A Break In The Weather

Ok then, that's brunch out of the way and as I install myself here at the compi, I hear all kinds of 'chilping' coming from the 'Merel tree' that is just outside the window to my left. It's those little titmice...just hopping from branch to branch and twig to twig and making all kind of musical comments. They are no doubt happy that the weather has relented for a time.
The sky is slate-gray, although the sun is shining hard, and one gets the feeling of impending drama. I guess it's the big snow storm that is on it's way this evening.

Often in the spring and in the fall when I take off to the gardens I sort of have to time it a bit in-between the rain showers. This year it's more like timing it in-between the snow storms.

Yesterday morning it was sunny and the sky was blue and dotted with big, white puffers. The conditions were perfect for for a visit to the lotties.
There would not be any sumptuous harvest like EJ recently showed, but rather a sort of damage-control mission.

As I wheeled through the front gate of the complex it was they same old sight--a winter wonderland of white everywhere.
I could barely stay up on my bike as I peddled down the paths. I thought how tired of all this snow I was, but the un-escapeable beauty of the scene could not be denied.
As I looked right and left I saw the fences, poles and rooves of the shed covered in a thick blanket of snow looking like those drawn Hallmark cards that look so...'typical', if you know what I mean. All the bushes and tree branches laden with snow, the snow caked on the western side of the trunks and the plots looking like they were covered with a lumpy white duvet. Here and there you see bent and brown dead plants sticking out like some poor drowning souls in a foamy ocean. It was lovely and sad-looking at the same time.
The green hedges that border many plots also had beautiful white iceing over them. It was all picture postcard perfect.

The wind was still and I could feel the sun warming my back as I parked the bike at the end of the path.
The broccoli and leek plots were again covered, with their nets sagging from the weight of the snow. One had split open in the middle.
I could complain, but the good thing was that the pigeons and wood doves had not been in there. I had passed many plots with sprouts and other brassicas that had been eaten clean. All the leafy part was gone, with only the 'nerves' left, looking like fish skeletons. Why people do not take the trouble to protect their crops is beyond me. Oh well.

All the feeders were empty and would require filling, but first the snow had to be shaken off the nets and then stretched tightly. Some of the poles had to be pushed into the ground a little deeper and re-inforced.
Once the feeders were again full and more coconut halves hung up I could sit and watch.
The birds began to trickle in and so did the neighbour man, Willem.

Willem doesn't just trickle in and scan the property and then leave...no he has stories. Willem likes to chat.
The return of the birds was cut short as he went through all the news of the past couple of weeks.
In time he was talked-out and he had a walk-about and then bade farewell.
It may sound like there wasn't much conversation. 'Conversation' implying an exchange of words between at least two people. Willem talks, but doesn't listen well. When he has "gotten rid of his egg", as we say...then he leaves.
That's Willem.

We stayed almost too long there in the stillness of the garden and the cold was beginning to sift through my big coat, so we decided to head home.
My partner suggested a trip to he harbour for a fishie, I agreed and then she said that she'd like to go up onto the Westerdijk and walk to harbour that way. That sounded good to me too.

It wasn't easy getting those bikes up the steps and onto the dike with the snow and ice. As I looked out across the frozen Zuider Zee there were only a few folks there. A couple of men and boys were skating behind big, wide snow shovels to make a skating lane. There were a few others just walking about and and talking and looking.
Looking eastward from atop the Westerdijk-- In the foreground you can see a little pier where some of the skaters launched themselves from. In the distance there, the little group of people and at the end is what we call, "Vissers IJland" (fisher's Island) where nice flats have been built.


A man and boy are scraping a path for skaters to skate on. If you look carefully in the upper right hand corner you can just see a few windmills for electricity in the far distance.


Here I am standing taking it all in...my partner said, like the "Ice Master supervising the cleaning of the ice". Isn't she a card. :-?


Finally there is a lone skater who had come from way across the ice from beyond, Edam...from beyond Volendam even. I saw him when he was no bigger than a spek on the horizon. That guy was not good between the ears, skating so far out on that ice, and alone. If he should sink through a weak place or fall and break his hip...they could begin carving the granite slab.


We walked with our bikes all along the side of this water and around the corner at the end where there's a small boat harbour. I saw some people walking on the ice around their boats taking pics--something that would never have the chance to do otherwise.
It wasn't the same allover though, there was pure open water around some boats.
You know, some folks just are oblivious to the danger. We have a saying, "An accident sits in a small corner". In english that sounds sort of nonsensical, but it means that an accident can easily happen when it is least expected.

