Baltic Trip - Dordrecht      30th April:

Car Transporter Barge, with a Telescopic Bridge, Disappearing Along a Parallel Canal

    The morning greeted us with clear blue skies, but a ferocious wind still whipped up the waters. We hatched a quick plan to try and reach Rotterdam by nightfall, and duly set off into the Oosterschelde, fighting our way under motor power across this large meer. Fortunately the water was just choppy in the meer, at sea the winds would have turned the sea into a maelstrom.
    Ploughing on, we admired cattle drinking by the endless miles of shore. We were now encountering numerous barges carrying all manner of freight. This was such a delightful journey, and continuously exchanging waves with other craft helped us forget the ceaseless rocking of the boat. Large locks were negotiated, such as the Kammersluizen. These added variety, a little exercise, and the chance to meet up with other crews and exchange friendly advice. The locks also provided a degree of entertainment. Whilst waiting for the lock gates to open, lines of Dutch boats clung to the waiting pontoons like aphids to a plant, all and sundry exchanging bonhomie. As soon as the lock gates opened, all goodwill was forgotten as they all made a mad scramble to enter the lock in a chaotic manner.

Gravelingenmeer Wind Turbines Stretching into the Distance

    It was by one such lock that we spotted a barge which acted as a car transporter, with three decks plus a telescopic bridge; a remarkable sight.
    On entering the Gravelingenmeer, we now passed through avenues of wind turbines. Perhaps the Dutch, who were famous for windmills, had no objectors to hundreds of turbines surrounding the meers. We took a canal up to Dordrecht where the sun had just set when we arrived. Our passage to the marina was blocked by a bridge, and a call through to the bridge keeper revealed that we would have to wait an hour for the next opening. He directed us to a waiting pontoon in the industrial heartland where we laid up and tucked into a hearty meal. Right on cue just before the bridge opened, the harbour master appeared in a rubber-inflatable boat (RIB), who urged us to move up to the bridge since it wouldn't stay open for long, indeed it would be opening for us only. The ever so helpful harbour master advised us of marinas on the other side of the bridge, and he zoomed off at speed expecting us to follow him; our maximum speed under motor was 6.5 knots so we lagged behind. We passed through the opening and the kind harbour master directed us to a pontoon where we could tie up for the night.

Kiitaja Moored in Dordrecht

Nieuwehaven, one of Dordrecht's Marinas

    Alan was in ecstasy, the pontoon squeaked continuously, the church tower opposite us chimed the hours every hour, and every half hour and quarter hour too, and the youth of the city noisily streamed across the nearby bridge.
     In compensation, soon after our arrival we were treated to a thunderous welcome with a long fireworks display somewhere in the city. Alan didn't sleep a wink that night.