20th - 26th August 2018. Our last week in Belgium. From Bruges to Nieuwpoort, then a visit to Diksmuide and Fintele, before returning to Nieuwpoort, ready for liftout.

We go in convoy round Bruges on the ringvaart, with 9 other boats, meeting a barge on the way.

There is an enormous triangular lock, where we all wait for this barge, Geronimus, to squeeze in with the other boats. The lock is only just long enough for him.

All the cruisers and other smaller boats are stacked up on the right of the lock.

The lift bridges are all different, with the road ending up in a nearly vertical position here. We can see all the road markings! The white balance beams on each side are upright when the bridge is closed.

Typical Belgian houses line the canal.

Between villages there are a lot of cows to be seen in this agricultural landscape.

At Nieuwport the only mooring anywhere near to the town was on this staithe.

Access was at the stern of The Puzzler, and involved crawling through the bars.

The Nieuwport Memorial bears the names of 566 Commonwealth offficers and men who were killed in Allied operations on the Belgian coast during the First World War and have no known grave.

Along the seafront in Nieuwport, a floral Neptune stands proudly beside the fountains, which Shannon enjoys.

The lighthouse and seagull stand in a sea of flowers.

Andy left me in Nieuwport, while he went by tram, and three trains, back to Montbard, which is near to Dijon. He had a horrendous journey! We left our car at the station in Montbard in June and, apart from a spot of graffiti, it was fine!
 Going on to the River Ijzer, we found ourselves crossing this immense sailing lake. We had to skirt the southern shore, well away from the sailing dinghies, and met some very young sailors at the far end. Three of them decided to pass in front of The Puzzler, just as we approached, and were in big trouble from their instructor! If I had not stopped completely, it would not have been good for them!

Shannon has found a new spot to sit, in front of the summer chimney. Our flag pole having broken, the Belgian courtesy flag, is now tied to the chimney.

The river Ijzer leads us on to Diksmuide, which was destroyed by shelling at the end of World War 1. This picture shows the remains of St Nicholas Church in 1918.

Today the new church is a splendid building.

There is some lovely stained glass to be seen inside it.

The whole town was rebuilt after the war, in its original style, and is very attractive.

Moving on from Diksmuide, we did not have time to go to visit Ypres, but continued on to Fintele, which is at the junction with Lokanaal. There are 17 houses in Fintele, two restaurants and a cafe, and it is a delightful village.

Lokanaal is a narrow canal, just like in the fens in England.

We stayed overnight in Veurne, which has a problem with chickweed at the moment, so we sail through a green sea! We are due at the port of Nieuwport on Monday afternoon, for liftout, ready for blacking, before being lifted on to the lorry for our return to the UK.