Anchors Aweigh

Anchors Aweigh

We found our ship near the A’dam. She looks handsome and seaworthy. My cabin is small - bed, closet and washroom which includes a shower.

The top deck has a hot tub.

At 2:00 while the crew was introduced, safety instructions and dos and don’ts were discussed, the ship set sail. I have to come clean here. There are 5 ships called Magnifique with the numerals indicating oldest to youngest (which is Magnifique X). I am sailing on III not IV, but the blog address stays the same. 🤪 The boat is a different company from the tour operator. 

We enjoyed sitting on the after deck watching pleasure craft and ocean going monsters pass by. Fellow cyclists (40 all told including we three) hailed from England, Australia, Norway, Germany, Brazil, North Carolina, Boston, California and Minnesota. 

Our South African chef is certified Cordon Bleu. Supper consisted of 4 courses - shrimp croquette, Vichyssoise soup, sea bass and a layered pudding/gelatin dessert. All were presented with flair and danced on the taste buds. 

After supper we had the next day’s briefing. The cycling route on Day 1 is 67 km, Vreeswijk to Dordrecht. 

 We docked in Utrecht for the overnight. We were introduced to our bicycles and had a test ride. Several of the group chose to use regular bikes, which on the day and a half of 50kph winds we experienced during the tour made for tough sledding for them. Paniers were supplied for stowing water bottles, lunches, rain gear etc. 

 

Wednesday morning, the ship sailed while we ate breakfast which was meat, cheese, bread, cereals, yogurt, scrambled eggs and bacon or sausage. We made our lunches from the smorgasbord. One could choose to strike out with no guide using GPS, ride the entire route, ride only the last third of the route or stay on the ship. No one chose to stay behind, 6 rode independently and all but four of the rest chose the full route. 

Starting at Vreesdijk, we meandered through villages and farm country. The Netherlands is the second largest exporter of vegetables after the US. Every 20 minutes the weather changed - sun, rain sprinkles, showers, sun, downpour, sun, repeat. The wind picked up in the afternoon gusting to 40. Welcome to the Netherlands we were told.

The highlight of the ride was Kinderdijk - a UNESCO site with 19 windmills. Our demo windmill was from the 1600’s, and is still one of the most powerful in the country. We saw its braking mechanism, speed control and gear system in action. It is still used to regulate water levels. 

The Dutch pay taxes to the government and also are levied a water tax, which varies depending on water needs and usage in their geographical area. During emergencies, the locals are by law compelled to stop normal activity and help to address the problem. Even school children. The markers below show:

 Red - the highest water level during the 1953 disaster when the North Sea breached the dike system 

Yellow - the water level at which the windmill must stop pumping else the vanes will be damaged

Green - the low water level of the river Lek, which is on the other side of the windmill

Gray - Average water level of the lower basin. The windmill pumps water up to this level. 

We met the boat in Dordrecht which was granted municipality status in 1220. A flood in 1421 surrounded the town and it was for awhile an island. In the 17th century, local merchants founded sugar cane plantations in the West Indies and Dordrecht had 16 sugar refineries. Today, its economy is based on ship building as well as steel and wood industries. 

We have had some incidents befall our cyclists. Jill was stung on the finger while riding and required medical assistance. 79 year old Silke had a tumble trying to avoid a large truck on a narrow country road and luckily fell onto the side away from the truck on to a weed patch but did require bandages on her knee and elbow. Margot was focused on the scenery and rode into a field canal. She was laughing when we pulled her out and her e-bike still worked! Poor Kevin had a bout of vertigo and was bedridden for three days. Hopefully no more bad mojo.