Utrecht and Wijk bij Duurstede

Today is Queen's Day in Netherlands.  So we had to leave Amsterdam early in the morning.  I guess the police wanted the harbor clear for saftey reasons.  So we sailed here to Utrecht.  The morning tour is of Keukenhof Gardens.  Since we were here just a week ago, we decided not to go on the tour.  We only stay here in Utrecht until 10:15am so we have to be quick if we get off the ship.  The stop is Wijk bij Duurstede is really to pick up the tour group and then we sail to Germany.

Tony and Sandy are from Hawaii.  She was born in Canada but grew up in Alaska.  Moved to Hawaii 36 years ago.  Tony is second husband.  Not sure what happened to husband number 1.  She was a radiology tech but retired a few years ago.  Tony was CPA.  He still owns a fishing lodge up in Alaska.  It is only open 8 weeks a year.  But great salmon fishing.  Nice folks.  They have been married for 10 years.  Tony has two grown daughters. 

Had breakfast this morning with Martha and Herb from Canada.  This is their first river cruise.  Herb is not a fan of cruising in general.  Second marriage for them too.

We walked the length of the dock for some exercise.  There were six river ships docked here.

The bridges in the Netherlands are quite impressive. 

We left the dock at 10:15am and started sailing to the next stop to pick up the tour people.  Then we sail on to Germany.  They are having a trio entertain us this afternoon.  It is the same group we saw on the last cruise.  We enjoyed them but will see if we listen to them again.  Might just run into our nap.

We docked on the side of the canal and waited for the buses to return from the Garden tour.  Most of the people did go on the tour but there were a few of us who stayed back.  Bob and I went up to the sun deck where I read for a while and Bob did some of his band exercises.

We had lunch in the dining room.  We sat at a table for four but just the two of us were there.  The table was right next to a table for four.  They were Kathy, Sue and Glen all from Canada.  Our table had a bench seat and two chairs.  It is difficult to get to the bench seat so I think that is why no one else sat with us.  Which was fine with us.

After lunch we took our nap and then Bob went up to the sun deck to walk while I worked on the blog here in the cabin.  We dressed for dinner and had a cocktail in the lounge.  Peter and Debbie sat with us so we had dinner with them.  Peter is retired DO and Debbie much younger than him.  Orginially from Chicago but now live in Florida.  Have 7 children between them.  Peter had 5 and they have 2 together.  We learned more about them than we needed.  They have been married for 34 years so I guess it took.  He is 76 and she is 57. 

Bob has not been impressed with the food.  I think it is fine.  We headed back to the cabin to read and lights out.