Testing Live Writer

Because we have no permanent internet connection I am now using MS Live Writer to create the blog offline then upload it to blogger when connection permits.

Font size.  In blogger I simply use normal here I have been using 11.5 as it is the default, but from time to time this seems to change on upload as too does some of the justification and some of the links break and the spaces between the photos sometimes gets lost.  Most of this I have corrected when I spot it in blogger once I’ve uploaded of course.

This is a test sentence in 11.5

This is a test sentence in 12

This is a test sentence in 14

This is a test sentence in 18

If there’s any of my blog readers that use Live Writer I would be glad of some tips.  For example there seems to be no way of saving preferred font size or colour.

 

Ypres To St. Jacobskapelle

2 locks, 1 lift bridge,  12 miles 5¼ hours

We all had good intentions of getting of to an early start.  The canal people had other ideas.  The lock Sluis Boezinge Sas was closed for maintenance until 1pm.  MR needed water after Jill did a marathon wash session so they left first for the lock Sluis Boezinge Dorp to take on water.  We arrived about ½ later and after they filled with water we set off down the 2 locks and were the first boats through the repaired lock.

Once through the next landmark is this area.

Steenstrate (Stone Street) was the location that the first ever act chemical warfare was waged by the Germans on the Allied forces with Chlorine gas.

A bit further along the way we encountered a group of youngsters in canoes and electric powered boats.

This house has its own private cable ferry

Once at the head of the Leper-Ijzer canal we turned right and waited for our lockie to arrive ion his little yellow van to open the bridge.

Once through MR took the lead to find a suitable wild mooring for the night. They have much more experience than us having lived and continuously cruised on their boat for 6 years.

This is where we are this evening.

This delightful cottage is our neighbour for the night.

Ypres

What an interesting few days we have had at Ypres.  Wikipedia can tell the history better than I can.  But it’s fair to say its been a key city in battles for best part of 1000 years. It’s hard to believe that in the last 2 wars the city was virtually leveled when you look at the buildings which have been rebuilt as near to original as possible.
Some of these photos are from Jill’s camera and more can be seen on her blog Contented Souls.

On Monday Deb, Jill and me went to the In Flanders Field Museum. A very informative couple of house spent there.  On the way in you are asked to log in with your family name.  At the end I found out that 87 people with my surname died in the 1st world war.  Whilst in the museum I went up the bell tower to get a better view of the city and surrounding area.

The real highlight of the city visit was the Menin Gate.  At 8pm ever night there is a ceremony where the Last Post is bugled.  We went on the Saturday evening and despite it raining a crowd of about 2000 were present. 

We couldn’t get close despite getting there 20 minutes beforehand. It was very moving.  The crowd prior to the start announcement was quite a loud hubbub but as soon as the first note was played the place instantly fell silent.
The monument is very impressive.  On every wall there are 1000’s of names. All missing with no know grave.

Seen from the tower

It might seem corny but as the last post was being performed the rain stopped and the sun came out and a rainbow appeared ending on the monument.

Afterwards we went into one of the many lovely bars / cafe’s for a beer and Deb noshed a Crepe instead of a second pint.

Could the beautiful city, or the emotion of the last post but seems love was in the air that nigh

Or was it the beer?  We will never know.

11Km to Ypres

2 locks,  6.8 miles 3.5 hours

We kicked off from our wild mooring after a couple of peaceful days and nights.  It wasn’t long before we encountered our first lock.  MR radioed ahead but when we got there the lock was still closed.

Sluis Boezinge Sas 40.8m x 5.1m


About 3m rise

 

On the way to this lock a Terrapin was spotted on a branch.

Not something you see everyday!

About 40minutes later with MR in front we reached the next lock.

 

 

 

Slius Boezinge-Dorp. Same dimensions

 

The lockie here lowered a hook and attached our ropes to the bollards saving us a climb up a slippery ladder. Once we had locked up we both took on water which took an hour or so. During this time the lockie gave us another in depth history lesson and he gave the girls a posy of Lilac flowers from the tree in the lock cottage garden.

Leaving the lock was not that pretty as this was the industrial outskirts of Ypres much like any other town.

Looking back leaving the lock

 

Once we arrived at Ypres Harbour we decided to turn around and wild moor a few hundred meters back.  This was fine for the night but in the morning we had young men with strimmers clearing the bank.  I asked why and they said there was a canoe volleyball match Sunday and that we had moored on their pitch. 

There and I thought the nicely spaced yellow poles in the water were to show the deep edge.  They were very polite and asked us to move for the day, so on

This is them playing on Sunday

So on Saturday afternoon we decamped to the town mooring and brokered a deal for 30 euro for the 2 of us for the night. We will move back Sunday evening.