Sunday 4 October 2009

Shake Down

Sept 09

After taking over Kotare in Belgium the first few weeks were spent kitting out, then it was off for a months familiarisation cruise.  First up the River Leie from Kortrijk to the Ringvaart near Gent, then west across to Plassendale (near Ostend).  Beautiful weather but we had the canals to ourselves other than commercials - perhaps someone was preceeding us with a red flag and bell.

We had blown the bowthruster fuse on Day 1 backing out of the Kortrijk mooring in windy conditions (panicking under pressure) so we learnt to cope without for the month!  The large locks (sluis) were a shock after our UK narrowboat experiences.


A few minor mishaps like a mooring line parting after a commercial passed us at speed - must get new ropes in Antwerp (I can recommend Francois Chandlers) - the odd spot of embarrassment when caught by wind when mooring (of course I meant to turn around).

Some of the barges were not to be argued with.

Brugge Ring
Then it was around the Oudenbourg-Fintele-Veurne - Nieuwpoort ring in West Flanders before heading east again.  Several lots of relatives caught up with us for a few days so too much food and drink.

Oudenbourg
Veurne Rail Bridge
We were learning that there were lots of free moorings - often with electricity and water on tap

Dixmuide
Then we cruised up through Gent Haven and along the scenic Moervaart where saw a good barge extension.

Lower Moervaart
Gent Haven and no seagoing quals
On the return trip down the Moervaart we hit heavy fog at the Gent junction so moored up for the day.

Moervaart before the fog
Then we headed back down the River Leie through Deinze to Kortrijk.

Deinze
Upper Leie - Autumn is imminent
We moored up for the Winter on 31 Oct 09 within 200m of the Broeltorens. The car still had all its wheels and other appendages and we had already found the supermarkets and a bricolage so all was well.

Broeltorens Kortrijk
Our final act before hibernation was a quick car trip back to UK to select our final crewmember

Kes at 4 weeks

Wednesday 30 September 2009

Start Up

September 09
Peter and Angela
After selling the New Zealand farm we wandered around Australia, then the Pacific (Vanuatu and Fiji) for 6 months.  Unfortunately - Angela decided that small Pacific islands were not as romantic as in the brochures - all those mosquitoes attracted to the Chanel 19!

Caqalai (Fiji)
so we ended up at Bristol (England) and started searching for the next home.

We were looking for a <24m dutch barge which led us initially to the mudflats of Woodbridge, then Friesland and Dijon and a lot of points in between.  As newcomers to the barge world we decided we needed a 'safe' option while we learnt the ropes, so we bought a 17.4m Sagar replica barge now named Kotare (Maori for Kingfisher). As Kotare is relatively new she will stand the inevitable bumps of our steep learning curve



Layout below.


While waiting for possession we both got our ICC/CEVNI certificates (helmsman licences) - Angela got a radio op licence and Peter did an RYA diesel engine course - keeping cows was easier.