I have now done several presentations of MOKUM OVER THE OCEAN at church groups, rotary clubs, yacht club venues. I know Pieter has done the same. If you are interested in having one of us come and show our fabulous photos/videos, you are welcome to invite us.

martin

A few pictures which represent the mood of this crossing....

If you are ever invited to join a crossing crew: Try it, you might like it. It isn't necessarily one long party, but it's pretty much guaranteed to be interesting.
There is a truly mind-boggling amount of water between landfalls, which has the effect of putting this planet into some perspective.
It was a rich experience, and we had the greatest time.
Thanks to the skipper, and fellow crew.
For more pictures of the crossing, please visit:http://www.flickr.com/photos/metrikstudio/

Pictures of Amsterdam Arrival

Martin and I arrived home from Amsterdam today - here is the first installment of our photos!


Mokum arriving in the Amsterdam Harbour


The successful crew after arriving


Together at last!

Mary Shelley

Mokum - Withdrawal

Since I seem to be suffering from blog writing withdrawal I will fill you in on what is happening with MOKUM and crew here in Holland.
David Meijer is, as you know, safe and sound with wife Amanda and their children back in Canada.
Martin and Mary are lodging with friends in Wassenaar, near The Hague but spent yesterday being shown around Woudrichem, Loevestein and Heusden by Bas - JP's sister, Yolanda's, companion.
Jan Pieter, Erik and Rob (JP's other sister's husband)spent yesterday unloading the boat and motoring her over to a safer mooring in the harbour. The family here now has a year's supply of Kraft dinner and enough canned fish / tuna, oysters, mussels / to sink a ship!...here come the pun police again.
Erik is meeting Julie at the airport as we speak and Jan Pieter is off to the sail maker with the spinnaker for repairs.
This weekend MOKUM will make her way to Hoorn where Elmer lives and then on to Den Oever via the IJsselmeer (pron. "I sell" Lake).
A big Thank You to everyone who has posted comments of encouragement and congratulations to Mokum and her crew. Your input throughout the adventure was a great support not only to them but also to us, the "women behind the scenes",
Thank You from
Amanda, Julie, Mary and Lesley

It was a wonderful sight. As Mokum sped up the coast Jan Pieter's sisters Yolanda and Florinde and her husband Rob and I parked the car and raced along the beach towards the pier in Ijmuiden madly waving both Dutch and Canadian flags that are bigger than we are. We made it just in time to see them round the pier and enter the mouth of the canal. They pulled in to the yacht harbour at Ijmuiden where we were welcomed aboard.
Bas got off there and he and Yolanda drove back to Amsterdam and Florinde, Rob and I joined the crew of Mokum for the final sail down the canal into Amsterdam. We first had to go through a lock and then had a great sail - until the edge of the spinnaker caught on one of the the spreaders making a nasty tear...but seeing as this is the only damage that they have experienced during their voyage they are not complaining. I forgot to mention that just after coming through the lock we received a call from Elmer who was waving us in from the other side of the canal standing on the bridge of a large bulk container ship that he was inspecting.
As we sailed in to Amsterdam we could see Mary Shelley waving to us from behind Central station! Wonderful for Martin and Mary to be reunited! Mary was brought to Amsterdam by Frank and Marjan who are the parents of Frank (jr.)a Rotary exchange student that Martin and Mary hosted years ago. Franks jr. and his wife just welcomed the arrival of their 2nd baby only days ago.
Within half an hour another well wisher joined the group - Dennis - a cousin of crew member David Meijer.
Last night Yolanda and Bas arranged a wonderful celebration dinner for the crew family and friends of Mokum...photos of last night will follow shortly. David is flying home today for his youngest son's first birthday! Erik is awaiting Julie's arrival on Thursday....I will try to get them to post their pictures of the trip asap. I know how eager everyone is to see them.
Weather here is very warm and sunny.

mokum OVERED theocean

at 13:30 (local time)(7:30 Canadian (1&1/2 earlier in Nfld.) Mokum docked in AMSTERDAM! We were greeted by Mary with our friends, Frank and Marja Basters, as well as by Bas, Jan Pieter's brother-in-law. You may find this somewhat confusing, but we had yet one more crew change at 8:30 in the morning in Imeuden where we were greeted by Lesley, Florinda, Yolanda (Jan Pieter's sisters) and Rob (brother-in-law) (three of whom climbed on board for the final cruise down the canal to Amsterdam) Yolanda had to return to work for the morning and Bas disembarked to leave with her (so he was able to "greet" us in AMSTERDAM).

It has been the "ride of a lifetime" for me. Some very anxious times but so many wonderful memories (photos soon to come to the blog). Thank you to Jan Pieter for allowing me to share this amazing experience!

Martin

Monday 01:00 in Ontario 07:00 in Amsterdam

We just received "the call" that MOKUM is of the coast of Ijmuiden near Zandvoort and will stop at Ijmuiden and enter the North Sea Canal leaving salt water behind.
It will then take a couple of hours to traverse the canal and arrive somewhere in Amsterdam....Mokum. We have to hurry to try and see them off the coast...almost there...