Oudenburg to Diksmuide

36 km, 1 lock, 6 lift bridges

Yesterday was not a very nice day, not the kind of day to be out on the water at all.  It was windy, rainy, grey, cold and miserable.  We intended to go all the way to Diksmuide, 36 km, but by the time we got to Nieuwpoort, roughly half way, we had had enough and pulled into the VVW Westhoek where we have stayed quite a few times already.

But back to the beginning of the day.  We left the pontoon at Oudenaarde just after 10.00 having arranged with the lock keeper at Plassendale, who controls all the bridges to Nieuwpoort, to be at the first bridge at 10.15. In the wind it was difficult to hold station at the bridge while the booms went down to stop the traffic and the bridge slowly opened.

The pontoon at Oudenburg

The first of 6 lift bridges

There are some quaint cottages on this canal

And a new factory since last year

Squalls of rain accompanied us all the way to Nieuwpoort where we stopped at the Westhoek marina at lunchtime to chat to a friend from Diksmuide who runs the Le Boat charter fleet based there.  While there we decided we had had enough of the wind and the rain and instead of spending another 2 hours going to Diksmuide it would be much pleasanter to stop for the night.

I had a bit of difficulty raising the lock keeper at the Sint Joris lock. For some reason he could not hear my radio calls and eventually I phoned and the lock opened promptly.  The VVW Westhoek marina is just a few hundred metres from the lock and once tied up Ian set off by bike to a marine store to buy some fittings, hardy soul!

He was soon back to say the marine store was closed till the weekend and the harbour master’s hours are 10.00 to 12.00, so no showers and no internet!  Back to Plan A. Leaving Westhoek at 15.00, Ian steered from inside to avoid the worst of the wind and rain but in fact the weather improved a little and we were really pleased to be back “home”again.  

We weren't the only idiots! This is a trip boat full of punters - inside.

Our "home" river - the Ijzer

Tervaetebrug, last lift bridge of the day

However, we have lost our mooring in the shadow of the Ijzertoren.  Our permanent berth is now much further from the club, which is no problem when we are not on board but not really convenient for the next 2 weeks before go back to Faial.  Pol, the harbour master, suggested we make use of one of the free visitors’ moorings close to the club until 1 November when winter visitors arrive.