30th - 31st August. On into Groningen, the most northerly of the Dutch provinces.

We found this sheltered mooring by Diepster Bos, which is near to Lauwersmeer National Park. There was excellent walking here for Shannon.

An enormous grasshopper, which presumably was a locust, came in to sit on Shannon's bed. She was unimpressed!

There are a few boats about, but most seem to be heading south, away from the wide waters of Slenk, which leads on to the sea access at Lauwersoog.

The sea wall can be seen in the far distance, but we are soon turning to the east, following the Slenk waterway upstream. The weather ahead is improving all the time.

Looking back, we can see the thunderstorm moving on. We had to pull in for an hour or so earlier on, while it passed over us. At one point it was directly overhead, which was quite an experience!

We moored further on, on Zoutkamperil, and were treated to a splendid rainbow.

Opposite our mooring were these Highland cattle, having a really good paddle in the river.

We sailed on to Zoutkamp village, and visited the Fishing Museum there. Before the sea wall was built across the Lauwerszee in 1969, Zoutkamp was an important fishing village, especially regarding prawn fishing.

From Zoutkamp we retraced our steps briefly to get to Hunsingo sluis, which now stands open, but used to contain the incoming tide in the old sea wall.