May 1998 in the netherlands

May 1998.  Gouda, Netherlands.  We were so taken by the ease of just pulling alongside the canal banks and tying up, that we looked forward to the opportunities that would provide.  In this picture, Bijou still has her mast up, but in order to move on in the canal system, we would have to take it down and secure it somehow on the boat. Not easy. We knew dismantling her like that was going to be traumatic, but we also knew it would open up more beautiful places to visit. We hoped that would make up for the trauma.

Yes, like the cheese!!

Typical canal scene. This was so different from all the other cruising experiences we had. We lapped it up.

May 1998. Typical canal scene

Typical sites along the way in the Netherlands. Windmills and spiders!!  The spiders worked all night to create these elaborate webs, only to have them torn down by daily activity on a boat. 

                                                                      May 1998.  Amsterdam