Oudenburg to Nieuwpoort

18 kms, 5 bridges, 1 lock

We woke to brilliant sunshine yesterday, for the first time in many days.   This canal, from Plassendale Sluis to Nieuwpoort, used to be serviced by a mobile bridge keeper who travelled with the convoy of boats and this happened only a couple of times each day.  But over the winter the canal has been automated and now the convoys can pass through the 5 mobile bridges 5 times per day.

At 9.30 I called in asking when we could join the convoy, and the answer was that at 10.25 we must be waiting at the first bridge.  5 minutes later our phone rang – it was the canal operator to say there were no other boats coming through at that time but there was a commercial tug with an empty “bak” coming through in about 20 minutes and we must follow him.

Following "Kogo" through one of the lift bridges

This is a very slow gentle canal

Very flat open agricultural land

2 tiny cottages

A greedy cormorant trying to eat an eel longer than he is

A charter boat going in the opposite direction

This is the first time we have seen commercials here.   

Another commercial going in the opposite direction

.... transporting a big digger

Our tug stopped at a quay about half away along the canal

And then caught up to us before the next bridge

He had stopped to drop off his empty bak and a bit further on he picked up a full one. It seems they are dredging the canal.

Kogo turning around to hitch up to a full "bak"

We went through Sint Joris Lock and tied up at VVW Westhoek.  We intended to spend 2 nights here because we thought we could get the second night free with our VPF membership but that has changed.  Now we have to pay full price in high season, but low season is free.  Ian remarked on how few boats we have seen for this time of year and the harbour master agreed.  He reckons the cold, rainy weather is to blame.  Last year we cruised this canal 3 times and each time there was a big convoy of boats, this time we saw just 2 other pleasure boats, both of them on charter.