Moerbrugge to Oudenburg

It was cool again today, not quite a cool as yesterday which never got much above 21 degrees, but pleasant enough out of the sun.

26 kms, 9 lift bridges, 1lock

Today was all about lift bridges – 9 of them.   We did the “doortocht” through Bruges, my favourite city, pity we didn’t stop there this year.  
First off was Steenbrugge bridge which does not open between 7.30 and 8.30 when road traffic is at its peak, so the water traffic queues up instead.  Promptly at 8.30 the bridge opened and 2 barges came through from the other side, one of them was a very tight squeeze.

Urrrm, I'm not sure about this

Just 3kms later we had to wait at the Katelijnpoort bridge while a convoy formed: 2 pleasure boats and a commercial barge. 

The barge coming through Katelijnpoort swing bridge

After the second bridge, Gentpoort, 

we were joined by 2 more pleasure boats which came out of the Coupure marina.

The third bridge is at the magnificent Kruispoort.  

A few more pics from the wonderful Bruges

Two of the pleasure boats and the barge left the convoy after the lock and turned into the Boudewijn canal so it was just us and a Le Boat charter boat that continued to Scheepsdale bridge. There we had to wait almost half an hour for a pleasure boat coming from the opposite direction so they would not have to open the bridge twice in half an hour.  Just after the bridge there is a good dock with shopping area close by and we always stop there to get some essentials.  We have not bought any groceries for a few days so the essentials that were running  low included bread,  fruit juice, fresh meat and wine.

Half an hour later we were on our way again 

We were delighted to pass some boats from our club at Diksmuide which are going to Deinze for the long weekend.  They recognised us first and there was much hooting and waving.  We saw Kafijotolo and Hygeia first, both underway, then Orfelia moored at Stallhille bridge

Waiting for the bridge to open, Orfelia is on the far right

We stopped and a had a quick chat to Willie and Francine on Orfelia as we waited for the bridge to open.  At Oudenburg another convoy with 3 or 4 Diksmuide boats passed us including Pol on Sea Breeze

Many more boats will be going later in the week.

So here we are at Oudenburg, a free pontoon with free water and electricity.!