2023 - The summer cruise that wasn't - Grevelingenmeer at last!

 Monday 7th to Thursday 10th August 

Esmé is enjoying time with Mum at the moment so she decided to join Monique and I waiting for the tent to arrive and driving up to the Grevelingenmeer. We decided the 9am bridge was too much of a struggle and of not much benefit due to tides on the Oosterschelde, but even so it seemed pretty full on getting as much of our kit  as possible off the Lynan so that our Dutch friends could fit theirs on.. We finally watched them back out of the box and then walked round to watch the rest of the gang go through the bridge.

Esmé, Monique and I then chilled out in the house before heading into town for some lunch and to pick up a Diablo for the Dutch kids. (Esmé and then AJ had already bought one each but all kids were enjoying them and we knew there was one left in the shop!). Esmé had an amazing hot chocolate where she mixed cream and chocolate pieces into hot milk herself.

Meanwhile we were getting photo updates on the other's progress as well as us tracking them using their phones - no need for AIS!

We finally left Goes (with my driving for the first time in Holland)  to pick up the tent and carry on to Camping Den Osse which was right behind the marina. We made good time and I didn't make too many mistakes driving. The campsite was really friendly and right behind our pitch was a gap in the bushes which led to the Marina. Esmé insisted on proving the tent instructions wrong (it  it was a 2 person job) and pitched it on her own leaving Monique and I to chill out. The air beds borrowed from Dutch friends who had bought them for the kids to use in the Goes House only just fit! It was going to be a cosy night.

We then headed round to the marina to book Lynan in, and then still had time to do a tour of the campsite and check out the pool. The rest of the gang had had a lovely sail although a little lumpy at times and once they arrived it was awesome to be together again.

What followed was a lovely few days of  eating out, dinghy sailing, swimming, sailing Lynan and for some, horse riding on the beach. A  lovely second half of the trip!