Life in the Marina in Maastricht.
In the evening there are lights in more and more boats. During the day it is cleaned, engines are started up for the first time after the winter, some sail a little trip, others come back from the winter place and others just sit on the boat and enjoy the spring.
We've been in the Marina for almost 14 days. The time is almost gone. We have arranged a lot of little things, found ourselves adjusted on the boat and made ourselves ready to continue the voyage towards the Mediterranean.
We have become friends with the neighbor. A Belgian couple who belong to the very small group of German-speaking Belgians. Last Sunday they had a couple of friends and invited us aboard for coffee and Belgian cake.
Wednesday last week we went in the afternoon 15nm (28km) north to Guido Willems Jachtservice. Great to be on the water again. We arrived a little before sunset, docked at the shipyard's bridge and talked a bit with Guido, who asked us to stay on the boat until the next morning
- Otherwise the alarm will go, he said at the same time as he fenced with his arms to illustrate what a fuss there would be.
We set the alarm clock for at. 6.15 and the next morning at 7.00 Heron and I were ready to come ashore,
There was no sign of life inside the square
Strange
We did not dare go into the office for the sake of the alarm. A quick post on the yard's website explained the mystery - Guiodo only opened at 8.00.
Nice to have an hour more special at that time of day.
A little over. 9 Heron was lifted out of the water by the large crane and gently put on the scaffold on the quay.
Guido started replacing the gasket for the stern tube. Meanwhile we cleaned the freeboard with fresh water added a little oxalic acid and washed the bottom clean for fouling with a swab.
After a few hours we were done. When Guido had changed the pack, talked on the cell phone a few times, been in the office with an English customer, had his morning coffee, had lunch and went for a walk with his dog, Heron was put in the water again.
We sailed the 15nm back to the Marina in Maastricht and enjoyed the speed of almost 1knob (15%) after the bottom had been cleaned.
In front of us lies a stretch of 675nm (1.250km) and 225 locks. We expect to take on if not so long.
Dear Pia and Carl
Nice to read that you enjoy the boat and the boat is ready for departure.
As far as we could see from your preliminary sailing plan, it appears that you are already in Marseille when we intend to pattern some days around the 25. May. So for our sake, you should take it easy, so we can experience some canaling. But do not you think it's all about yourself when you come through the most beautiful landscapes of the Ardennes and northern France.
Good trip
Kh Marianne and Mikkel
Everything sounds like it should be, nice.
Hugs from here
Well then there is just to wish you a good trip south! Hopefully there are no "French" who have blocked the channel this time! 🙂
Away is good, and home is best, but you are both “Away and Home” at the same time, so it must be the very best, I look forward to reading more from the Mediterranean 🙂
Good trip to you both - it will be a beautiful trip. You have to get past Lyon whether it's Saone or Rhone you are sailing from .. Have been there many times, so there I will almost be able to see you for me 🙂