Someone is looking after us ...

We know it's tempting fate to say it, but we have been very lucky so far. Someone up there, or perhaps down there (if you've seen the Good Omens series, highly recommended ), seems to be looking after us very well. When we had to be at sea, the wind was unseasonably in the east, and now it is forecast to be strong from the west (on our nose), we have the inland option of the Dutch canals. Then there's the berths - finding one is the most stressful part of the day, but our boat handling is more confident and last night after much searching we found possibly the only 'green' (available) berth in Lauwersoog Nooderhaven. Right by the shiny new facilities too, and when we went to the Havenkontrol (harbourmaster), the man turned up as we arrived and processed us quickly.

Tonight lucky again, 7pm and with a dark storm approaching we turned off the main canal into Weaga to a small marina that in the book says depth of 1.8m; we need 1.6m. It's all about depth in the canal system. After two attempts to berth on green pontoons which were foiled by the mud, we found the last alongside berth and managed to haul her in - we are in the mud, no doubt; let's hope we can get off it in the morning. Anyway, the toilets were 50m away and open with no accursed smart card or code required, and electric connection was 10m away. That's all we need. So thank you, again, whoever is guiding our steps. 

But what of the day, you ask? The Lauwersmeer is a big shallow lake with buoys to guide us, and we traversed it in damp mist. Thence into the canal system through a little lock; these hold few terrors for us now, as we know how things work. Then on through Dokkum where you still pay bridge fees by putting money into a clog dangled down on string by the bridgemistress. 

The pics show an aqua duct where we chugged over a motorway, one of very many beautiful Dutch barges, N at helm with standard windmill, and us leading a line of boats in a suburban bit of canal. 

Other adventures of the day included a man swimming in a narrow stretch where boats were going both ways, and when I told him it was dangerous his reply was 'Gouf" and a wave of the arm; I'd like to think he swallowed a mouthful of canal water in that manoeuvre, and serve him right.