7th September 2023 – While In Bruges I spotted the tug Willem again.
6th September 2023 – I got up at 5 o’clock in the morning, so we could get an early start cleaning the boat and doing some painting. At 11 o’clock we had to stop, to start again in the late evening. It is way to warm to working during the regular hours.
I also had a visit from the current owner of the Watergeus. We talked about removing paint and how intense this is…
While waiting in the afternoon, I continued scanning postcards and photographs. I didn’t want to have a wasted day…
5th September 2023 – I got some paint today and continued sanding down parts of the back accommodation. There is still a lot that needs doing…
4th September 2023 – Just spent a whole day sanding down parts of Tordino.
In the evening we had a meeting a the shipyard for dry-docking Tordino.
2nd September 2023 – The plan is to remove damaged and old paint. I did quite a distance today, but I’m not so happy about the result. It is way to much work to remove all the layers, but what layer is still fine?
1st September 2023 – I did some shopping for the paint work I’m planning next week. In the late afternoon I mounted the name sign I got earlier this week and changed the corner where we sell some books.
The rest of the evening was spent scanning old photographs and postcards. It is raining to much to do anything else.
30th August 2023 – I didn’t know what to expect from someone selling decoration from fishermen. Behind some items, I noticed a wooden plank, a name sign of a spits barge. I made an offer and now it is in Tordino, part of our collection!
26th August 2023 – We made a small walk in the harbour of Ostend. Took a few shots of the remaining fishing fleet….
26th August 2023 – I unloaded the insulation and some tools. I don’t have to much space to work, so I will only bring what I need at the time I need it.
Sanding down the car crane. The crane is aboard since the 90’s. By removing the paint, I could find back the white colour and the several types of yellow before I put a coat of red primer onto it a couple of years ago. Now it was dark brown, but we are bringing it back to bare metal so I can put 2component paint on it.
Sadly enough the weather was unreliable and we had to stop early.
The rest of the day was spent guiding visitors and scanning photos.
26th August 2023 – I was just to late to have a clean shot of the barge Neophyte
24th August 2023 – There was a big pontoon with a pusher heading our way. It was the pusher M&M.
23rd August 2023 – A spits barge I haven’t seen around here, the VIOS. It was heading to Nieuwpoort.
23rd August 2023 – Just got some insulation today for the extension of the Library. It is not enough, but I had no more room in the van. I will at least be able to alreaady insulate one of the four walls.
In the evening I continued scanning photos for the Library.
22nd August 2023 – The Stern is back alongside Tordino.
20th August 2023 – The Terra Nova serves as an example to me. It is a perfect maintained ship with a nice set of colours. I used it for the Watergeus, Stern and Tordino. It are typical inland barge colours used in the Netherlands.