Braassemermeer
22nd June
We had a quiet night and awoke to the sounds of Haarlem preparing itself for a new week. We slipped our lines just after 9 am and joined a rather large barge and a few other boats to head south out of Haarlem, waiting just a short while for each bridge to raise to assist our progress towards Braassemermeer just the other side of Wetering which we had gone through about a week ago on our way to Amsterdam. We had to keep a look out for the large trees by the canal as the branches can over hang the edges around 4 metres. There was just one bridge we would have a long wait at, at Sassenheim, which was a road and rail bridge, but once here we moored up for our lunch, so we didn’t feel like the time was wasted. Chris telephoned the small marina we were heading for and was told that they had everything and would be waiting for us. By the time the bridge was due to open there were a total of eight yachts waiting to go through. Once the red and green lights were displayed it was like the start of La Mans grand prix, everyone letting go of their lines and racing for the opening, in time for the green light. We were not first but we held our own!
On entering the Braasssemermeer we could see the harbour on the starboard side and true to his word, the harbour master was out on the visitors’ pontoon, waving to us and ready to take our lines.
We were quickly tied up and the harbour master then presented us with a jar of pickled gherkins, which are given to all visiting yachts and are I believe made locally. We decided to eat in the small restaurant attached to the marina. We were given an ‘Engels’ menu which had most things on the current Dutch menu. Carole ordered chicken satay (with homemade peanut sauce) and Chris had pork escalope with chicken curry – pineapple – bacon, both served with teriyaki mixed vegetables, salad and fries. Sounds odd but it was very nice.
We drew the curtains Tuesday morning to a grey sky and raindrops running down the windows. After breakfast Carole found the laundry room but had been beaten to the machine, so added our bag to the queue of bags waiting and returned to the boat to do a few chores, where Chris was busy with some work. It was a shame it was cold and wet, as the harbourmaster had some bikes we could have hired to go out and explore as the area seemed lovely and very normal. Another yacht arrived this morning named Mad Crab who we first met in Haarlem a week ago. They had picked up a friend from Amsterdam Schiphol airport for a few days stay with them.
Carole decided to get the mixer and scales out and made some little cakes. Sadly for Chris (who doesn’t like well-done bottoms) Carole cooked the cakes on a lower shelf and didn’t turn the oven down quick enough. However, he’s still eating them! Eventually the laundry got done about mid-afternoon and after a lovely cuppa and a cake (Carole doesn’t mind well-done bottoms), Carole headed to the supermarket for a good look round on her own, continuing her quest to find different varieties of chocolate to take home for the children (and others!). Chris was still beavering away when Carole got back, so she prepared a tasty supper of Danish blue cheese and bacon salad with hot crusty rolls and a glass of wine. Chris agreed it was good!
Chris checked the weather for the next few days and declared things were improving. We headed to bed with hot water bottles, hoping again this might be the last night we needed them.
Chris only filled the stern water tank while at Haarlem and said he would fill up and wash the boat here. However, here we had to pay for the water, electric and showers, so Chris decided just to fill up the front tank and not to wash the boat.