5th - 11th May 2015. From Meerkerk on the Merwede kanaal. Up the Linge river to Leerdam then back to Gorinchem. Across Nieuwe Merwede to the Biesbosch.

We sailed on to Meerkerk, and had to stay there for three days as it was too windy to move.

From the Merwede canal, we detoured up the Linge river to a campsite in Heukelum village. From there we cycled on to Leerdam, where glass is the main industry. There was a lot of teamwork in these glassblowing demonstrations – typical Dutch efficiency!

These ornaments show the work of one of the famous Leerdam glass workers.

After coming back down the Linge, we followed the Merwede canal to Gorinchem, where it was quite busy.

We had to wait for the third locking out on to the River Boven Merwede. We just fitted in with two small boats, so it was quite a contrast to the last lock. The barges have their own lock, downstream of this one.

This is a big waterway, with working barges moving quickly past us. They do not make much wash though, so are not a problem for The Puzzler.

That barge was long gone before we reached the junction, going left on to the Nieuwe Merwede river.

Soon after that junction, we locked down into the Brabantse Biesbosch, which is a large National Park. In many ways it is similar to Upper Lough Erne in Northern Ireland, having many islands within the lakes here.

We tried different types of moorings. The only thing is that this is an area affected by a tidal rise and fall of as much as 18 inches, so the boat must not be tied too tightly! Here we are on Rietsplas Island.

There are several narrow channels to follow between the islands. The minimum depth of each is shown on the chart, and we managed one of 0.5 metres, so it was reminiscent of the English canals.

At this mooring we had to be careful not to go underneath the jetty, when the tide fell. If this happened, then the boat could not come up on the tide, which would be disastrous!

On the opposite bank we watched a beaver chewing small branches. He was swimming when we first saw him, and we thought he was an otter. Then he came out of the water, and was huge, being the size of a large retriever dog.

In the morning, this deer swam across from our island to the next one. This is really an area which encourages wildlife.

1st - 4th May. From the Oude Rijn, down the Dubbele Wericke waterway to join the Hollandse Ijssel canal. Across the tidal river Lek, on the Merwede canal

We are now on the Oude Rijn, Not all of the thatched houses here in Holland are old, and it is always interesting to see new shapes!

The Dubbele Wericke is a little used waterway, due to its low bridges. We had to wait here with the bridge keeper for half an hour for this train to come, so that this bridge could be lifted for us. We wouldn't want to be any closer!

When we reached the Hekendorp Sluis, and found the lockkeeper, we thought that all was well. However, the lock gates would not open, so the lady in charge made a phone call, followed the instructions, and nothing happened. Her husband arrived too, and much humming and hawing went on! Several calls later an expert came along, and eventually the gates yielded to his superior power! We lowered the flag and chimney to creep under the bridge into the lock.

From Hekendorp we went down the Hollandse Ijssel to cross the tidal River Lek near Nieuwegein. Going down into the river, we were tied to a barge in the lock. He was travelling backwards down the lock, so sent us out first. These cruisers were determined to get to the lock on the south side of The Lek before us!

Once inside the lock, we could not really see why they had hurried, as there was certainly room for all of us. It is well named as Grote Sluis, being 120 metres long and 12 metres wide.

Our book of reference told us that there was a free town mooring, just to the south of the sluis, but it is now quite expensive, so we found a grassy bank, amid the flowers, along the Merwede canal.

23rd - 30th April 2015. Through Mijdrecht, past Zomerlust to an island mooring on the Nieuwekoopse Plassen, then on to the Oude Rijn.

From Oudekerk we headed southeast from the river Amstel, via various narrower waterways, to the south of the Vinkeveense Plassen. Here we are in the older part of Mijdrecht, where the canal is quite narrow.

However, just round the corner, the canal opens out and the newer part of town can be seen.

After joining the Kromme Midrecht waterway, we stopped again at Zomerlust, where this fine Friesian horse went past.

We continued on through the lock into the Nieuwe Koopse Plassen, to moor on a different island this time. Shannon was allowed to run free and really enjoyed this.

