Week so far cruising the Meuse

All went to plan, we crossed southern Belgium and entered France last Monday. An Indian summer had hit Europe, and with temps in mid 30's we were expiring. Sounds silly I know but we are so used to air conditioning in Australia that coping with high temperatures and no aircon is a bit of a wake up call.
We pushed onwards heading up stream in a southerly direction. The Meuse is a beautiful river especially the stretch from Charleville Meziers in France to Namur in Belgium .
First touches of Autumn colours, we are just a couple of weeks too early
Peter & Michele leave us in Monthermé, what a great 6 days together, here they are waiting for a taxi that they thought would never arrive.
Interesting church spire , Sedan.
Early morning, by this stage heat wave was over and we are back to more comfortable weather. These elusive birds are difficult to catch on the camera , however that doesn't stop us trying.
Now on a stretch of the canal system that is manual, Knud gives the eclusier a hand opening the lock
Memorial in Verdun . Verdun the scene of huge battles during First World War , memorials, tours of battle fields etc await the tourist.

Today we are having a rest day, we have been on the move for 10 straight and covered 390km and gone up 60 locks, doesnt sound much I know but trust me it is. Today also Kaj's 31st birthday so even though we can't be with him we are celebrating and what better way than to make a few purchases at the Pâtisserie

Happy Birthday Kaj

Internet has been yet again a major headache, piggy backing off a nearby café 's system at the moment. Plan to leave Verdun tomorrow, heading up to Toul , should be there by next weekend, Epinal and home port before following weekend, just 70 locks to go and 180km.

Evening and Early morning on the Meuse

Evening


Early morning , how gorgeous is this

Postcards of Belgium

We left Maastricht Friday morning with Michele & Peter. Our plan was to head quickly across the bottom of Belgium along the Maas or as they say in Brlgium and France the Meuse and cross into Feance in Givet.
dinner out in Maastricht, sensational




The varied landscape of the Meuse, a beautuful stretch of river, Autumn colours starting.
Michele & myself swimming , probably last swim for the season.

coming into Dinant, Belgium, spectacular

Last few postcards for the Nethetlands

A gorgeous 5 days spent just out of Roermond at a grassy quay by a large lake. Indian summer continues so swims off the side of Linquenda , cycle exploring, and generally enjoying ourselves.
Kerry, her first swim of the holidays
BBQ up on deck
we have visitors
a family of Black swans !
no mistaking, yes we are in the Nethetlands
last evenings dinner, Tony and Kerry took us to De Gelegenheid , one of the best dining experiences we have ever had.
bit of food porn, this was one of the entré.

So after a fabulous 12 days with Tony & Kerry they leave us to head to Spain and we continue along the Maas to Marstricht to pick up Michele & Peter, then its tot zeins Netherlands & bon jour Belgium.

The past few days

From Weesp we headed southwards, stopped in Breukelen for a couple of nights. From here we cycled down to Utrecht. Utrecht another gorgeous town,( are there any other types here in the Netherlands)

Dom Tower, in two parts, this is the tallest church tower in the Netherlands, stands at 113mt high, built 1321 to 1360? 465 steps to the top. Have to take their word for the number of steps because we sure didn't climb them.

enjoying Utrecht

out for dinner at Same Same, the best Thai food .
old castle now a business college.
ladies who do morning tea, the prettiest cafe we found when out for a cycle

in the big lock heading diwn onto the Waal, never been in such a crowded lock. 3 commercial barges, all about 85 mt long , plus 13 private recreational boats. We were 4th boat rafted out and we had another boat hanging off us. The boat on the quay was a little 12mt fibreglass boat with 5 boats hanging off him! To make matters worse he wasn't really paying attention and his ropes jammed and suddenly he along with the rest of us were hanging, a quick cut of the ropes and we all dropped down, fortunately no damage but a lot of bobbing about. Oh the joys of cruising.
now on the Maas river
sunrise at Heusden, the promise of a gorgeous day ahead.

Nothing like a good surprise

Tony and Kerry were coming to spend 12 days with us on Linquenda. Ella , Tony's daughter , is living and working in London. So what better surprise could one think of but to have Ella waiting for Tony and Kerry when they arrived!
All went well to plan, we arrived in Weesp, about 12km from centre of Amsterdam, on the Monday. Ella arrived Tuesdsy, we had a lovely few days with Ella, did the tourist bit around Weesp and into Amsterdam



Then at last Friday arrived, oh the excitement! Ella waited down in the kitchen , and yes what a surprise.
happy family reunited

After a couple more days in Weesp it was time to start heading south, such a beautiful stretch of canal and river