1 - Getting There
Tuesday 5th June 2018
One of the many good things to be said about Amsterdam is how easy it is to get there. There is a flight from my hometown airport, Robin Hood Doncaster-Sheffield, that takes around an hour and this year costs £89 return.
It’s a small airport, no queues for travellers or planes, and my Flybe flight is on time. The selection of beers in the bar is rather impressive, but it’s early so I stick to coffee.
From Amsterdam’s Schipol airport I have a two and a half hour train journey, with two changes of train to get to Grou in Friesland in the north of the Netherlands.
She is an 11 metre motor cruiser originally built here in Holland and is the perfect craft for cruising around the vast network of canals, rivers, lakes and inland seas here in the Netherlands.
One of the many good things to be said about Amsterdam is how easy it is to get there. There is a flight from my hometown airport, Robin Hood Doncaster-Sheffield, that takes around an hour and this year costs £89 return.
My mate Bob drops me off there after a 15 minute ride from my house and a couple of hours later I am there.
 |
| Flybe plane waiting for me at Robin hood Airport |
It’s a small airport, no queues for travellers or planes, and my Flybe flight is on time. The selection of beers in the bar is rather impressive, but it’s early so I stick to coffee.
 |
| Impressive selection of beers |
From Amsterdam’s Schipol airport I have a two and a half hour train journey, with two changes of train to get to Grou in Friesland in the north of the Netherlands.
The train station is in the airport. My ticket to Grou costs €25.30, all trains are precisely on time and at 8:30pm I disembark at Grou-Jirnsum station and make my way on foot to the boat haven where the Akaroa is moored.
 |
| The Akaroa |
She is an 11 metre motor cruiser originally built here in Holland and is the perfect craft for cruising around the vast network of canals, rivers, lakes and inland seas here in the Netherlands.
Brother-in-law Phil sailed her over from the Thames 5 years ago and has kept her moored in the Netherlands ever since. She has twin Perkins Diesel engines and all the required navigational aides, radar, sonar, gps satellite navigation and ship-to-shore radio. There are two control systems, one down in the main cabin and a second up top on deck. Add cooker, microwave, kettle, heating system, in-built CD player and an excellent shower and you have a pretty comfortable place to live. Life on board is very comfortable.
 |
| Phil swabbing the decks |
It’s a daily job keeping the Akaroa all neat and shipshape. Phil has a handy floating pump that makes it easy to hose down the decks.
It’s been a tiring day so I’m glad to climb into my bunk and get my head down for my first night on board.
Comments
Post a Comment