Early August 2018–Hellevoetsluis and Willemstad

6th August – Monday – Herkingen in the Grevelingenmeer to Hellevoetsluis in the Haringvliet.

One last picture of the Grevelingenmeer.

Due to the holidays and the hot weather the island moorings were busy.

We left Herkingen at 07.30am to exit the Grevelingenmeer via the ‘busiest lock in Europe’ (Grevelingensluis) as we thought an early start may beat the rush.  There were still around 20 boats in the lock, but not as busy as when we arrived.  We then passed immediately through the Krammersluis into the Volkerak and sailed towards the Volkeraksluis (near Willemstad) and then left under the Haringvlietbrug bridge at noon.  4 hours, 3 locks and a big bridge.  We then sailed for a couple of hours up the Haringvliet and arrived in Hellevoetsluis at 14.30.  The whole day was 31 miles in 30 plus degree heat.

This homemade barge also had his shade up.

Our first encounter this year with the Green Algae which has been plaguing waterways around Europe.

We chose the Cape Helius Marina just outside town.  The harbourmaster took our ropes, nice man.

7th August – Tuesday

Not much movement in the marina today.  It was 32 degrees inside the boat and 35 in the shade outside.

We employed all our resources to keep the sun out, while maintaining some breeze through, which was minimal.  Even the quilt I made 4 years ago was deployed in our ‘Clampet’ style efforts.  1 quilt, 1 white sheet with strings through, 1 brolly and 1 blue towel, pegged in place, classy.  All moved around as the sun changed angle.  There is a canopy under there too, but only a quarter of the cockpit is shaded at any time by that alone.

We had a walk to Aldi later when it was cooler.  Then the thunder and lightening storm arrived.  We saw some very impressive fork lightening to end the day.

8th August – Wednesday

The weather cooled and we walked to the 130 shop Mall ‘De Struytse Hoek’.  Kebbeling and fried scrimps for lunch.

9th August – Thursday

Hellevoetsluis (pronounced Helly-foot-sloos) has a number of museum and attractions, which we walked around over the next few days.

The Droogdok Jan Blanken is the oldest stone dry dock still fully operational.

Ramtorenschip De Buffel was the first fully steam powered vessel in the Dutch Navy. 

Large coastal battery, the Haerlem Barracks.

Fortifications built into the town moat.

10th August – Friday

Our 6th Wedding Anniversary, we walked to another shopping area, hidden as usual.  Sadly the evening weather let us down so we ordered Pizza from the Marina Restaurant.  It was heaving with a Dutch second division football team, here for some R and R.  Not conducive to a romantic evening.  So we have a meal in hand when we find a nice spot.

11th August – Saturday

The lady at the VVV (Tourist Info) had given me a leaflet about a local country show talking place on Saturday.  We were promised ‘Vliegend tapijt trekpadden’, translating to Flying Carpet Horses,  ‘Sterke Mannen’, Strong Men and ‘Konijn-hop Demo’, Rabbit Hop Demo.  For 3 euros to enter we had to find out what it was all about.

Flying Carpet Horses, turned out to be two beautifully turned out Shire horses, harnessed to a large rug, topped with giggling, bouncing children, being pulled around the grassy arena.

Rabbit Hop Demo.  Rabbit agility.

Strong Men, locals challenging the professionals and then the professionals performing a demo.  Heaving beer barrels 5 metres into the air over a bar.

Mick showed some interest in this contraption and the lady made him play.  The idea is to catch the sticks as the lady releases them in any order and if you catch them you get a prize.  He caught two.  His prizes…

A bucket and a bag.  Not every day you win a bucket, but always useful on a boat.

There were also lots of stalls, Cows, Camels, Tractors old and new, pony riders, etc.

Sailors Info

Cape Helius Marina and resort was a good place to spend a quiet week and relax.  The facilities were excellent and free with Access Card access.  Very Good Wifi.  On site Restaurant and small supermarket.  15 minute walk to town centre.  The harbourmaster was a total gentleman.

The draw back was the nearest supermarkets were a 30 minute walk and the Mall was a 45 minute walk.  The shops etc were quite tricky to find, even with electronic assistance.  There was a Lidl and Albert Hein and another Lidl underneath the Mall.

We stayed for a week for the small price of 91 euros  (13 euros per night) so the walking was more than compensated for.

13th August – Monday – Hellevoetsluis to Willemstad

A short 13 mile hop to Willemstad took far longer as the Helingstrat Bridge did not opened as the book stated at 13.00, we arrived at 12.15 and we had to mill around for more than one and a half hours until it opened at 14.00.  There were no mooring points and at 13.00 there were only a few of us waiting, but by 14.00 there were more than 20 boats waiting and it was a dash under the bridge when it eventually opened.  We arrived after more than 4 and a half hours.

In the next couple of days we had a mooch around Willemstad.

We came here during our first trip to Holland 3 years ago and it is just as pretty now. D’Orange Mollen 1734.  I know, it’s not orange.

The harbour marina is a magnet for big motor boats showing off their assets.  Today they are not so big.

The walks around the moat are along lovely tree lined paths.

Pretty houses line the streets.

Main Street and Dome church.  Always closed so far.

While waiting for the bridge a British boat asked where we were going and when we said Willemstad, he said you have to try the kiosk on the harbour-side.

Only following orders.  Frites Speciaal yesterday (Curry Ketchup,Mayo and chopped onions).  Today Crockets with potato fillings, one rice filled flat crocket, one noodle filled flat crocket.  Mick liked the ‘Potoato Pie’ filled one.  You can take the boy out of Lancashire….

Sailors Info

We have stayed in the Yachthaven De Batterij.  Last time we stayed in the Willemstad haven, we have not ventured to the harbourside yet.  24 Euros per night.  Good facilities at the end of the pontoon.  Good Wifi, with code from marina.  Coded secure pontoon and barcode for waste.  There is a Jumbo supermarket in town at the end of the windmill street.  Several restaurants in town and the excellent kiosk.

On arrival stop at the Fuel berth and use the intercom to talk to the harbourmaster for a berth.  The dreaded ring system is operating here on the box mooring.  We did it much better this time.

Next stop St Annaland.