Category: Daily Life around the water

Scrapyard visit

11th October 2022 – I managed to visit the scrapyard in Antwerp through the help of a friend. I ended up with some paperwork and a nice ‘spoelbak’, a metal box to do the dishes outside.

(c) F. Janssens
(c) F. Janssens
(c) F. Janssens

Afterward, we went to his place where he gave me many documents and a nice model of an otter for the museum.

An icon leaving Ostend

11th August 2022 – Since I was a child, I’ve always known this ship to be in the port of Ostend. They towed it away and it will be taken out of the water in the next couple of days. I don’t know if many people will notice the ship is gone.  It is believed to be an old Mickey, an English minesweeper from during the second World War.

Big Jump

10th July 2022 – Today we had the big jump in Plassendale. People jumping in the water to make a statement it should be cleaner.  I was aboard the vlet Djoey as standby in case something would go wrong.

Oostende voor Anker 2022

20th May 2022 – Together with my girlfriend, we visited Oostende voor Anker, in the morning we did the barges and little boats. It was raining heavily.

In the evening we made a boat trip. Nice weather, a little breeze and a lot of sun! I must admit that the barges were looking better on the canal then docked alongside each other…. 

Nautical event in Gorinchem

17th May 2022 – There was a big nautical event in Gorinchem. It is a fair with all the big companies from Holland and some Belgium companies. It was nice to meet some people again, have a drink and a meal!

The previous owner of Tordino was there and he gave some old navigation lights, flags and an anchor!

 

Watergeus – A story that ends today

13th May 2022 – Tomorrow I will deliver the keys to the new owners. I closed down the website watergeus.be and the Facebook page of Watergeus. The website Living Afloat which was intentionally built for people to follow the conversion of the Watergeus will remain online. I’m not leaving the water, still having the Stern and Tordino and living along the water in a canal house… 

I will continue to help people with tips and tricks to live on a barge. And who knows, maybe one day I might just buy another one. All my tools are in storage, not thrown away! 

For the followers of my blog, not much will change. I hope to start soon on finishing the Stern and in the meantime, you can follow the life on the canal and the museum aboard Tordino. 

where it all started in December 2005