The about 18 k.m. from Nijmwegen on the Waal against the current were challenging. I averaged about 5 k.n per hour and there was lots of traffic and rough wakes. In order to stay out of the worst of the current I had to cross the river three times and then you have to be careful for the fast down stream traffic. Then once I turned the corner into the canal that connects the Waal with the Upper Rhine I was back on the 10 k.m. per hour routine. Next came the IJsel, just beforte Arnhem and it was 1.30 p.m., too early to stop in Arnhem. The IJsel runs faster yet than the Rhine and I was doing 15 k.m. /hr. Besides the current I also had a strong Southerly pushing me. It was much cooler than the two previous days, the dark ominous clouds never made bad on their threat.
We tied up in the Vispoort harbor at 4.30 p.m. I do not remember ever having been in Zutphen. An old Hansa town. Very well preserved with many interesting historic buildings and a very lively town. Definitely a new Dutch favorite for me. I expect to be in Kampen tomorrow and in Lelystad by Thursday late afternoon. Then I will decide if to step the mast to do some sailing on the IJselmeer, if the weather forcast encourages this, or to bring the mast with me on the boat to Amsterdam. I need to do some maintenance to the mast and fix the bruises and scratches on the hull from the canal/river trip. In the early spring I plan to find a spot for the boat to repaint the hull and fix the underwater brusies and I’d like to remove the teak deck and redo the interior finish, which will be a major challenge.