Well, at the end of the small boat harbour was the harbour tower and the fish tent. Just in time too, as I was now hungry and as cold as I don't know what.

My partner went out onto the big pier for a smoke and I ordered the fish.
When it was ready I took it out and we sat on one of the benches and began to carefully dismember the hot fish. The gulls were circlling and the ducks down below began quacking loudly. They were accustomed to being fed apparently.
It was nice looking at the boats there all covered in snow as we ate that lovely fried fish.

I looked up at one point when I heard "Hey! Is there anybody up there"?
I went over to the edge of the pier and looked down. It was a skater and he asked if there was a way to get up onto the pier because he needed to use the toilet.
I showed him how to get there and pointed out two cafe's and the fish tent too.
After about ten minutes he came around the side of the tower and sat with us.

After a bit of conversation, it seemed as if he was the guy that had come across the ice from across the Zuider Zee.
He said that he wasn't worried about that ice being too thin, that he was still strong.
I remember scratching my head when he said that because he looked quite old...but cold weather can make you look that way.
I told him that I didn't think that it was wise, and not considerate of others that might have to come out and rescue him...he just chuckled in a condescending way (as if he knew better), and said that at his age he didn't worry about danger too much.
He wanted to know what we were doing out in the cold. I told him that we had been waiting for a break in the weather to go the lotties to do a few things and were up for some fried fish now.

He liked the fish and asked a few questions about gardening in Nederland. When the he was finished eating, we all three stood up and we walked with him down to the edge of the quay and I gave him a hand as he shuffled off and onto the ice.
My partner and I slipped and slidded with our bikes as we moved away and off down the harbour side street.
I turned and shouted to him as he skated out through the inner harbour's gate--"Where are you from, anyway"?
He answered, "I'm from across the ocean and have been enjoying the benefits of walking for 37 years now...I thought I'd skate while for a change, since that goes a bit quicker".

 

That was a nice walk, Sjoerd but I got so cold I had to go and make a mug of hot tea before I could post a reply. We had cold yesterday for us. It didn't get much above 30F degs. The wind made it feel colder but other than going over to Glenda's to see how Logan was feeling now we didn't go out in it. And, we took the truck even though she doesn't live but across the street, not much more than a city block. I needed Heather's new address so I could send a card to Logan tomorrow.
When is the usual time for you to be able to work in your gardens? Last year I had things growing in a little greenhouse that dr built but this year I haven't planted anything yet. I only have a few herbs that survive the cold and some walking onions.
I hope to be able to plant a garden but will wait for much warmer weather.
dooley

 

What a lovely day you and your gal had! And what a great surprise at the end!!! I had a good laugh!

Your descriptions were all so vivid I felt like I was watching from a little distance, close enough to enjoy it all and still stay warm. Boy, do I like the sound of sitting in the warm sun with a plate of hot fish... The skating sure looked fun.

 

Oh, your stories are lovely and I feel like I get to meet the characters in person. I do hope you are keeping a journal of them for yourself also. They are such beautiful pictures of a world far from my own.

I could feel the cold, skittering away with the bikes and viewing the ice covered harbor with its skaters. I really enjoyed the fried fish :-D to warm my insides after such a cold romp.

 

what wonderful events sjoerd! i enjoyed them all, even Willem and his egg!

the harbor pics are beautiful! love the ones of the skaters, the windmills, the pier, and even you!

and, oh, the nice hot fish on a chilly day. wow, you two have so much fun! what is the fish tent? and what are you doing with all OUR snow???!

 

Thanks so much, DOOLEY--I am sorry you got cold reading it...but a mug of hot tea is pretty good anytime, eh?
I can imagine your reluctance to get out in that cold.
It's so nice of you to send a card to Glenda's grandson. I hope that boy will improve without any hiccoughs.
I can usually be doing something in the gardens by now, whether it's weeding or pruning or turning the compost...even harvesting something.
I hope that you will be able to get started with planting soon.

Thanks TONI. I'm afraid that these long-winded accounts are the product of a guy with too much free time on his hands.
I had a lot ofthings to do today, but one of them was planting the broadbeans. Yahoo!...The season has begun.
I'm not sure that CK's grandpa was heading back home just yet. I got the impression that he had a few more miles to do first.

Thank you, DAISY--it WAS a good day, there's nothing like getting a nose-full of fresh air. It's better than staying indoors all day long.
I am glad that you liked the posting this time. That fish was good, and eating it leisurely in our little harbour at the foot of the tower is always so nice.

