2 - Bridges and Sunsets

Wednesday 6th June 2018

Our first day of cruising begins late. There is shopping to do and we are in no kind of hurry. Finally we set off across the Pikmar Lake and south down to Akkrum and the first of the many bridges we will navigate during the next few weeks. 

This is the bridge at Nes and like most of the bridges it is automated. Passage is controlled by a traffic lights system. As with road systems green is go. One red light means stop. Red and green together means the bridge is opening, but wait as there may be another boat coming through in the other direction. 

Lastly two red lights, one above the other, means the bridge opening is not in operation. Bridges are closed at night and often close for an hour at lunchtime on the less travelled backwaters. Morning opening times are often quite late, 8 or 9 am which allows school and work traffic a chance to clear.

Many bridges are manned when open although an increasing number are fully automated with remote controlled cameras and an operator sitting at a control desk, perhaps at the next bridge along. 

A very few foot bridges are manually operated, though by an attendant, never by the boat crew.

This is one of the bridges in Aldeboarn. The operator will close this bridge after we pass through and then get on his bike and pedal to the next bridge. His wife will operate the third bridge further on in the village. 

We moor up in Aldeboarn and make a sandwich lunch. It is a very hot day and the local kids are keeping cool by jumping into the canal.