Friday
After a not so great nights' sleep, (no real reason other than perhaps slightly more wine consumed than is normal) we got a reasonably early start, mindful of the longish day ahead aiming to reach the Grevelingenmeer. Our oilies were dug out as there was some rain forecast and setting off I was mindful of the forecast increasing winds from the north.
We enjoyed a lovely little sail before the wind went on the nose as we rounded a corner. Black clouds were looming and I just wasn't feeling the love for a long day. I suggested maybe we could call in at Wolphaartsdijk, a marina we'd been in on our last visit for an overnight as there was a nice clubhouse with free hot chocolate and cheap beer to while away a rainy day. We had a bit of a family decision and voted in favour.
We just got moored up as the winds increased (kids getting really good at the box moorings now). Although the promised rain didn't materialise we enjoyed a leisurely day, hanging out at the playground and bouncy pillow, and then drinking hot chocolate and our first Duvel of the trip in the club house before having a siesta, not forgetting lunch where we sampled the herrings we found in Lidl!
It was lovely to see the kids start to interact with their Dutch counterparts.... only a little nudging required. Football it seems is a universal language!
We also took the time to message our Dutch friends to ask advice about the tides in the Oosterschelde which we remembered needed to be considered for the next leg but couldn't remember which way they flowed. Martijn very helpfully sent us a PDF tidal atlas and our decision to come in to Wolphaartsdijk ws vindicated as the tide would have been against us in the afternoon. We set our alarms for 6am to make the best of the tide the next day.
Saturday
A beautiful early start and we were soon at the lock at the end of the Veerse Meer. Unfortunately the £11 app I bought told lies. The lock isn't open 24/7 and we had to wait until 7am for it to open.
We hung around for a while and then entered the lock with a lovely Dutch Barge with matching tender.
Onwards into the Oosterschelde, punching tide for the first hour and then a little sail before the wind went too far forward again.
By the time we were approaching the lock to the Grevelingenmere we still hadn't heard from our Dutch friends if they were coming to meet us. Just as we were formulating a plan to anchor for a while until we heard, they messaged to say they were coming the next day. We headed into the first marina after the lock to buy our "ticket" for a week's moorings on the islands and headed over to Mosselbanken to find somewhere to stay for the night.
The kids instantly remembered the look out tower and spent time exploring. Many were swimming but we were nervous of the jellyfish in the water. After a while a local boat came alongside us and I got the chance to ask about the the jelly fish and they assured us they don't sting. As the day got hotter and hotter we gradually were tempted onto and into the water. I was still nervous and only got in up to my waist but the others gradually opted for a swim. Esmé and Patrick being the first brave souls! I was keen to see how confident a swimmer Esmé was now, 4 years on from returning from our big adventure but having not swum a tremendous amount since. I bribed her to swim out to halfway between the two pontoons and two guys off another boat encouraged her by letting her join in their ball game. I followed on the paddleboard to make sure she was ok. The comedy moment (but a little unsettling) came when Esmé kept hold of the ball for a little while longer than was polite and so one of the guys played a trick on his mate and picked up a ball shaped jelly fish and lobbed it at him. His friend just saw a ball shape coming towards him and held out his hands to catch, only realising it wasn't the actual ball when he was greeted by an armful of jellyfish. By this time I didn't know whether to laugh or completely freak out at the prospect of being attacked by flying jellyfish so Esmé and I returned to the relative safety of Laurin.
Our neighbours also pointed out that there was another Contest 32 on the other pontoon which had had extensive work done to her so after tea Patrick and I headed over to say hello. Bart and Dianna soon joined us on Laurin and we enjoyed a really pleasant evening comparing notes on and viewing the two boats. Bart and Dianna were lovely people and the kids were equally keen to chat. Esmé was keen to tell the jellyfish story and Dianna took time to say that the jellyfish were ok and you could cuddle them and shape them into a heart. I'm yet to be convinced but I suspect with the forecast high temperatures I will be tempted in for a swim later in the week. Spending time with Bart and Dianna, and looking forward to catching up with Martijn, Monique, Dylan and Jazz the next day reminded us that travelling is as much (if not more) about the people that you meet as the places you go. We swapped contact details with Bart and Dianna and will hopefully keep in touch.
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