Nieuwpoort to Knokkebrug

Sunday 7 June 2015

Having said last goodbyes to Ian and Sian who happily had been offered a lift to Ostend by Willy to catch their train to (eventually) Schiphol, we set off through the large Sint Jorissluis, down the Izer River, past Diksmuide and after 25 kilometres of warm, sunny cruising with whatever wind there was just following us, we reached the intersection of the Izer River and the Izer Ieper canal. And De Knokke pub,

De Knokke pub from Knokkebrug.

only open on weekends and the watering place of Dominique and Ian’s other, latterly made, new crowd of friends.

Trouble! Dominique (with pony tail) and friends. Nice people.

Swopping beers and chat I think we were lucky to escape back to Elle for a delicious late lunchtime braai of the ‘hamburger patties’ and sausage bought in Veurne.

Later that evening and just before the weekend closing time of 19h00 we popped back to De Knokke for a sundowner, to be greeted once again by Dominique, now in full flow – I don’t know whether it was a mistake or not but we turned down his offer to join he and some friends for dinner at a nearby restaurant...

Nice place De Knokke and the owners Chris and Bruneel (I think) have week jobs too – I don’t know how they manage!

Back to our tenuous mooring against the canal wall with our stern firmly embedded in the mud but sticking out into the waterway, it was cheese and pate for supper and off to sleep.

Knokkebrug mooring - Elle far right..

As close as I could get before getting stuck in the mud.