One of the consequences of the long hibernation during the Covid pandemic was a temporary curtailment of our sails across the North Sea to explore the continent. We had both really missed those trips. Come Spring 2022, movement across to and within the continent was becoming a possibility again; the world was beginning to live with Covid. The prospect of returning back to the continent really appealed to us. Holland was at the top of the list. Why? Because we loved the country and had missed it.
    We pencilled a window of opportunity into our diaries; Meryl was allowing Rex a four week pass out. Over a period of months, a simple plan was devised; start at the south and work our way up to the Waddenzee and Friesland, visiting many of the ports we have enjoyed in past times.
    Our entry into and exit from the country was now different due to our leaving the European Union. We had a learning curve to climb regarding procedures and contacts to get our passports stamped, but we soon gained a better understanding, and an appreciation of the troubles the Dutch officials have to go through to comply with post-Brexit regulations.
    Much of the trip was a walk down memory lane, visiting places and sailing waters we had been to on earlier trips, some as much as eleven years ago. Not a lot had changed, but we met a whole new bunch of different folk, which is what makes these trips a fascinating discovery. Meeting up with Paul and Miriam plus John and Sue in Willemstad was a pleasure; introducing them to a new part of Holland and sharing news, ideas and plans is what binds groups of sailors together into one big family.
    But we did push ourselves into exploring a new option. That was the lovely trip along the Haringvliet to Stellendam and then into the North Sea, continuing on up the coast past the busy entrance to Europort and Rotterdam, and entering the North Sea Canal at Ijmuiden. We have now ventured along three separate routes to get from Zeeland to the North Sea Canal.
    The pinnacle for me, as always, is time spent up in Friesland, the Waddenzee and the Frisian Islands. The people and food in this province set it apart from the rest of the country.
    We returned from Holland a little earlier than originally planned, we had to grab a weather window of opportunity when we could. But not to worry, that allowed us to spend a few days exploring local waters.
    Summing up, this was yet another excellent trip, and it did us both good to gain confidence and repeat our sailing trips to the continent after a dormant period during the Covid dark ages.
    Long may these adventures continue.