We set off promptly at 9am today hoping to catch the opening of the eight city centre bridges through Haarlem. After a stop at the harbour office to pay our transit dues, we unfortunately had missed the first convoy from the north and were delayed at the first three bridges. At the Gravestenenbrug a barge caught us up and from there we made a smoother passage. Although not published in the ANWB Almanac the first convoy seems to leave promptly at 9am from the harbour office and then work up and down the bridges throughout the day.

We had a deadline at the Sassenheim rail bridge which opens only between 12.28 and 13.28 and then not again until the evening. With four more bridges to get through on the Ringvaart van de Haarlemmermeerpolder we only just arrived in time for the last of the three lifts. South of this bridge is the Kager Plassen, an area of meers and polders which was packed with boats of all descriptions on another hot, sunny day. We buddied up to anchor for a lunch stop, although for Precious Time this turned into more of a mercy dash as John had to lower his dinghy to take his dog, Holly, for a walk.

In the afternoon we continued the short distance into Leiden, opting for the central town yacht haven west of the Schrijversbrug. This was marked only as temporary moorings on our ANWB Waterkaart, but admittedly they are several years out of date and so things may have moved on. Now the basin is a well equipped haven with water, electricity and a palatial shower block.

A lay day in this well equipped city gave everyone a chance to catch up on various shopping necessities and a newly opened hairdressers "Your Way" right opposite the moorings also proved very useful.

Cruising Statistics

Distance: 18 nm

Total to date: 1371 nm

Avg Speed: 3.7 knots

Duration: 6:15 hours

Diesel: 32 litres

Mooring: €9/night

Electricity: Tokens (10A)

Water: Tokens

Bridges

Waarderbrug (lift)

Prinsenbrug (lift)

Haarlem rail (lift)

Catherijne (lift)

Gravestenen (lift)

Melkbrug (lift)

Langebrug (lift)

Buitenrust (lift)

Schouwbroek (lift)

Cruquius (lift)

Bennebroek (lift)

Hillegomm (lift)

Elsbroek (lift)

Lisse (lift)

Sassenheim road (lift)

Sassenheim rail (lift)

Zijl (lift)

Spanjaard (lift)

Sumatra (lift)

Schrijvers (lift)

Charts

ANWB G