I forgot to mention yesterday that Assen's main claim to fame is that it hosts a major motor-cycle race every summer, attracting something like 100,000 fans: fortunately it wasn't this week. So we spent a comfortable night and woke to bright sunshine.We left punctually to catch the 9 a.m. bridge opening, in a convoy of about five boats.
At the junction with the main canal, three turned south, and one came north with us – behind us, which I prefer. It can be irritating cruising along staring at the back of another boat! There were many attractive canal-side houses:
We passed through three bridges in quick succession, and then the first of three locks in the day: they were all open, ready and waiting for us, and since were were now descending, very gentle. The big surprise was the fall – at least three metres each time.
We have not seen all that many windmills in this part of the country, but this cute little number on the canal bank caught the eye:
About an hour short of Groningen, we spotted a boatyard, extremely scruffy but with a rack of gas bottles, so we pulled in. No problem buying the gas bottle, but a big problem fitting it to the barbecue. It took the mechanic a costly hour figuring out how to marry up the different fittings, but now it is done and should see us through Holland at least.
Plenty of lifting bridges as we came into Groningen, but most opened obligingly, though we were held up for a while at this railway bridge:
In the middle of town, the waterway started to get quite animated, with various boatloads of beer-swigging youngsters chugging around. We passed the magnificent modern museum, opposite the traditional railway station – this is one of its three main buildings. We will be visiting it tomorrow:
We finally reached the port on the edge of the old city centre and tucked into a convenient berth, with all the right facilities. Watersports were continuing, even though it had started to rain – a shame after a lovely sunny day.
The rain had a dogged, persistent Dutch look to it, so we wrapped up and set off to the supermarket for a few essential provisions – something to put on the barbecue if it stops raining. Despite the rain, children were still playing on the swings etc. close to the port, people were walking about without rainwear or umbrellas, and even a toddler in a baby carriage was exposed to the elements. Tough people!
Anyway, we will be here for a couple of nights and do the tourist thing tomorrow – in sunshine, I hope.
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