For breakfast we had some sandwiches, with whatever we wanted. I had some liver pate, and then jam, on some brown bread, and a slice of good cheese.
Laurens showed us a profressionaly compiled DVD of their business – it is such a nice looking thing to do. I think it costs about E100 per person per day, and they teach you all about sailing, and then you get to experience it for yourself. It is maybe 30m long, and to sail it requires many hands.
Then, while Lucinda cleaned the boat and packed the car to go to Friesland, we walked with Laurens around Enkhuizen (the harbour's village). We walked in the park where Jacqui's grand-pa grew up, seeing again beautiful homes, with flowery window sills. It is very common to have canals and rivers in Holland, and in this park, they even have little bird houses that float on the water, for the ducks. It's very quiet too, except for the bird life.
Then we walked into the village and saw the Dromedaris – a large tower with many different size bells that rings different tunes throughout the day. Of course, when Van Riebeek came to SA, one of his ships was called the Dromedaris. Enkhuizen was the central VOC town in those days (Dutch East India Company).
We got to see them lifting the bridge over one canal to let about 10 yachts pass through. They were so close that Jacqui thought they were going to crash into one another! Sometimes they even have young people doing the driving.
It's a very old city, and we saw some buildings from the 1500's. Some of them are leaning over like the Tower of Pizza. But again, it's all so neat and tidy. It was Sunday, and in Holland (at least in these parts) most places are closed. They are quite religious about closing on time.
We also got to see some house boats. Laurens says that the rates and taxes on house boats is comparable to that of houses, depending no where you live.
After getting back to the harbour, we sat on the deck for some tea and delicious chocolate biscuits, and some more chatting. There is always something to chat about with these guys – they're so friendly. Lastly, we took a photo, and then got on the car to go to Friesland.
Friesland is across the inland sea (Ysselmeer) which was built by a dyke about a century ago. They have a museum half way, where we stopped and had a look around. It was very misty, so we couldn't see very far, but the boards they've erected to explain the history we very interesting. They started building it from both sides, planning to meet in the middle. But the Friesland side made 35km before the opposite side made 5!
Arriving in Friesland, we took a quick turn past their new house in Gaast, and then on to Pappa's in Ferwoude, only 2 km's away.
It was great to see him. We looked very happy to see us and welcomed us inside. Of course, Jacqui has been staying here for 2 days already and has already been having a great time with him, and taking walks around the neighbourhood.
We ate some lunch outside on the bench and then Laura arrived to take us to Hindelopen.
This is apparently a very historic village, according to Pappa, but we didn't have any guide to tells us about it. Nontheless we enjoyed the scenery. We went into a shop that had huge Klompe outside it, and took some photo's of us standing in them. We also walked along the top of the Dyke of the Ysselmeer, among the sheep. They let us touch them. It was a beautiful days by now, sunny and clear. Before we left, we stopped at the take-away caravan and got some fritte met panda zous (chips with peanut sauce) and Laura had an icecream. But she enjoyed the fritte so much that she went and got herself some, with mayo.
Instead of returning to Pappa, she took us to Hanneke's (about 4km away from Pappa) so that we could pick up the bicycles there. She showed us inside, and what a beautiful house it is! Actually iy has 2 kitchens, one they use for breakfast, and the other for supper! Most of the older places, like this and Laurens's have got a history to it, and each owner builds their own parts according to his needs. Hanneke's used to be a black-smiths, and then a billiards room, and then her husband bought it and made it into a house. The Dutch houses are very well cared for and elegantly decorated. (well, most anyway – of course there are some that don't get the same kind of attention)
Then we got on our bikes after pumping the tyres, and set off for Ferwoude. It was AWESOME. Cycling through Holland, beautiful weather, greeting friendly people, watching horses and cows and sheep. It was probably already 7pm, but the sun was about 30 degrees above the horizon.
For supper we had wors, patat, beans and tomato zous, with some complimentary red wine.
Then we got on our bikes again, while it was still light and cycled along a little canal, until it started getting really cold.
We were in bed by 10pm, but not yet sleeping. I read a sermon that I had done for seminary and wondered, maybe I could preach it here seeing as there is a shortage of pastors! Well, they'd have to put up with the English!
(A large section of the protestant churches here have grouped together to cater for the problem of a shortage of pastors. So, there is an itinerary for each congregation to say which weeks and which pastors will be in operation! The Baptists still remain separate. Pappa says that the Baptist church in Workum are known as the Swart-Kouse, a very orthodox and traditionalist congregation – "Terrible", he says. When I had seen the church in Workum, I got really excited. But now I'm not sure. We might not be here this Sunday.)
Anyway, then I looked at Jacqui's baby pics in an album her dad has, listening to the MP3 player.
It was a very good night.
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