Sunday in the Netherlands

Very cold this morning with a stiff breeze blowing right into our main entrance .  So I kept it shut and had to keep sopping up the condensation from the windows before it streamed down and wet anything lying below.

Sunday: chore number one today was doing the big shopping expedition to provision the boat for a long trip.  But, no that didn't happen.  This is the Netherlands, and everything is closed on Sunday.  Oh dear, move that one day later and get on with the other chores on the list, one of which was to get a 3g data SIM card which we will need to connect to the internet when we leave this club where we have free wifi. Fortunately we discovered that these are available at the shops at petrol stations which are open on Sundays (thank goodness) so we were able to cross that off the list.

With all the shops being closed, we just had to get on with the chores on board.  For Ian that was seeing to the rudder which was giving trouble and involved emptying everything out of the lockers in the stern of the boat and under the double bunk - and that created a whole new list just on its own because he discovered that there is a leak in the engine exhaust system which passes through the locker under our bunk.   It is a huge locker and chock a block full of "stuff", all very black and sooty!

So that meant Ian spent many hours scrunched up in the locker, first of all cleaning out the sooty mess then sorting out the rudder and exhaust problems.  And I spent a few hours out on the dock side with various cleaning products, yellow gloves and copious amounts of water trying to get everything clean.  Even though the sun was shining, and lovely, with the cold breeze I was togged up in long johns under my jeans, 4 layers of long sleeved T-shirts and a weather-proof jacket, which is now very dirty and requires a hour or so in the washing machine!

But come nightfall we had a clean locker, clean fenders, life jackets and various other bits and pieces, and  a rudder system that was a whole lot better than it was before.

Another job was to install the new batteries, which has made a huge difference to the charging systems.

And he installed new LED bulbs in the lights which are much brighter.

I am still putting up the new curtains when I get a chance, at last the saloon is now neutral beige instead of drowning-under-water blue.

Apparently, after a clear sunny day the temp tonight is going down to zero, less the wind chill factor.  And we have lots to do tomorrow, so an early start!