We left Dordrecht 10 days ago on a cool, rainy day and headed south into a light adverse tidal current.  We had to cross the Hollands Diep where the major rivers meet to exit into the North Sea through Zeeland. There was a lot of big commercial traffic and open water to cross, but all went well and in less than 3 hours we were in Willemstad, a small, exquisite fortified town dating from the sixteenth century. The next day we were joined by our friends Dick and Emmy who were on their way back home from a trip to Zeeland. From Willemstad we had a long day down to Antwerp.  There are huge locks that the big ships use to get to the river Schelde and out to the North Sea; fortunately there is a smaller lock for pleasure boats. It was a foggy day and visibility was very poor, but again we found our way with no problems into the canal that leads parallel to the Schelde down to Antwerp.  This canal had no ships but it did have a lot of heavy barge traffic and the scenery was rather dull.  We had to go through the whole port of Antwerp, the second largest port after Rotterdam. We saw lots of really big ships but, again, no problems. So, after nine hours, we arrived at Willemdok, the big new marina in Antwerp.

We have really enjoyed all the time we have spent in Holland, but it is nice to be in Belgium now. The language in this part is Flemish, which is really Dutch spoken a little more softly and without the guttural "g". Antwerp has its own colloquial version of Flemish and everyone we have met speaks German, English and French fluently. Belgium is famous for its chocolate and beer. We have started our research project into both, a tough assignment which we are taking seriously.  It is also known for linen and lace, which is Patricia's department of course.

 Antwerp was founded in the sixth century and came to prominence in the tenth century and again in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. At one time Paris and Antwerp were the only cities in Europe with populations greater than 100,000. It was a city that was home to great artists like Reubens, Van Dyke and others.  Their homes are now museums and the Royal Museum has many of their works. I (Colin) have enjoyed all of this even though art is really Patricia’s domain; I have been known to express more interest in a Rueben sandwich than in Rueben’s art, except for his portrayal of buxom ladies.  The gothic cathedral has a baroque interior and it the largest in the Low Countries. It does contain some magnificent paintings.

Some of you may wonder how Americans are treated here.  We have never run into any animosity at all and everyone we have come in contact with has been very friendly and helpful. We have met only one other American on a boat and he is an ex-pat, married to a Dutch lady. This past weekend was the 60^th anniversary of D-Day and there were celebrations in Europe, notably in France where the landings took place.  This week we were in the main shopping street in Antwerp; we were stopped by a lady who asked us if we were American.  She then told us how thankful she was to America and Americans for saving Europe from the Nazis.  She said she was twelve years old and her father was in a concentration camp when Antwerp was liberated. Today the lady in the photo printing shop told Patricia that, next time we were in Antwerp, she would take a day off to show us the city.

We leave at 6:00 am tomorrow at the first bridge openings to get to the locks which connect with the river Schelde.  Then we will enter the river at low tide and ride the 5 meter tide to Gent. It is 90 km, so we will have to stop somewhere along the way.  From Gent we will visit Brugge and then head south and then east.  We expect to enter France in the beginning of August, probably traveling down the river Meuse.

That's all for now,

Colin and Patricia.