Our European Adventure: Wacky Races

Nieuwpoort to Oudenburg

20.9km
1 lock
6 lift bridges
6 hours

Our journey from Nieuwpoort to Oudenburg

Good morning world. Yesterday started well, we were a bit nervous about leaving the safety net of Nieuwpoort’s harbour, but once above the first lock, we began to relax.

Leaving the lock at Nieuwpoort

The first leg of this mammoth journey would take us to Oudenburg through six manned lift bridges in convoy with several other larger and much faster boats. All started well as we set off toward our first bridge. We were ambling along nicely, last in line and happy to be so, until the first lift bridge was in site. Whoah, it was every man, dog and yogurt carton (plastic boat) for themselves. Needless to say, we could not keep up even with our 36 horses and as we approached the bridge we got a telling off from the bridge keeper for not staying with the convoy.

As all the boats slowed back down, we were soon back in line. The boat in front of us began to go so slowly we could barely see the first boat. I made the decision to overtake and cruised under the next bridge keeping myself tight up against the rest of the convoy.

Then, with the third bridge in site, the flag was down and engines began to roar. I had to give it all I had to keep up and this went on until the final two bridges. The temp gauge rose dramatically reaching 98^o at one point.

The boat we had overtaken previously had now taken back its position and sped off with the rest of the convoy far in to the distance. We needed to stop and this decision was made for us as the penultimate bridge began to close on our trundled approach.

We tied up and turned off the engine, opening the floor for more cool air to circulate. At this point, I decided to try and explain to the bridge keeper via the ship to shore radio what was going on. There was no reply. Maybe its not working I thought after two fumbled attempts and so decided to walk over and talk to the chap in person. There was a large window open on the second and top floor. “Hello” I shouted “Mr bridge keeper, Mr bridge keeper” there was no reply, walking around the building I noticed a large doorbell, the type you press and think to yourself did that work? After trying once more with my ear to the door I gave up and thought to myself “it’s Sunday, that’s it kid they’ve left for the hills”.

Stranded in what seemed the middle of nowhere I tried the handheld ship’s radio one last time. “Genie’s Wish, Genie’s Wish to Gistelbrug Bridge are you there?” I could hear the sound of my own voice coming from the open window followed by a faint disgruntled voice that said “We’ve not forgotten you, ten minutes bridge open”

Once the bridge opened we relaxed into our familiar snail’s pace and had the time to absorb the scenery and get our stress levels back down before mooring up at Oudenburg for the evening.

At Oudenburg we were greeted with free electricity, water on tap and a comfortable floating jetty. Marcelo, a kindly old gentleman knocked on the boat and sold us fresh veggies and eggs from his daughter’s allotment and later in the evening, insisted on walking us to the best pub in the town (The Louise Clesse) and the day ended on a high note with Leffe Blond beers all round.