. There are times set for boats to be led convoy style through the centre of the township. This particular […]

This superb museum led us through 1500 years of maritime history in a few short hours. Room 1 Covering the northwest European trade that took place between the 7th and 10th centuries, the ships most used at this time were the knar and hulk. There were also some interesting artifacts on display. Room 2/3 By […]

An exquisite morning of motoring took us along the Mast – up route to the University and Hanseatic town of Groningen. A bit of an interesting start to the day took place at the Grote Sluis and Kleine Sluis lock entrances. According to our book, each had their own radio channel, however, all sign posting stated the VHF […]

We went out looking for lunch today. Bob, intent on escaping the rain, with Greek on his mind, raced across the street faster than a hare. It was Sunday, and a lone Chinese restaurant was open. An hour later, having wandered the town, like water rats we arrived back at the marina: there in front […]

The weather cold and dreary, appearing ready to rain, we had departed our mooring in Emden by 09:00. Schleuse contacted, at that point, we were informed they would have it ready for us. On arrival at the gate, a quick radio call – it’s VHF 13 here – and the massive structure gradually slid open. […]

We have returned to Emden and refueled, ready for our departure to Delfzijl in Holland. Right up until the final hour, the weather was exquisite. How short lived: it’s raining once more!  

It was a beautiful warm return journey to Emden: until the rain set in, that is. Bridge operators cycling hard to keep up. You can just see him operating the controls on the bridge. Past us went the boats. Drehbrucke opened. Out the other side. Remember that raft with the wheelbarrow, chairs, outboard motor and […]

A short seven kilometre bike ride from Aurich is Moordorf, and it is here that the visitor finds the Moormuseum. Located on just over three acres of peat land, this is an open – air museum that leads one through the colonisation of the town: as dictated by the Prussian Kaiser, Friedrich II, in his […]

There is only one drawback to the Ostfriesland region: it rains every few days. The general pattern appears to be 3 days sunshine – the third of which becomes hot and humid with no wind, then a day or two of grey with continual rain and little wind, followed immediately by a change in wind […]

This was our day for journeying upon 25km of the Ems – Jade Canal to Aurich and a delightful one it was too, with its lifting or turning bridges, and a lock or two. The kilometre markings at the commencement of the journey slightly unclear, and no names on the bridges, the first of the […]

By 08:30 this morning, the phone call informing Bob the new starter motor had arrived came. Like a rocket, off Bob scampered, collected it and, upon his return, promptly installed the new part. It was at this point in time that he discovered the true source of the fault: a faulty soldered connector in the […]

What more could an explorer want than a sunny, warm summer’s day, what more could one ask for when planning a cycle across the heathlands of Germany to the inland waters of Grosser Meer. With a depth of one metre, surrounded by meadowlands and edged with tall reeds, this lake provides the right breeding conditions for the bird […]