Oirschot to Aarle-Rixtel - A Day to Forget

Well, that was an adventure we would rather not have had!

After examining the weather forecasts we knew it would be a bit windy, gusting around 45 km/hr, but we've coped with far worse than that when crossing oceans.  Also today is the last dry day for a while, so it was a toss up: wind today or rain tomorrow.  We chose to put up with the wind because there are no locks in the stretch we planned to do today, just 6 lift bridges.

The first section of canal was really not bad at all.  The wind was not as bad as expected as the canal ran between high banks with tall trees on top.  

We could see the wind in the trees but on the canal we were sheltered and the first couple of lift bridges were uneventful except that we had to call before each bridge (last time we called only at the first bridge and all the rest after that were made ready as we approached) and they only started preparing the bridge when we were very close to it.  

Could this be a doffing of the cap to Operation Market Garden?

A different design of lift bridge - I think I'm becoming a bridge anorak

With the strong wind behind us it was difficult to slow down and the bridges were not protected by high banks and trees.  At one of the bridges we drifted sideways at about 2 knots because it was impossible to keep the boat straight at slow speed and at another bridge  we actually passed the traffic lights before the red light had gone out even though Ian had the engine in reverse (the bridge was already fully up). 

Then we ran out of high banks and protection from the trees, and the wind picked up with extremely vicious gusts which blew the surface water into williwaws and splashed the windows.  One of the bridges was slow to open and while we waited around a huge gust blew Ian's gloves and a mat on the foredeck into the water.

At the very last bridge, just half a km from our intended stop, all was going to plan but instead of the red light going out when the bridge was up, the green light went out and a second red light came on.  After drifting around for a few minutes I called the bridge control and was informed there was a problem, "Wait a moment", after another 5 minutes they called and said we could not pass the bridge until the problem was resolved.  So we had to tie up.  Easier said than done.  Just at that time the gusts were particularly bad and the only place to tie up was designed for big commercial barges with tall poles at maybe 15m or 18m intervals and a wall inside them with big bollards.  Ian started to approach the wall between the pillars when a huge gust caught the boat and slammed the bow into the wall, forward of the fender - a scar which bears witness to our trials and tribulations!  I'm really not sure how Ian managed it but he got us off that wall without any further mishap but then we had to do it all over again.  Second time round there was brief lull and I managed to get ashore and get a rope around a bollard without any further problems.

We felt really bad because with the bridge stuck in the up position there were queues of cars forming, and bicycles - school kids trying to get home in the horrible weather.  The nearest bridge was about 1km behind us.  One young girl asked Ian if we could ferry her across the river!  "I want to go home" she said.  We really felt bad.

Eventually after more than half an hour Bridge Control called us and said we could go through the bridge.  As we went through we saw an electrician's truck and police to control the traffic.  Perhaps we were the first boat to go through that bridge since last summer.

When we approached the place we intended to stop we saw a no entry sign and a row of buoys blocking the canal to the Passantenhaven.  They only open tomorrow!  We tied up against the bank using stakes (many of them).  The wind is still blowing and buffeting the boat but at least we are secure.

We walked to the town centre to buy Ian a new pair of gloves.  It is a lovely little town, very quaint.  It was known for its bell foundry and the church has a huge array of bells in the bell tower.  Just before the hour they chimed up with a rendition of Greensleeves.  Very entertaining. 

Tomorrow we are staying put - apart from moving into the Passantenhaven, just a couple of hundred metres.  It is still going to be windy, and raining, not a good combination, and we have 6 locks to negotiate on the next leg.  We hope to get all the way to Maasbracht but it will be a long day.