If you look closely at the grass alongside The Puzzler on this island, just behind the front tyre fender, you will see a slight hollow there. Andy took Shannon out late in the evening, and inadvertently stepped in this hollow. This was not a good idea! The water below the grassy covering was three feet deep, before he reached the soft muddy bottom, so he got both very wet and extremely dirty! I must point out that he had not been drinking. Well, not much!

Leaving the Nieuwe koopse Plassen at Zwammerdam, this was an interesting mooring on the Oude Rijn. We were opposite a sand and gravel works, and could watch barges being unloaded.

19th - 22nd April 2015. On to Oudekerk. A trip to Amsterdam.

Debbie left us by bus, and we sailed on up the Aar canal, which becomes the Amstel. We found a pleasant village mooring in Oudekerk, near to a supermarket, which has wifi! At last I am up to date with the blog. We spent a couple of pleasant evenings with new friends here, and were lucky to be given a lift into Amsterdam on Tuesday.

Our day in Amsterdam began with a visit to the Rijksmuseum, which is huge.

Photography was allowed, so here is The Nightwatch by Rembrandt.

I liked The Threatened Swan by Jan Asselyn (1650) The black dog is getting closer!

This is Landscape with Waterfall by Van Ruisdael, also from the mid17th century

Another famous picture we saw was The Milkmaid by Vermeer.

After a visit to the Van Gogh Museum, where no photos were allowed, we walked on to Dam Square. The view of the Royal Palace was rather obscured by the funfair though. It was then back to peace and quiet on The Puzzler at Oudekerk by metro and bus . Shannon was very pleased to see us.

11th - 18th April 2015. Debbie joins us at the Bergen Bos. We move south in Holland to Zaanse Schans, Aalsmeer, Keukenhof and Avifauna.

Debbie joined us by bus at our mooring near the Bergen Bos, and we hired her a smart bike for an expedition through the wooded dunes.

With Debbie at the helm, Shannon took over the map-reading.

At Zaanse Schans, we moored in among these windmills. There is only room for one boat here. so we were lucky to find it free.

We looked round De Zoeker windmill, which is still used to crush peanuts to make oil.

We were delayed for two hours in Wormerveer by the police, because of this boat, which was threatening to sink. We heard later that foul play was suspected, and explosives were involved. The man had been killed and his partner was injured too. The body tent can be seen near to the bows of the boat, behind the police launch.

From Zaandam we went along the North Sea Canal, then turned south to skirt Amsterdam. A big barge is over on the other side, well away from us.

We came to one lift bridge which was closed for the two hours of rush hour, but we managed to squeeze under the slightly higher fixed span to its left. 1.88 metres is now our record low bridge!

An early start to get to Aalsmeer Flower auction soon after 7am. We came here on 19th May last year.

On to one of our favourite moorings on an island on the Kager Plassen lake, and an impressive sunset.

On Thursday we went on to visit Keukenhof, where Van Gogh was created out of hyacinths.

The bulb fields behind Keukenhof were the best ones we have seen this year. The tulips seem to be later than last year.

Dogs are allowed at Keukenhof, but not in the pavilions, such as the orchid display area. No-one official noticed Shannon, hiding in the rucksack!

Tulips come with all sorts of frilly petals.

Hyacinths and daffodils created lovely displays.

Most of the tulips in the outside beds are the smaller varieties this year.

The narcissi and tulips go well together.

From the Kager plassen, we bypassed Leiden, going through Leiderdorp, then left on to the Does waterway to moor at Hoogemade. This waterway only opened for the season yesterday. The skating sculpture is on the bridge there.

Vogelpark Avifauna, at Alphen a/d Rijn, is as impressive as ever. We were last here, at this bird park, about a year ago. This time we saw the pelicans being fed. There was great competition to see who caught each fish.

It felt strange to have a lori sitting on my head!

Debbie's lori was really greedy, not letting any others share.

Andy's lori thought his ear tasted good!

This parrot was one of a flock, which circled the arena to start the main display. He is enjoying the treat, which was the reward for his part in the display.

The free flying eagle was quite a contrast to the smaller birds.

The orange egret lookalikes flew in for the finale, while a crested crane joined in too.