JEWELL--I am as pleased as punch that you like the postings. I am not saving them though. I guess that I see them as too ordinary. I do see that your perception of the postings would be different than mine; but honestly, I do not find them worth saving.
I'm glad you liked that fried fish too!

Thank you, BUNKIE--Old Willem is really quite a character.
I am glad that you liked the pics, It was quite cold there on the dike. There is almost always a very stiff wind off the water and whips over the dike and cuts right down through the alleys and into the centrum of the old town. It works sort of like a wind tunnel there.
....ah, "the fish tent".--I sometimes write dutch with english words. In dutch, I would have said, "een vistent". We use the term "tent" in a colloquial way to refer to a place, Such as an "eating tent" would refer to a restaurant...or a pancake tent would be a small restaurant where one could buy pancakes. It's difficult for me to explain clearly.
Anyway Bunkie, the fish tent that I referred to in the harbour is a small wooden place with glass windows that sells fish. There are four tables to sit down and eat inside and a broad menu.
As for the snow...I plead ignorance and innocence. It's just here...and it is no longer welcome. Hahaha. It is free to return at any time.

Ahhhh... Nice, EILEEN. I thought I felt a presence....especially at the little fish restaurant.
My fingers are crossed for the "lone skater" as well.

 

I enjoyed your trip and I also thought of CK,s Grandpa. I like the way you explain things to us, it makes me feel like I really learn from your post.wannabe

 

I enjoyed your posting. Whenever I read your accounts of your trips to the lottie I visualize all the garden plots with their quaint little garden sheds that we passed on our way from Amsterdam to the Hague. That was April...36 years ago but it is a memory triggered by your posts. How far are the lotties from your home and how far is it to the harbor? The photos of the harbor area looked beautiful and peaceful. Thanks for sharing.

 

Mmm. That was a very nice day out, thanks for bringing me. I can't believe all that water is frozen, but then there are lots of unbelievable things in Holland.

Maybe you'll get your eleventowns race this year, who knows?

 

Thank you so much, WANNABE.I am tickled pink that you liked the posting.
I enjoy reading the diverse postings on here as well because it is always so interesting to learn about the ways and customs of others. european and north american culturs may be 'western cultures', but there are still big differences...and for me it's interesting to learn.

GFREIHERR--it is so nice that you liked the posting ...and interestring that you have seen some of out 'volkstuinen'. I assume that you were taking the train from Amsterdam to Den Haag. Is that right? Lotties, or volkstuinen, as we call them, are typically situated alongside rail lines. Mine is too.
Annnnnd you saw them thirty-six years ago---why, I wasn't even born then!
You asked how far the lotties are from my home: well, kilometer-wise, I do not know; however, it takes me about tem minutes to bike out there.
I reckon that it is about the same distance from the lottie to the harbour, although the biking time is determined by my luck with the traffic lights underway.
I just want to say that the foto's of the ice were not the harbour--it is of a small bay-like (called 'Hoornsche Hop')area just outside the harbours area. You can see it on a google map.
If you look on the first foto you can see houses on what looks like a spit of land there in the distance. If one goes to that area, then turns left then they will come into the harbour area with the tower.

DROOPY--You are welcome for coming along. That water looks quite a bit different now with ice on it, doesn't it?
Everyone here is hoping for the Elfstedentocht (Âlvestêdetocht, in Friesian); however, I have a feeling that it will not be happening again this year....but hope springs eternal, as they say.
I have been rubbing my button from the last one and making a wish in hopes of some sort of magical intervention.

 

Yes Sjoerd we were traveling by train. We had our Eurail pass & our Arthur Fromers book...Europe on $10 a day. We started out visiting my grandparents family in Norway, then traveled by train to Denmark, Sweden, Amsterdam, Germany. We spent two weeks, traveling the rails and staying in hostels. Even back then we never found a place for $10... most hostels were about $20 with a bathroom down the hall. It was great adventure.

 

Thank you for sharing your wonderful day...and those great pictures.

We have people die all the time on the ice...we just had 2 snowmobilers go through at night and they didn't find them until the next day, under water. Then right after that some large dump trucks were dumping stone for a nursery place where they worked and one went through and the driver drowned when the truck went in the water.

Our water conditions have been unpredictable but people just don't check out the currents and check with the ice fishing clubs on where not to go. This happens every year. People think, it will not happen to them.

We used to go ice fishing many years ago but my husband has given that up...the fish were so good but as we get older and health problems arise, your things to do change.