The rail bridge opening just north of Gouda dictated our departure time, either 0627 or 1027. So it was mid morning when we left, heading north through very picturesque towns and once 3 boats had formed a small convoy we motored through the numerous bridges with virtually no delay. The plan for the day therefore changed with the possible ambition of reaching Central Amsterdam tonight. However, things ground to a temporary 4 hour wait at the Schipol bascule bridge carrying the equivalent of the M25 over it. Opening the bridge during morning and afternoon rush hours just doesn't happen. It eventually opened at 2000 allowing us to travel another 5 miles to the rendezvous point for the start of the midnight convoy through Amsterdam. After another 3 hour wait and an attempt to catch some sleep, at exactly midnight the radio crackled with some unintelligible Dutch and the lights on the Schinkelbrug railway bridge changed from red to red and green…..
