June 2021 – Part 2
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We ended up on the Schildmeer for about a week (although not really staying that long by choice), where we enjoyed a few peaceful nights anchored up in the lake, which meant we were a lot cooler for a couple of the really hot days. All the windows were open for cooling breezes without any worries for privacy or for security issues. Our only problem was the need to get Casper to the shore for his walks and toilet breaks. This we managed either with trips in the dingy or mooring briefly by the shore.
The lake was very shallow, about 4-5 feet and whilst ok for a swim, standing up meant you were standing in mud. I didn’t like that much but Nicki did quite a bit of swimming to stay cool as the weather was very hot in the first few days.
After a few days of lazing around, we eventually decided to leave which entailed arranging for someone to meet us at the lifting bridge to open it and let us out. Unfortunately as we approached the bridge some locals came out to tell us that the bridge had recently broken and that it would be another three days before it was fixed, which meant we were unable to leave the lake for the time being. Undaunted and happy to stay a little longer, we reversed out and returned to the lake to find somewhere to stop for the weekend – happily we were able to moor in a relatively quiet spot a few hundred yards from nice walking areas and a beach. (We had decided to moor rather than anchor for the next few days as poor weather was forecast and we didn’t fancy being anchored up and buffeted around by wind and heavy rain.) The mooring itself wasn’t great but one of the upsides of its position was being virtually next to a nice little restaurant – perfect for the odd coffee break and meal – so it seemed rude not to take advantage, and that evening we had a nice meal there, dining outside until the weather turned and we had full on thunderstorms. (With it being Father’s Day that Sunday, the children wanted us to have a meal on them so we were ‘forced’ into going there a second time – thanks everyone.)
Three days later we were once again ready to move on and made our way back to the lifting bridge, this time round it was fixed – we just had to wait around for someone to come and open it for us (as we still didn’t have a key). Unfortunately we ended up waiting for four hours for a guy to turn up, but as our next stop wasn’t too far away we weren’t too worried and just chilled out while we waited. Finally though we were off and heading to Delfzijl for a couple of nights.
Arriving at Delfzijl we entered it’s main Jachthaven where we spent the next couple of nights. We were able to have a brief look round the sea port and also walk into Appingedam, a nine mile round trip and very enjoyable. A picturesque old town with its hanging kitchens over the canal.
After a couple of nights in Delfzijl we took our leave and headed to Termunterzijl (topping up with water before leaving Delfzijl Jachthaven) via an industrial area and then onto the Termunterzijl canal. We stopped at a key operated lifting bridge before reaching the town and from here we had a 2k walk to the jachthaven to purchase a key so that we could open the bridge and continue our journey into the centre – we had been advised by this point that we would need the key for several more bridges en route, so felt it was worth the time and effort to pick one up. Once moored up and settled in Termunterzijl, we took the chance to explore the surroundings and also to work out how we were going to get through the sea lock the following day.
Luckily a chat with the jachthavenmeister meant that we were able to book a departure slot through the next bridge and port gates for the next morning, after which we found a lovely little cafe where we spoilt ourselves with not one but two amazing iced coffees.
Next morning we were up nice and early for an agreed departure time from Termunterzijl of 8:30 in order to leave after low water, heading out onto the Dollard to make our way to the estuary of the Westerwoldse Aa. (This is the route that we would be taking back to Groningen.)
An hour or so later and we arrived at the lock at Nieuwe Statenzijl, glimpsing a few seals basking on the mudflats asking the way. As we excited the lock and could take stock of our potential mooring we both agreed that it might be nice to stay there for the weekend and take advantage of the surrounding area.
With such an early start to our day and the relatively short cruise, we decided to take a short bike ride across the border into Germany leaving Casper happily ensconced in the boat. Flushed with success on our return, we chose to cycle back to Termunterzijl again the next day where we visited ‘our’ cafe for yet another delicious iced coffee.
On the way back we took time out to look at a WWII gun emplacement and a seal sanctuary, both very worthwhile points of interest.
Despite the relaxed location it was time to move on, this time to the small town of Bad-Nieuweschans for a couple of nights. There really wasn’t a lot to see there, but we managed to get a bit of shopping and on the way back came across a pretty little park bench covered in mosaic depicting a few scenes of town history.
Our intention had been to stay another night but a decision late the next morning to move on meant we had to wait till 2pm for the first bridge to open but not a problem as it was only a 3 hr journey to our next destination, and here our problems began – whilst we like the odd challenge, today turned into a collage of them.
Bridge one was okay, followed by a motorway bridge for which we had to unexpectedly drop the bimini. The next bridge needed a key to operate it, but fortunately we had one – there was just enough space for Nicki to hop off and operate it and with the aid of Google translate to decode the instructions, we were through. However, Nicki couldn’t remove the key afterwards. I managed to moor up and go to the rescue but sure enough the key seemed well and truly stuck! A couple of phone calls and twenty minutes later a man with a van arrived and after a bit of jiggling, he managed to remove the key – phew, so now we should be ok, but no.
The next obstacle was a self service lock, which we hadn’t come across before. Still, Google translate proved invaluable and eventually we understood that what we thought was the help button actually triggered the opening of the gates; once in the lock we sat there wondering how it went into action (ie gates closed, water in/out etc) before noticing a chain in the wall that once triggered closed, filled and opened the lock. We both felt quite a sense of achievement at our cleverness, but like they say, pride comes before a fall and this did prove to be true.
Finally closing on our destination, I was feeling much happier until we spotted a large bright yellow sign on the next bridge, and this brought us to what turned out to be our final challenge of the day. A bit of translation indicated that not only the bridge was out of action, but it and that particular stretch of waterway were out of action for the whole of 2021. (Unfortunately not flagged by the navigation software, otherwise we could have changed our route before getting this far.) A couple of phone calls later and we clarified that it really was game over and we were not going any further that day. On the plus side, this was just past a junction in the waterway, so we moored up at the bridge (after all, no-one was going through that way were they?) ready to back up the next day to a new destination.
From here we made our way to Veendam, which turned out to be quite a slow passage with lots of waiting at bridges, but eventually we arrived at the town, but not before being squeezed into our final lock of the day along with a couple of cruisers, and then being directed to a mooring spot along the narrow channel.
Despite a little concern about other traffic getting past us, the mooring wasn’t too bad and we had a pleasant couple of nights there readying ourselves for our next adventure.
