We left Beernem slowly, quietly, early enough to miss the gathering of eighty or so amphibious vehicles that were due to meet and “drive” along the waterway to Bruges in mid morning, just a simple wave to Dave and Ria lest our composure should break at the thought of being away from them for one whole night.
This would be our last day of navigation in our own company. Each year at times like this we fondly remember returning to Lagarde at the end of our first season, on a perfect Autumn day, roof back just breathing the world, when one of us asked if we could go a little slower. When the other replied “We are already in neutral” neither could offer an alternative means of prolonging the enjoyment.
Today was one of those days.
Even waiting for the bridges couldn’t delay us long enough to break the spell, at least till the final one, which had all the makings of ruining our plan.
The bridge that blocks the little harbour was out of action, preventing anyone entering or leaving, and the extent of repair hadn’t been determined. With no way of sensibly getting ashore, Pamela and Pat’s arrival imminent, and the next heatwave of summer slowly building around us, nothing looked to be quite unlike they had appeared in the brochure!
Of course things worked out. They always do.
In quick succession, Pat and Pamela arrived, the bridge was repaired, we found a place in the shade, and we settled in for a long and happy evening determined to have one last day off tomorrow, some of us expect to be walking around enjoying Bruges, the other may well look through her photos of the last time we were here.
1 comment
It's good to know you made it to Bruges and enjoyed the trip, Peter and Jo. The hire boats can make life very uncomfortable along that canal, but I do like it.I have happy memories of last year along there.
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