Bruges to Deinze

49.5 kms, 1 lock, 8 mobile bridges

We didn’t intend going far today.  We had a leisurely start which included a trip to Lidl to buy a pair of pyjamas for me and Ian bought some new LED lights for the dinette and saloon (with an automatic dimmer built in – supposed to be for over counter lighting in a kitchen), nice warm white colour.

At 10.30 I called Kruispoort Central to ask when we could start our journey through Bruges and he said “When you are ready” so we left right away.  

The magnificent Scheepsdalebrug.   Closed....

....and open.

We were the only boat moving in the whole of Bruges! As we approached each mobile bridge they were ready for us long before we got there.  At the lock, the lovely lady lock keeper took our lines and stayed to chat as the lock filled.  Turned out we had friends in common in Diksmuide, one of whom worked as a lock keeper with her a few years ago.

Exiting the Dammepoort lock in Bruges

One of the four windmills alongside the canal

And another

Kruispoort, one of the ancient gateways into the city

The warmer than usual weather has got the buds popping into life...

...and the bluebells too

Another bicycle race

Things ran so swiftly that we completed the “tour” of Bruges in less than an hour; it has taken over 2 hours in the past. 

But that all came to a grinding halt at Steenbruge where we were informed that a commercial was coming from the opposite direction and we would have to wait for it to arrive.  So we tied up and waited – it appeared an hour later. 

Tied up securely to the canalside as a very big commercial comes through the bridge.  Please note my new high-viz and extremely warm new jacket!

That was the only delay and before 14.00 we were at the Beernem yacht club where we were intending to stop, but seeing it was still early we decided to keep going to Deinze, 30 kms away. 

Ducklings!  This early in the year?

Into the Leie River and lots of commercial traffic

But now we have a new app that shows us where we and they are.  We are in purple at the top, the commercials are in green and red (a tanker).

As the afternoon wore on the wind turned to the NE, freshened, and it got a whole lot colder.  We were more than ready to tie up for the night when we arrived a little before 18.00. 

A couple of drinks later, and with the Eberspacher diesel  raising the temperature from glacial to tropical, we are happy as pigs in …blankets!

Ian’s latest project: installing new batteries.  

Forgive me if this does not make sense, mostly when he starts talking batteries my eyes glaze over and I retreat into a zombie-like state.  But I gather these are LiFe P0 somethings and all 8 of them have to be charged to exactly the same amount before they can be installed.  They are tiny, weigh next to nothing and will replace our two enormous old batteries, making space for an extra water tank.