Stavoren

Since coming to the Ijselmeer we’ve met more cycling tourists than at any other part of our trip,except for around Lake Constance. It’s the circuits they like most . Ones that take about a week and I must say that the circuit around the IJselmeer takes some beating.The huge farm houses typical of Friesland. The farmer lives in the front, conveniently a different colour for us, and in the winter the animals live in the rest. Hay is stored in the roof space. The winters are so harsh here it saves them having to go outside and they all help to keep each other warm.by spring they must all smell a bit bovine though and of course the cows are Friesian.The lock keeper controls the lock and the lifting bridge above it. He’s going down to collect the €5 feeAt Workum we stop at the market and Christine buys another pair of slacks.No she doesn’t have to throw something out. She left hers in the bathroom at Harlem.The old fishing harbour of Hindeloopen. Once home to 67 fishing boats , now its tourism that pays the billsJust about every village we’ve passed has a ‘ Commonwealth graves’ sign outside the cemetery. All airmen who never made it home.Taking Dad our for some exercise. Oxygen bottle and all. I bet he’s loving it

The IJselmeer has the largest fleet of sailing ships in the world. All in beautiful condition, they have to be surveyed every second year to be able to take passengers. Marvellous what you learn when you give a hand. This is Stavoren and the information centre lady has found us a B&B just out of town as the town was full. We needed to take food as it has a kitchen. The new supermarket was in a new subdivision. Just as much boat parking as car parks !and the canals are all in before the houses are builtIt’s a bonus for us tonight as this B&B is an old farmhouse. We get the old farmers quarters on the right and the owners have converted the animals end into their house3 bedrooms upstairs and a huge living area downstairs. The raised part of the floor was a 4 by 4 metre cellar underneath where the whole family would sleep in the coldest part of the winter, being the warmest spot