Day 6 Dutch & Belgium canals 4th November

We awoke to a chilly morning in Veghel under a thick blanket of fog and waited for the bridge to open at 0840 before proceeding down the Zuidwillemsvart.

In the morning we passed through who locks rising over 20m before passing the Belgium boarder.

Max doing some school work

The next lock was our first in Belgium. The Belgium waterways require a permit which can be applied for online at http://www.vlaamsewaterweg.be/
At our first Belgium lock I was required to report to the lock master with boats papers. Everything was in order and we already had our permit so we were given permission to proceed.

Once the fog cleared we could see the Tree lined canals that would provide useful shade in summer.

To enter the first Belgium lock the height of the boat (and rigs) must be under 3M. I built the frames 2.5m above the deck and our total height with rigs on the frames is 2.88. The bridge was a little to close for comfort so the lock master opened the bridge for us. Needless to say this evening I re-measured our total height and we are still 2.88m.

We stopped for lunch in Dilson so we could warm up in our heated cabin. The temperature was only 5 degrees outside. Issy and Max spotted something in the trees on the opposite bank so we walked over the bridge and along the canal to investigate. The large object in the trees was identified as a huge nest that possibly belonged to the rare Imperial eagle that can have a 2m wing span.

Issy sketching the eagles nest and Max pointing out some important facts!

Huge nest.

We are defiantly one of the last boats to pass through these canals this season, and one of the only yachts. We get some very strange looks and many questions asked about our ketch sailing so far inland!

This evening we have moored in Rekem for the night at we can be fresh for the canals tomorrow morning where we will be lifted 8m in each. Interestingly Rekem habitation dates back to 1100AD and was part of the Roman Empire. In 1623 a castle was built here and some of the walls and buildings remain along the cobblestone streets https://www.expatica.com/be/lifestyle/things-to-do/oud-rekem-451084/

Our location tonight in Rekem in Belgium