The marina in Venlo had bicycles available for their guests. I used one of them to ride the about 4 miles to the center of Venlo for 10 o’clock mass at Saint Martin. The church originates from the 15th century but has been rebuilt many times. It has an exquisitely carved wooden pulpit. Just wished I had not left my Nikon on the train. The Thalys train people are not responding to my web mails and their phone number can only be reached on a fee basis…. Anyway the Sunday gospel told me not to pick a fight with them. The other institution that challenges my anger control is the Bank of America. To pay for the 700 euro road transport of the mast I transferred dollars to my euro account. The rate came to $1.38 (this includes their $35 transfer fee) for the Euro, whereas when I pull money out of an ATM machine here it costs me $1.27 (including the fees).
We left Venlo at 12.30 and stopped near Boxmeer at KM 151 and anchored in an artificial lake, a sand/gravel pit off the river. A thunderstorm moved through with heavy showers. I decided to stop early today to deal with Thalys once more and to do some banking chores. We stopped at 12.30 in Nijmwegen. The weather forecast was for more rain and thunder storms accompanied by wind gusts. We are moored in the Lindenberg harbor, right in town. The current on the Waal is strong and the approximate 20 k.m.’s against the current will take a while longer than the speed I have become used to. Then we get into the Rhine to Arnhem and that is again with the current. We shall stay in the Valkenburg marina in Arnhem tomorrow and then get on the IJsel. With a stop in either Kampen, Zwolle or Deventer we should be in Lelystad on or before Saturday.