Schoten to Antwerp

Time to leave Schoten.  We pulled up the stakes at about 9.00 and called the lock keeper, who said he would be here.  However, there was a traffic jam on the bridge so we knew it wouldn't be any time soon so nudged into the bank and I got off to hold us there.  Ian took a walk to Elle to discuss locks with Shaun, whose route planner on the computer had shown an extra lock.

Eventually, we got going again through the bridge, and at the first lock we had to wait for a boat coming up in the opposite direction, but not for long.  At the second lock there was a long delay.  There was quite a lot of commercial traffic, more than we have seen before.  There was a boat already in the lock when we arrived, also going down stream.  When he was out there was a wait for another commercial which was coming up stream.  At last the lock was ready for us.  It took us almost 2 hours to do just a couple of kilometres with one lift bridge and 2 locks.  We said our final farewell to the small canals we have been on for the last 2 weeks. 

The Albert Canal is a whole different story

wide, industrial and very busy.  And it got a whole lot worse the closer we got to Antwerp.  The shipping is very strictly controlled here.  We had to call in by VHF radio as we entered the main harbour area, giving an "FD number" we had applied for in advance, stating where we coming from, where we go going to and how many people on board.  The docks are very complicated and intricate, and we took a wrong turning, just to get a blast from the harbour master down the radio!  The next turning, the right one, was blocked by a low lift bridge which we called and took ages to open.  Now we were into a dock with hotel boats and other touristy trip boats tied up, plus a swimming pool boat.  Yes, a converted barge with a swimming pool on it called "Badboot".  To get into the next dock ,where the yacht marina is, we had to go through another low lift bridge which only opens at fixed times and we were almost an hour too early, or half an hour too late if you like.  There was nowhere to tie up so we just drifted while we had lunch.  Then a huge great big hotel barge arrived, and another big working barge.  All manoeuvring around each other.  Must be fun when it's windy!

Finally the bridge opened and followed each other through. 

All except the commercial barge which reversed through and tied up immediately after the bridge.

The hotel barge was also heading for Willemdok, where the marina is, and again we had to hang back while it manoeuvred into position.

A very blond young man came whizzing out in a rubber dinghy and led Elle

with us following in her wake, into a marina slot.  Rather dwarfed by our larny neighbours!

It was 4 hours since we had left Schoten and we had covered barely 10kms.  Its not a cheap place at €15 for us (8.9m), electricty is an extra €3 per day so we are doing without that, our solar panels do just fine.  Water and showers are free, washing machine is €4 and the dryer is €3. 

Can you see us in the photo?  in the second row back, behind the small sailing boats, second and third from the right.

Must visit this museum while we are here, called the Museum aan de Stroom.