Excrement Occurs--Often

 Waiting for the lock bridge in Groningen

 The very large barge we all were waiting for.  We didn't have such big company when we were in the lock

I would like to speak to whomever is in charge because I have a few complaints.....

Thursday morning.
My camera won‘t work, the toilet is leaking, this morning the frost is so heavy on the grass and the top of the boat that it looks like it snowed overnight.  On Yogi’s morning walk I wore every piece of outer clothing I brought with me and I was still cold.  There is so much fog on the canal that you would run into any boat that’s out there, not to mention hitting the banks of the canal which you can't see until you are on top of them.  There is no frigging way I will ever be in Holland again before May first.

Thursday afternoon:
Oh, I was complaining about nothing.  On our way down the canal, fortunately, near a boat yard and “jacht-haven”, the engine lost oil pressure.  We put in to the marina, found a diesel mechanic who is probably the busiest in town, but who doesn’t have a clue as to what is wrong with the engine.  Our oil is right up where it is supposed to be, and is clean, clean, clean!   I am very nervous; it occurred to me that maybe our old Ford truck has been reincarnated.  Will we be throwing good money after bad for all the time we own this boat?  The mechanic seems to be as competent as the one we had France when Chapter III’s engine died. Tomorrow will tell….maybe.

There is an old adage that says:  When traveling, take half as many clothes and twice as much money as you  think you need.  Whoops!  Now with this engine problem, well, I wonder what value our mechanic would put on a really stunning purple and cream shirt?

We have landed in Burgum, a very nice little town, upscale, clean, well organized, with great shopping and a wonderful kringloop (the second-hand store).  An awful grocery store though, with short, crowded isles, nonsensical organization, and a certain young man, lookin’ like a fool with his pants too low, who, while showing off for his girlfriend kept getting in my way!

 This adorable house is more charming in person than in my picture,
  and is typical of the houses in Burgum

This the first country we’ve been in where chicken is one of the most expensive meats in the store.   Even in Mexico, chicken is cheap.  Here in the Netherlands, at $2.33 a pound, kip (as the Dutch like to call it) is food for kings, not peasants. 

I like the Dutch and their attitude toward each other.  Many of their gestures, inflections, and just their way of being, reminds me of Americans except the Dutch seem better natured.  They are more ready to laugh with each other than we are.  Not that I understand a thing that’s being said but from all the smiles it must be pleasant.
 
We are in a marina/campground with a few campers and lots of boats.  Fortunately, everyone is extremely friendly, speaks English, loves dogs and has too much advise about what should be done about our engine.  We have been in American campgrounds where no one at all spoke to us.   We do like this better.

There is a tile hanging up in our itzy-bitzy boat bathroom which says “Laat hier uw hoop maar varen!”  Our dictionary translates that as “late here your heap but sail”…..okaaaay, we will?