We hear bird song as early as 04:00 but it’s much later than that when we open blinds and let in the sunshine.

It’s such a quiet and lovely spot no one is in a rush to leave so we have a relaxed morning before setting off around 11:30. From the marina we head along narrow dykes with the wetland just below us where sheep graze and huge flocks of barnacle geese sit in rank and file like little armies. Passing through housing estates we notice how neat the gardens are; carefully trimmed box hedges and shrubs, weeded borders and simple flowers.

It turns hazy as we join the A361 takes us north over the flatest land imaginable until on the horizon looms the shadow of another sea barrier and sluices. We stop at the beginning of the barrier just as the Lauwersmeer inland sea starts, have lunch, then continue with water to our right and the high embankment to our left.

Past the Lauwersmeer we head inland over rich arable land and also see plenty of sheep and fresian cows, It’s never far before another waterway or lake comes into view as well as quite a few traditional windmills.

After driving alongside the large commercial waterway in Groningen and a few miles of motorway we transit Hoogezand through numerous roundabouts before returning to countryside and lots of horses.

At Stadskanaal the road starts along the straight canal with cherry blossom and daffodils, past houses all with decorative ornaments in their windows.

Soon we arrive in Musselkanaal but have a little trip round the houses to find the right way into the island base camperstop. Every pitch is a waterside one with the canal splitting and running either side of the island.

Ali and Grete walk over a footbridge into town for some shopping but say there’s not a lot worth seeing in the town,

Everything goes quiet in the evening while Grete cooks pasta carbonara for supper.