August 15th, 2009

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Correction Aug 15 and a few more pictures

Saturday, August 15th, 2009

Ik gaf het verkeerde mobile nummer voor neef Carol het is 065971342. Carol will be with me through the early morning trek through the Amsterdam Canals to my moorage, south of Amsterdam. I shall have my own Holland cell phone number on Monday and will advise.

It is a warm summer evening and a steady parade of small outboards and the rage here of the “sloepen” an open launch. A cooler with Heineken and dinner. I am moored in the Houtmankade. Waiting for the early morning railroad bridge opening. My grandfather had a branch store of his ship chandlery for the inland barge skippers here just a few blocks down the canal. I can still smell the tanned manila rope. Around the corner was his mast maker shop. The Pitch Pine logs from America would be rafted outside to make the masts and booms for the sailing barges. As boys we played in the mountains of shavings and gunny sacked the larger shaving for the bakers’ ovens. My crew, Carol de Vries, continued the 5 generatiion, almost 200 year old business till around 2000. There are some pictures of the business and the family history on this web site.  

 

 

I will make a slide show of these and more photos of the trip from Moorehead City, via Bermuda, Azores, Bretagne to Amsterdam and advise the link to it in the coming week. Wishing every one a good and blessed Sunday and a big thank you for your prayers for my safety and the success of this voyage to a long held dream. I am for ever grateful for this opportunity. 

 

Aug 15 In Amsterdam

Saturday, August 15th, 2009

Carol and I had breakfast at my nephew’s home in Haarlem. Dirk Jan and his two sons, Daan and Lucas came aboard in Ijmuiden for the ride through the sea locks and the North Sea Canal to Amsterdam. My sister Karolien and her husband Herman came to meet us at the locks. It was a new experience being sluiced through the locks with at least 15 sail boats. Every one sailed the canal. A rare sight in the U.S. where one usually relies on the motor only. A marechausee boat directed us to the side for passport control. A delay but exciting for the young boys and a great photo opportunity. I am writing this from Carol’s home in a 1605 building, where my grandfather moved in 1925 and he was born and I lived for s short period in 1944, while my mother was interned. To-night we continue our trip through the canals to my moorage, when the railroad bridge opens.

In the locks

In the locks

Dutch scene from the ride to Amsterdam

Dutch scene from the ride to Amsterdam

Aug 15 Saturday Morning. The Dutchman is home

Saturday, August 15th, 2009

Ijmuiden 23.30 hours. We docked in the outer harbor Marina at 22.30 hrs,Friday evening. I am so glad I had cousin Carol’s help on this trip and particularly this evening. The chart I had did not match the harbor entrance and docking in the dark with all the background lights of the smelter was a challenge. Anyway we are safe and sound and I do not know where to start to describe the emotions of raising the Dutch courtesy flag on the starboard yard arm. Today the trek to Amsterdam and then through the canals seeing the familiar sights of the city I grew up in. I am feeling better right now and was tired enough to get a good night sleep.

Wij liggen in vak “EE” helemaal aan het eind, bij de ingang van de haven. De ingang door en dan helemaal links door. Je moet een pasje hebben om door het hek te komen, als er niemand is om om mee door het hek te lopen bel dan Carol op, zijn mobiel is weer geladen 647866238 We vertrekken vanmorgen naar Ansterdam. Dan zal ik beslissen of we door de eerste brug gaan bij de houthaven/Houtmankade en daar liggen en wachten totdat we de Staande Mast route kunen beginnen die om 2 uur s’morgens opent of nog een dag liggen in het Ij. Beste dat je mijn zus belt voor meer gegevens.Mobiel 06-12056233