In Brussels we farewelled Margaret, who took the train from Brussels Midi to Charles de Gaulle airport and the long flight home. Our last visitor for the season, and soon it will be time for us to leave our summer home.
The harbour master at the Brussels Royal Yacht Club recommended a boat engineer to help us with our battery problem . Sylvester came and confirmed that the house batteries were cooked and the batteries for the bow thruster were also on their way out. Oh well what can I say, it’s a boat. He set us up with a temporary house battery until he could replace the failed ones. We had originally proposed to go to Antwerp for a fix, but as Sylvester had solved our problem we by passed Antwerp and travelled towards Brugge, stopping along the way at Dendermonde for the night.
We were now in our third heatwave for the season so we left Brussels early. Once we left the Charleroi Brussels canal we were on the tidal Zee Schelde. Travelling with the flood we stopped at the VVW Dendermonde which had a pontoon on the river, and a club house serving cold drinks. We had previously bypassed this stop, as all my navigation materials indicated they only took 8 meter boats. By there was room on the dock so we pulled in, tied up securely and went to check with the harbour master, who was also running the bar. Yes, please stay and while your here try the local beer! A pleasant afternoon was spent under the shade of the trees enjoying the local hospitality.Now if you live adjacent to a tidal river, the best method of transportation is a fast boat. At the club we became acquainted with a young Belgium fellow who built race boats. He was happy to demonstrate their get up and go! I still prefer our go slow model!Two nights in Ghent where we caught up with Trui and Peter, who we meet at Rueil Malmaison on the Seine. Yes still drinking champagneThen it was back to Brugge We were there to enjoy a street festival. It seemed as though the town had turned into one big brocante, with the streets full of people hoping their unwanted goods would become someone else’s treasure. A lot of fleas and no must haves for us.Off the main square you could pay to grab a sledge hammer and rip into an old car. Mmmm….. fun, I don’t think so.Our new house guest was Colin. Mimosa was on the hardstand being painted, so instead of being forced to carry Colin up and down the ladder to the boat, we came to the rescue and offered lodging to Julie and Colin for a few nights. James stayed with the boat to finish a few jobs.With the overhaul on Mimosa finished, we meet James in Oostende for a weekend by the sea moored up at the Royal North Sea Yacht Club.Situated on the North Sea coast this town can trace its history back to the early Middle Ages with the major source of income being of course fishing. Due to its strategic position it has been at the centre of many conflicts.Fort Napoleon was constructed in the sand dunes adjacent to Oostende by Spanish slave labour and completed in 1811. Built to defend the coast from a British Invasion it was abandoned in 1814 and quickly disappeared under the advancing sand dunes. It was reinstated by the Germans in WW1 and again used as German artillery quarters in WW2. After the war it fell into disrepair but has now been renovated and makes for an interesting visit.During WW1 the German navy developed Brugge as a major naval port, with access to North Sea along the network of canals and through the ports of Oostende and Zeebrugge. In 1918 a British campaign was launched to block these ports and disrupt the flow of German Uboats and small ships that were conducting raids into the English Channel. Only partially successful the port of Oostende was blocked by the obsolete cruiser HMS Vindictive, trapping larger vessels in Brugge for the last six monthsof the war. The blockage was removed in 1921, and the bow of the Vindictive was placed in the harbour as a war memorialAnd we even had time to paddle in the sea!
We bid James, Julie and Colin farewell, yet again as they headed back to Brugge and their winter mooring while we travelled to Diksmuide and our appointment with our haul out and paint.
Dear Karen and Peter, Your emails always give the impression of wide, relaxing freedom…. and good friends. Great that you’ve had another lovely summer…. continuous summer…. living the dream. Currently spending a few days in Rouen, and heading back to UK for a few more days with son, Derwin, fiancée Aanal, and new baby grandson Ari ( now three months) before setting out on a long cruise back to Melbourne…… 34 days from Barcelona on Cunard Queen Elizabeth, which is changing hemispheres to bask in our summer…. looking forward to the relaxation and the ports of call…. it will be a first for me to see the pyramids. Wishing you a safe journey home when the time comes. 🤗🤗 Dori
Hello Karien and Peter, I have enjoyed your blogs and I’m sure the travels have been wonderful. Enjoy the last weeks of travel and look forward to seeing you.
Love Jill ⛴️
Karen’s Travel Blog 
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