Ieper to Veurne via Diksmuide

Friday 22 May 2015

Ieper to Veurne via Diksmuide - 50.1kms

Somewhat of a sad day as it will be our last journey with Ian and Sian until hopefully we meet in France toward the end of the year; tomorrow we plan to travel to France but as Ian’s ICC took so long to get to his friends’ in England that they did not have the opportunity to get it to him so that he could cross into France with us – and there is also the issue of the €45 cost for a one month French vignette; I suppose they could have opted for a 3 day one at €26 but that is hardly worth it.The lock- and bridgekeepers between Ieper and Knokkebrug must be the friendliest in Europe! Anton, the lockkeeper at the Ieper lock spoke excellent English and gave us the name of two restaurants in Veurne, especially recommending Hof van den Hemel, where we could have our farewell dinner. The bridgekeeper at Knokkebrug, although arriving late from Finkele where he is the lockkeeper, was profusely apologetic and said if, on our return from Diksmuide, we could call him two kilometers from the bridge, he would make sure he was there on time.

Fine specimen on Izer Ieper Canal

The reason for our return to Diksmuide was that we only had a quarter tank of diesel left and I estimated that that would take us about 150 kms whereas we were planning to do just over 200 on our jaunt to France and back to Diksmuide – and we really didn’t feel like going the jerry can/filling station route if there was an easier option. When we arrived at Portus Diksmuide we were cheerfully greeted by Willy who had a ‘trainee’ waiting at the pump where we put in €500 diesel (387.6 litres at €1.29 per litre) and rapidly headed back through the Knokkebrug where, sure enough, our bridgekeeper was waiting and had the bridge open for our passage, and then on to Fintelesluis where Njord was waiting for us. The same man guided us through the next two locks

Fintelesluis where we met up with Njord

Our chatty lockkeeper

and we were then in Veurne at the scruffy looking marina with not a soul in sight to tell us where to moor. But there were some very pretty ducks...

Nieuwpoortsluis as you enter the Veurne marina.

Our mooring

Veurne is a pretty little town with the usual Stadshuis/Church/shops/restaurant sided square, undamaged during WWI as the town was behind the Allies lines. 

Our meal that evening at Hof van der Hemel, the second oldest house in Veurne as our hostess proudly informed us, was pretty good with Lynn saying she had died and gone to bouillabaisse heaven. And then it was off to bed…

Interior of Hof van der Hemel

Now you see it...

...and now you don't!