Texel, Netherlands

Texel, Netherlands, a set on Flickr.

Today we took a day trip to Texel, an island in the North of Holland. We took an 1 1/2 hour train, a 20 minute ferry, then cycled for 30 minutes to the dunes, had lunch on the beach and went to an interesting museum that boasts a collection of items that have washed on the shores of Texel in the past 70 years. Did you know the number one hazard to navigation at sea is rogue containers that have fallen from ships? They float just below the surface and they’re steal… bad to run into one, but you never know what you’ll find inside if one washes ashore!

Volendam

Volendam, a set on Flickr.

Today we took a little trip to Volendam. It’s about a 30 minute train ride and then another 30 minute cycle. We saw some lambs and possibly the smallest beach ever…

Frozen Amsterdam

It’s so cold here in Amsterdam that the canals are freezing! We went into town and walked on the frozen Prinsengracht today.

Someone set up a hot chocolate, lentil soup and sandwich stand on the ice. People were walking their kids in buggies and even some dogs were out on the ice to have some fun!

Frozen Amsterdam, a set on Flickr.

Our Pirate Ship Mural

While Heath’s mom was visiting she took some time to create this mural on our wall.

The cat pirate flag.

W & H. Can you spot the cat? 🙂

One step closer to gills

Friday night Heath and I had the opportunity to try out full face masks underwater.

With these you can hook up communication devices and talk to each other – as if breathing underwater wasn’t crazy enough! Heath is already certified, but this was my first time. I learned how to properly don the mask and even how to take it off and put it back on underwater. We’re now ready for the Abyss… and able to let each other know when a shark is heading our way!

The new Rainbow Warrior

Yesterday in Bremerhaven, Gremany Greenpeace launched the new Rainbow Warrior III.  She’s a purpose-built motor-assisted sailing yacht specifically designed for environmental campaigning. She’s one of the greenest ships afloat now – all materials, from the paintwork to the insulation, have been chosen with a view to sustainability, and each component has been supplied with transparent ethical sourcing. At full sail she can travel at 14 knots.

She’s a beautiful ship and it was great to be at the ceremony. I hope one day to be able to sail with her!

54 meters of mast!

Al Jazeera covers the launch:

Broek in Waterland

Kayaking in Broek in Waterland, a set on Flickr.

Back in July we went kayaking/canoeing with a couple friends in Broek in Waterland (Pants in Water Country). It’s about 12km north of Amsterdam.

Ice from the North Pole

The Greenpeace’s icebreaker vessel, Arctic Sunrise, recently returned from a trip to the Arctic with scientists from the University of Cambridge’s Polar Ocean Physics Group who conducted research into the thickness and volume of the sea ice.

Some of this research included taking samples of ice that formed tens of thousands of years ago from deep beneath the North Pole. They brought some back and Heath and I got a piece. Check it out!

So what do you do with a big chunk of ice from the Arctic?

Make cocktails of course!

Het Scheepvaartmuseum

Excited about the re-opening!

The glass roof of the inner courtyard. The self-supporting structure measures 34 by 34 metres and weighs 200,000 kg. The roof was designed by Luxembourg native Laurent Ney. His design was inspired by the compass lines on old sea charts. The pieces of glass all have different dimensions. Because the building has sunk somewhat over the years, the inner courtyard is no longer completely symmetrical. There are individually adjustable LED lights at all 868 intersection points of the steel frame.

Middle of the glass roof

History of Navigation Exhibit

Sailors

Stained Glass and Reflection

Masts on the Clipper Stad Amsterdam

At the helm

Molly face

Molly enjoying the warm sunshine while she still can!