Sunday, 4 August
We spent the morning in pretty Enkhuizen and walked along the town wall to the beach.
There’s lots to do here including an open air museum and a zoo, but we wanted to swim.
It turned out to be more of a wade – the IJsselmeer is not very deep! But is is very refreshing as it isn’t salty at all – just an enormous man-mad lake!
We left after lunch and the harbour master opened the bridge for us to get out again. David’s driving is getting better and better!
There was hardly a wait for the aqueduct lock into the Markemeer and virtually no movement to the water level.
After motoring down the channel we hoisted the sails and enjoyed a very pleasant reach in 10-13 knots of wind, doing 8 knots a lot of the time and even touching 9. We overtook all the other boats.
We could soon see the tall blocks of Amsterdam on the horizon, and we entered the shipping canal that goes right through to the sea.
There was a bridge to wait for – quite fun stopping the traffic – and another lock, with friendly Dutch and a rather rude German.
We are staying out of town in Amsterdam Marina but easy to get into the centre on the ferry. It’s big and industrial here.
We ate at the restaurant by the marina, which has good steaks.
Sadly we have to say goodbye to Angela and Fin tomorrow and then we will be on our own 😳