Our position is 51:29.988N 03:37.251E

On Friday we finally managed to drag ourselves away from the pleasures of Ostend and left bright and early for the passage to Vlissingen and into the Dutch canals. The wind had moderated and we were treated to   3-4 knots on the nose, but at least the sea was a bit calmer. Having negotiated the commercial traffic in the Westerschelde we successfully managed our first lock (which we had to ourselves) into the Walcheron canal, and then the five bridges up to Middelburg. Unfortunately just as we got the go ahead for the final one – a swing bridge just before the entry to the Middelburg harbours – the wheel steering failed and Ted had to dash below to deploy the emergency tiller with his head out of the aft cabin hatch, while I was operating the engine controls. Once through the bridge we managed to tie up to a small pontoon at the edge of the canal and while I went to solicit help from the harbour master Ted managed to fix the problem, so when I eventually returned we were able to motor down to the marina area and through the small bridge to the box moorings. All this time the sky had been getting blacker and blacker, with ominous rumblings of thunder. We prove too fat for the first two boxes we tried and by the time we found one to fit the heavens had opened. The crew from the adjoining boat deserve full marks for coming out in the downpour to take our bow warps.  Needless to say it had passed over by the time we were tied up and later we went for a walk round the town, stopping to admire the setting for an operatic recital by two women on a barge, illuminated with flaming torches. I’m not sure the quality of the singing quite measured up to its presentation though!

The first of many bridges

It seems the Dutch need more of these than anyone else!

The Walcheron canal – a bit like Roman roads!

Middelberg at last – we went through the bridge ahead

Middelburg cathedral

Night time entertainment