These are the adventures of Andy and Sally Rawnsley on their narrowboat "The Puzzler". We have been living on the boat for over nine years now and are still loving it. Our Ulster born Shih Tzu, Shannon, has grown up, and has taken over the boat! After three wonderful years in Ireland, we transported The Puzzler to The Netherlands, and spent a year there. In 2015 we went southwards, to reach the north of France by June. After glorious weather throughout the summer, we arrived in Roanne in late October, and enjoyed our winter in this friendly port. We cruised extensively in France in 2016, 2017 and 2018, returning to Roanne each winter.


Sunday 31 August 2014

26th - 29th August. Rural circuit south to the Prinses Margriet Kanaal, then north to the edge of Friesland.

We are moored just outside Dokkum, on the Dokkumer Grutdiep canal. The Friesland motif is used on the mooring posts. It represents a water lily leaf.
We are sailing south to join The Prinses Margriet Kanaal on Burgumer Diep. As we approach this large commercial canal, a barge can be seen, crossing ahead of us.

Further on we met this barge, Blacklock, but the canal was quiet today, with very few barges about.


How about this for a verge trimmer! The grass is collected through a tube, leading to the trailer.

Turning off on to the Stroboser Trekvaart, we find a small waterway, with small craft on it. It is more like an English canal.

This field of horses by the canal were not all Friesians, but were still quality animals.

At every mooring it is interesting to see all sorts of different craft, unlike on the English canals, where it would be a line of narrowboats.
Steinfek Bridge was out of order for about an hour, as a car had run into the barrier there. Ten boats were waiting beyond the bridge, as we all eventually sailed through.
We joined Dokkumer Diep again to get to the Willem Loresluis. This is our first lock for two weeks, and our 61st in Holland since we arrived in April. As we came into the lock we were greeted by the lockkeeper, or sluiswacher, over his loudspeaker. "A big welcome to our lock for the famous English narrowboat which has been on Friesian television!" We were able to leave the lock, going underneath the lift bridge, while a small sailing boat had to wait for it to be lifted.

Soon after the lock, we saw this sign which we think says "Goodbye" in the Fries language. We are learning Dutch, but Fries is a local dialect/language.

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