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.


Saturday 17 May 2014

11th - 14th May. On to Alkmaar, and then Wormer.

We stayed on this bleak mooring at Broek op Langedijk for three days, as it was too windy to move on. We walked about a mile to the nearest shops in Heerhugowaard, not expecting a great deal, but were pleasantly surprised to find a huge shopping mall, with well over 100 shops!


Moving on to Alkmaar on Monday, we found many delightful narrow streets in the old town, with a range of small shops.


The Great St. Lawrence Church is at the end of one of the canals, behind yet another lift bridge.

This tree lined walk around the old town in Alkmaar is known as a singel, which is like a moat, created by the canal.


In Alkmaar we were moored alongside a barge, on the main canal.


The Accijnstoren Tower, seen here behind the catamaran, used to be the old customs house for the working boats.
From Alkmaar we moved on towards Amsterdam, down the Zaan River, and paused for lunch at Wormer. These enormous barges do not put up much wash, when they are fully laden. However, when empty, they go much faster! There is a large chandlery here, and we have been offered a place for The Puzzler for next winter.
The main river is on the left of this plan, but we could stay below the lock, at the left end of the De Poel lake. We went to the bowls club in the small town of Wormer, and were made very welcome, so that made it a much more attractive proposition! Dog walking is good too!



Baby coots are so cute!

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