26th - 27th September. Through Erica and Veenbrug, then on past Hoogeveen to Oostersluis.

Coming down Erica sluis, we reached the official end of the new Erica to Ter Apel canal.

Veenbrug, in the town of Veenoord, is a lifting railway bridge. As the bridge is lifted straight up, then the overhead cables are not disturbed.

The canal, Veerlenge Hoogeveensche vaart, goes on and on ahead of us, but the trees do help to break the monotony of it.

Beyond Klenkerbrug, the canal narrows by this pleasant mooring.

Alongside the canal there were many more of these big dwellings. From this we assume that this is a wealthy area.

Beside Noordscheschut sluis is a sculpture of a lockkeeper using his pole to close a lock gate. We have seen this method used on the Turf Route and on the Stadskanaal, but most lock gates are now powered.

The canal makes a detour to the south of Hoogeveen, one of the bigger cities in the province of Drenthe. These were some of the more unusual houses on the outskirts.

We descended about seven metres in Nieuwe Brugsluis. It certainly seemed a long way down!

We are now moored above Oostersluis until Monday. These locks and bridges do not operate on Sundays. Until the double red by the lock turns green, we will wait!

These storks seem to live in the field near to our mooring.