Postcard from Vlieland

It has been worth sitting through some gales to have the days in between when we could enjoy the little island of Vlieland. Virtually no traffic, cycle paths and footpaths through idyllic woodland and across dunes, a picturesque village. the best baker's shop ever – it has been heaven. 

I was excited to find this orchid ...

... then later saw all these!

The two days of gales have been spent doing chores on the boat, battling our way to the village and taking our turn to be the rotten yachtsmen watching others struggle to get their boats safely into the harbour.

These large sailing barges are waiting for their turn to try an entry to the harbour

We struggled into this harbour in much the same way, except that our boat is somewhat smaller, but both the wind and the tide were tearing across the entrance, making the approach extremely difficult. It was also quite intimidating to have a small crowd on the harbour entrance just waiting for you to make a mistake – the boat in this picture got safely through but at least four similar ones didn't and they gave the piling on the side of the harbour a pretty brutal crunch.

This one is about to take his turn

Somehow all of this lot managed to get in and moored up sheltering from the gale. Some Greek harbours are called “mandraki” which means sheepfold – looking at this picture you can see why!

We think there were sixteen or so in the end!

We went to a baroque music concert in the church - complete change of  activity

Tomorrow we are back out into the Waddenzee, heading to the ancient seaport of Harlingen.  Somehow I think we may be coming back to visit Vlieland another year.  We have both loved it here.