Calm Rivers Under Busy Skies

Tuesday started sunny with a gentle breeze blowing. Very much needed to dry Mekicevica and ourselves. After a leisurely start we went for a small tour around Brassenmeer, full sails in the sunshine.
But we wanted to get to Amsterdam by the evening so we could not linger too long. We took the Oude Wetering, mostly sailing, sometimes motoring if the lulls were too prolonged. Here and there the river opens into lakes, a paradise for small sailing boats.

Ahh! Finally some sunshine.

The journey was very relaxing, and even the occasional wait for a bridge to open added to the sense of calm.
Except that this approach to Amsterdam passes right by Schiphol airport, and the noise of airplanes got louder and more frequent as we approached our destination.
Finally we reached the last bridge before Amsterdam, a motorway bridge. As you can imagine, the Dutch waterways authorities are not going to stop the traffic on a six-lane motorway leading the capital for every yacht that approaches, so they gather a large group first.
We were the second boat to arrive (after a yacht that had passed us hours earlier). During the long wait that lasted the rest of the afternoon and evening, the group grew to some twenty boats, ranging from a 50ft yacht to Mekicevica and a Volksboot, that although longer was even more minimalistic. We all waited in front of the bridge, close to the motorway, right by the Schiphol runway. Despite the noisy surroundings, the atmosphere was peaceful. People were reading, dozing, or having diner, and kids were going around playing in the tenders.

The long wait for the motorway bridge by Schiphol airport.

It was after 9pm when the bridge finally opened and the whole flotilla motored the last two miles to Nieuwemeer, last stage before the crossing of Amsterdam.