More (big) Meers

First a couple of pics of Lemmer from last night - its like a very mini Venice of canals instead of roads, very touristy. Then a word about 7am this morning ... and the word is 'merde'! The Harbourmaster had promised the toilets were never locked, here we were needing an early start, and they damn well we're locked. Luckily a woman was arriving for work on a nearby company and she let us use her toilet. Phew.

So out into the Ijsselmeer for 4 hours, not much wind on the nose, brings us to Lelystad and a lock shared with commercial traffic. Takes best part of an hour. Then across the Markermeer for 4 hours brings us to the start of Amsterdam with its one bridge (pic), which closes for 2 hours just before we get here. So we sit,  tied up, and wait. Has been cooler today, first time Nic has been in 2 layers and Lesley in 3. Even coats were deployed. It feels sticky again though, near the city. Apparently the Covid-19 cases are rising here, so we'll be cautious. But we have to wait for the right weather to re-enter the high seas (from the low seas). 

Now is a moment to reflect on plans and how they change. See pic: purple line is original plan for getting home and the pencil line shows our inland deviation into the canals,  and even a change in that. As to what's actually next ... we'll let you know.