Marken to Hoorn 12 nm force 3 to 4. 40 deg to apparent wind in the sunshine, a great 2 hour sail. We arrived mid afternoon and decided we would anchor in the outer harbour rather than go into one of the marinas, we took the dinghy ashore and had a walk round, as it was Sunday there was lots going on,Beach volleyball in the town square, music on most street corners. We identified a good bar for later as our newly adopted football team were playing Mexico at 1800. After some food and a shower we went back to the bar to watch the match, unfortunately it was like watching England again, one goal down by half time and looking like going out, then a goal in the 88 min the whole town went crazy, extra time looming Robbin went down easy in area in the 94th min a penalty was given, there was then a crazy period, the Dutch could hardly believe it, some were unable to watch, others shouting, willing on the player to score. He did with no time for the Mexicans to come back. So in the end not like watching England at all. Our next Country is going to be Germany, so very pleased that the Dutch are still in. Now way could we support the Germans!!!
A lovely town, a great anchorage, and a steam train so we were unable to leave. We will go tomorrow after three nights, must keep moving on ! All too easy to stay.
Today we walked across town and took the steam train to Medemblik and back, this took most of the day. The driver told me that in 1957 the Dutch scrapped all there old trains, they were the 1st country to do so. This was before steam preservation, so by the time they wanted to preserve something it was all gone. He was quite sad about it and could not understand why we came from the uk to see steam in Holland as we have the best anywhere in the world. They have a few Dutch engines now, one found in a children's park some others in old soviet block country's and our one today was stolen by the Germans in the war, they found it and had to buy it back, then restore it. It is the only one still surviving with this type of Dutch valve gear no eccentric.