20180628

Published in Dinghy Cruising Journal 239

The Raid NL 2018 4

Day 4 - Langweer to Ossenzijl - 42km

Today we wanted to get to Ossenzijl which is the gate to the National Park 'De Weerribben'. From the Langweerder Wielen we got to the Skarster Rien and from there to the Tjeukemeer, which is a vast lake crossed by the A7 motorway. Expecting more wind here, Koos put in a reef. On the lake there was hardly any wind. We drifted across the lake to Echtenerbrug behind a traditional sailing barge.

We rowed and paddled through Echtenerbrug. Some of the bridges were so low that you had to crouch on the bottom to get through. We picknicked on the banks of the Pier Christiaanssloot. It was so hot that we sheltered under a tarp.

At the end of the canal we split up. Koos, Joost and Mark chose the scenic route along the river Tsjonger, while I chose the shorter route along the Jonkersvaart. After the Oldelamer bridge I rowed against a headwind until I reached the Driewegsluis. Once through the locks I got onto the Linde, a small river winding its way to Ossenzijl. I hoisted the sail and had a nice relaxing passage warmed by the evening sun. I rowed through the town of Ossenzijl and moored at Jachthaven de Kluft, waiting for my fellow travelers.

Koos, Joost and Mark arrived one and a half hours later. Koos had broken his self-built composite rudder pintles. Mark was very tired from the long paddling. Once we had set up camp, Joost cooked a nice vegetarian pasta. We chatted with a friendly couple from Denmark and swapped our Grolsch beer for their Carlsberg.

After offloading our supplied I set up my cockpit tent. When I sat with my full weight on the seat, the gunwale went under and I got 4 buckets water in the boat. I was lucky that most of my stuff was still in the dry bags. Only the sleeping bag got a bit damp.

Surprise! More midges!