Day 1- Kinderdyjk

After sailing overnight we ported at Kinderdyjk at 7 AM. Kinderdyjk is a UNESCO site preserving 19 of the remaining windmills left in the Netherlands. There are currently only 1000 remaining of the original 10,000.

We will be sailing all afternoon to Cologne for the first of the markets.

The sun has come out and it is about 50 degrees, not what you would expect for the North Sea.

We have arrived

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After a very smooth overnight flight from Pittsburgh, we are now in Amsterdam. Our flight was great, very smooth and no screaming kids.

The Viking Helvetia will be our home for the next week, the ship is approx 340 feet long and 35 feet wide. She has three decks, we are on the top, and she carries about 150 passengers and 60 crew.

The weather in Amsterdan is partly sunny with a temp of about 38. It is not to bad until the wind starts to blow then you realize how cold it is.

It is now time for lunch, so bye for now.

FINALLY, it's time

After months of planning and anticipation, we are off today. Our flight this afternoon will get us to Amsterdam at 9:20 tomorrow morning, that's 2:20 AM Eastern time.

Greg and Lynn are already in Amsterdam and will meet us at the ship. Todays report from them is nice weather, clear but chilly. At least the rain has abted for awhile, but I am sure we will see some while we are there, if not some snow.

We will try to make a post daily, but they may come a couple at a time due to the ships access to satallite based internet access while cruising. We have learned, look for a Micky D's they always have wifi.

Good News

Mother nature has cooperated, In the update from Viking this morning it stated DUE TO RECENT RAIN THERE WILL BE NO INTERRUPTIONS TO OUR CRUISE. Not only does that make up happy, but I am sure all the bargemen who lively hood depends on the river are thankful to go back to normal loads also.

The adventure starts Sat for us and our friends are leaving this evening for a couple extra days in Amsterdam. I think they really just want to smell the air coming out of the coffee houses. We will meet up with them on the ship Sunday.

Latest update

In the latest letter from Viking, they are saying that due to the rain in Germany this week there may be only minor or no alterations to the tour schedule.

We have been watching a few web sites that report the river levels and those show a considerable rise in the water level in the last couple days.

The rain is continueing, so we are hoping all will be back to normal by the time we join the ship.

Another update

In the latest letter from Viking, they are saying that due to the rain in Germany this week it there may be only minor or no alterations to the tour schedule.

We have been watching a few web sites that report the river levels and those show a considerable rise in the water level in the last couple days.

The rain is continueing, so we are hoping all will be back to normal.

One More Week, Still Low Water

By this time next week we will be on our way to Amsterdam.

Our friends are leaving on Thursday, so they can get in and rest up for

the adventure. I guess they plan on being worn out from so much shopping.

 

The Rhine is still low, as noted in previous posts, however is is now raining in Germany.

It will take a lot of rain to bring the river back up in a week, but we can still hope.

If the water is still low we will make the best of it and just drink more gluwein to make up for the

inconvience.

 

The suitcase is about ready, it is ever harder  to figure what to take since rain is forcast and we will

be spending some of the nights in a hotel, that lessens the chance of being able to get things laundered. On the ship you can drop them in the AM and they are usually back in your room before you are.

 

Stay tunes, the posts start next weekend, unless Greg puts something up Thursday or Friday.