September 18.
Highlights – the overview
In the morning, we take a Bolt taxi to the airport. We are on our way to celebrate Wim’s daughter’s wedding (hand fasting)!
We do some shopping… first, we need to buy another suitcase for the trip back. We get a sturdy one at a thrift store that we can later donate. There are lots of things we need to get in the Netherlands that we can’t find in Portugal. Later that afternoon, we’re invited by Wim’s sister and her husband to their home and in the evening we have a delicious dinner, outside at a lovely place (a historic water mill in Eibergen) because the temperature is great for the time of year (25ºC). Such a joy!
Then, it’s time for the hand fasting ceremony. It is a lovely Celtic tradition, wrapping their hands 7 times with 7 blessings. It is for 1 year and 1 day so, see you again next year, Dione & Ramon!
Happy couple!
Wim’s father, in a a fragile state of health, congratulates his grand daughter.
The next day, we have dinner with Dione and Ramon, and then make our way to Wim’s elder daughters neighborhood. We have dinner with Yara, Michael and our grand daughter Elin-Lune.
We have a great time!
Sher takes time packing 3 suitcases with all the stuff we bought. We weigh everything but we’re a bit too heavy… Hopefully they’re not going to make problem at the check-in…
Amongst all stuff we bought is a spare starter and a spare raw water pump for Mighty Mitsu. Crazy expensive (and heavy!), but essential spare parts.
Then it’s time to head back home. Looking down, we can just see the stern of Dione IV 🙂 (in the red circle) as we fly over Porto on our final landing approach.
The Captain’s Log – the complete story
In the morning, we take a Bolt taxi to the airport. We are on our way to celebrate Wim’s daughter’s wedding (hand fasting)!
At 1 o’clock, we’re in the air.
At Amsterdam airport, we’ve reserved a rental car and we drive to our B&B in Markelo, a town near Wim’s parents. We arrive at 1800h and have dinner in a small restaurant.
September 19.
In the morning, we do some shopping. We have a big list of things we want to buy in the Netherlands and we need an extra suitcase, we buy one in a thrift store in Goor (the place where Wim’s parents live). After that, we have lunch with Wim’s parents at their home. We (all 4 of us) consider ourselves so lucky to be together in good spirit, Wim’s father at an age of almost 99…
That afternoon, we’re invited by Wim’s sister and her husband at their home and in the evening we have a delicious dinner, outside at a lovely place (a historic water mill in Eibergen) because the temperature is great for the time of year (25ºC). Such a joy!
Cheers!
September 20.
The day starts with a delicious breakfast outside, at our B&B.
Next, we do some more shopping at a big supermarket and at “Hanos” (professional restaurant supply store) for things we can’t buy in Portugal. Then, we drive to Harderwijk, our next B&B. When we get there, it starts raining. Pouring. But, the temperature is still nice. After we’ve settled in the B&B, we drive to Ede, where the hand fasting celebration takes place. The place is in a deep forest and it takes us a while to find it, in the pouring rain.
We’ve found it! Everybody is there already and it’s so nice to see all family and friends again!
Then, it’s time for the hand fasting ceremony. It is a lovely Celtic tradition, wrapping their hands 7 times with 7 blessings. It is for 1 year and 1 day so, see you again next year, Dione & Ramon!
Happy couple!
Wim’s father, in a a fragile state of health, congratulates his grand daughter.
September 21.
A lazy day in our B&B. In the evening, we have a great dinner at an Italian restaurant with Dione & Ramon.
September 22.
Today, we drive to Friesland. Wim has an appointment at his notary in Workum, we have to pick up new seals for our fridge in Sneek an we visit the sail maker Ramses in Koudum. We buy some fabrics to modify our sun tent over the cockpit.
After that, we drive to Oude Wetering where we have booked the same apartment as we had in march, near Wim’s daughter Yara.
We have dinner with Yara, Michael and our grand daughter Elin-Lune.
We have a great time!
Sher takes time packing 3 suitcases with all the stuff we bought. We weigh everything but we’re a bit too heavy… Hopefully they’re not going to make problem at the check-in…
Amongst all stuff we bought is a spare starter and a spare raw water pump for Mighty Mitsu. Crazy expensive, but essential spare parts.
September 23.
A beautiful morning with a view over the Braassemermeer where we anchored for a couple of weeks when Elin-Lune was born last year.
And then it’s time to fly home again.
No problems about the kilo’s at check in 😅.
One last view at the ever so green Netherlands.
We fly over Ile d’Yeu at the French Biskay coast. We can clearly see the marina we were in, last year.
Then we fly over Biscay and enter Spain near Aviles.
Between the clouds we recognize the port of Cudillero, where we spend 2 months last winter.
The Douro river.
It looks like we’re going to fly over Dione IV! We always see airplanes coming low over the marina when the wind is North.
There’s the bridge and the fishing port.
Looking down, we can just see the stern of Dione IV 🙂 (in the red circle).
We take a Bolt taxi back from the airport and have a quick stop at Castro to stock up some Pastel de Nata 😋
At 1900h we arrive at Dione IV. Everything is all right on board and we’re happy to be back!
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