Thursday 17th April 2014 We woke this morning to feel a gentle thump and looking out of the window realised we were in another lock, quite a narrow one, we could have touched the walls on both sides and the boat only just fitted. It was quite dark but only because we were low down in the lock and had the dark grey concrete walls blocking out the early morning sun. It's amazing how quickly the water level rises and the gates open and our boat passes through...

Wednesday 16th April We woke this morning to a lovely clear blue sky but oh so cold in the early morning. After breakfast I went up to the top deck to do a few walking laps, all this beautiful food is catching up and clothes are decidedly tight!! The scenery is to die for as this morning we are cruising down the most romantic part of the Rhine. We are to spend the morning cruising down this beautiful part of the river call the Rhine Gorge. No other riv...

Great night's sleep, the gentleness of the boat must suit us, sunny and again cloudy, not as windy today but only 12c. We are now in Germany and on the Rhine River, having been motoring all night, early morning we passed by Leverkusen, where Bayer's head office and one of its main factory plants is. It's a huge industrial area and I did see the multi storey office tower that was decorated as a huge Aspirin packet to celebrate the 100 year anniversary on the ...

Monday 14th April 2014 We woke early to a sunny morning but there dark clouds too, also a cold lazy wind. Still moored in the Amsterdam port. We are off this morning on our first cruise tour, we're onto a coach and driving about 10 km north of Amsterdam to Zaanse Schans Zaandam. Around 1920 there were only about 50 windmills left of the 1000 that had made the Zaan district the oldest industrial society area of the world. In 1925 De Zaansche Molen Society...

Sunday 13th April 2014 Well the day has finally arrived when we join our Rhine Cruise, first we have the morning to enjoy a little more of Amsterdam, another sunny day a bit cooler but my warm coat takes care of that. We have tickets for the Vincent Van Gogh Museum, on the way is Coster Diamonds that have show rooms and their own museum on how and where diamonds are found, produced and polished. Big mistake on going in!! We are now more knowledgeable ab...