Friday October 12 (Amsterdam & cruising to Cologne)

It was rather a cloudy start today and there was quite a breeze up top during the morning and early afternoon. The sun did break through later in the morning and it was quite warm again.

Some boats had left their morrings although there was one parked right across from my window early on!I 

I made my way up to the pool and a kind gent told me how to switch the surge on, he warned me not to stand in front of it. Good thing I did not or I would have ended up at the back of the boat, lol! 

I then ate a late breakfast in Palm Court, where I sat and chatted to Midge. I then returned to my room and carried on working on my blog, it took ages to upload all the photos but eventually I finished those from the museum and canal boat trip.

 I went up top as we left as I wanted to take some photos and I stayed up for about an hour. 

There was an hilarious occurrence, a motor scooter was being ridden along the towpath with two guys on board. They kept beeping their horn and eventually I waved at them, they waved back and burst into hysterical laughter, they then returned the way they came, lol! 

it is interesting watching the very long barges going up and down the river. Under the wheelhouse at the rear of the barge, there are living quarters and usually being the wheelhouse there is at least one car.

I would love to know how they get them on and off the barge as there was no obvious method! Some of the cars were even covered!!

I then went downstairs to find out about the options for the new part of the trip. 

There were two things I wanted to do but they had both been put on the same day, that was disappointing! They have managed to arrange a boat for us to cruise on the part of the Rhine that is particularily beautiful and that will be on the last day of the journey!

I made my choices and then had a wee bit of lunch. Midge came along and said we should decide about where to eat dinner, later her other friend, Barbara, came along and we decided where to have dinner later in the evening.

I then went back to my room to finish the blog for the Cat Boat visit. I then relised we were slowing down and looked out to see that we were in a lock so I shot upstairs to take some photos. 

The boat was raised between two and three feet before we travelled out of the lock onto the canal. Almost immediately after the lock we crossed the River Lek and cariried straight on.


There was another lock beside ours for another canal!!

I went back to my room and managed to finish the blog before taking a shower and heading to Palm Court for the party being hosted by Crystal Cruises, drinks and a canape were provided. I was a bit late arriving and apparently the MC mentioned that there was a passenger from New Zealand, lol! The two musicians were very good and it turns out they are both from Wales, lol, I just cannot escape Welsh people on this trip!

Midge came and found me and I was introduced to two more people. Tony and Christine, who wer also joining the group for dinner. Midge and Frnk plus Barbara and Tom made up the group. We headed downstairs to Waterside, the restaurant, and had a lovely meal. I had a very fishy one, River Crayfish Cocktail followed by Lemon Sole, it was very tasty.

Back in my room, I used the IPad provided by Crystal to find out where we were. The cruise to Cologne would continue throughout the night as well as all morning. We were not too far from meeting the Rhine so I went up top. It was a very pleasant, mild evening and while I was enjoying the night air two cruise boats passed us heading for Amsterdam, I guess, they would dock about 6.00 or 7.00 am.

Then it was time to return to my room, write up today's blog and head for bed!