Netherlands/Berlin Trip - Dordrecht      2nd July:

    We arose at 8am, a couple of hours later than usual. Rex performed some calculations on the journey time to Dordrecht. This was important since we would need to pass under a pair of bridges there that only opened once every two hours.
    Poached eggs then marmalade on toast for breakfast, washed down with coffee; a lovely start to the day. I nipped up to the harbour master to pay our dues. It was only now that the old man slowly and meticulously wrote down our boat details into a neat and tidy notebook. He had no IT facilities in this office, though he did offer free Wi-Fi. He required the name of the boat, its length, my name, and where the boat was normally kept. His transcription of my words into his book bore no resemblance at all to what I had said or spelled, but what the heck. I didn't bother to correct him. Then the crunch, the bill, 13.50 euros. That was amazingly cheap, and it included electricity and Wi-Fi.
    We wound our way past occasional grebes down the pretty canal back into the Hollands Diep and headed up channel, passing the vast Shell Moerdijk oil refinery on the way.

Ship and Barges on the Dordtsche Kil

Dordrecht Wall Painting

    Huge numbers of barges of all shapes and sizes were plying their way up and down the Diep. We bore left at a major junction and headed up the Dordtsche Kil. Here not only barges were carving furrows into the waterway, but even large ships were zipping along. Pesky motor speed boats scooted across the water creating more wash than the larger vessels, their owner's noses elevated in the air as if to say, "We are faster and more important than you, get out of the way small fry!". Legions of wind turbines lazily waved their arms in response, "Get over it!"

An Interesting Sculpture

    The landscape started to become familiar as we approached Dordrecht and glided up the Oude Maas. Arriving with 20 minutes to spare, we tied up to a waiting pontoon on the other side of Duivelseiland (Devil's Island) for a short while. The Spoorsbrugge operation went smoothly and punctually, and in a short while we were moored in the Nieuwe Haven where we were based last year.
    We fell into conversation for a while with a bloke from Poole who had helped us tie up. He was over here with his wife and her friend, and they were moored up just a couple of boats along from us. Down inside the yacht basin the heat was scorching, and seeking escape I piped up, "Let's go and have lemonade in the cafe by the Engelenburgerbrug." Rex needed no persuasion. At street level there was now a fair breeze, even more so since the corner cafe was close to the wide expanse of the Oude Maas. Indeed a mini squall rolled in sending menus and glasses flying off tables. However, we both appreciated the cooling breeze. The skies were clouding over, perhaps a thunderstorm was approaching.
    Rex wanted a Bimini for the cockpit to provide an element of shade during the heatwave. I ascertained where a chandler was, but that was geared up to boats the size of barges. Undeterred, we wandered into the city. We spent time perusing inside a guitar shop, before Rex discovered heaven in the waterway maps section inside the ANWB shop. It took a while to drag him out by the scruff of the neck, enabling us to find a camping shop where the captain bought a ground sheet, speaking fluent Dutch of course.
    He could not wait to bring this back to the boat, where we created a Heath Robinson awning over the cockpit using the groundsheet, string and boat hooks. It was very much Heath Robinson, and passers-by stopped to admire it. Did I spot cameras clicking at the marvel, perhaps even a glimmer of film crews? Rex sat proudly under his new roof. Then it started to rain. Hey ho, down came the awning.
    The rain was short lived. Evening was spent sipping a few cold beers and people watching in Scheffersplein, followed by a meal. As usual, Rex could not resist eying up all the boats for sale on the way back to Duonita. Within half an hour he had spent well over a million euros in pretend buys. Dream on!