Canal Capers

BOOLISTIC left a comment about bikes and canals.  The Canal Bus commentary claimed canals are about three metres deep: one metre of mud, one metre of water and one metre of bicycles.

We saw a dredger, scooping up silt from one canal and transferring into an open barge.  There are around 550,000 bikes in Amsterdam and every year about 50,000 are stolen.  Some must be dumped into canals, I suppose.  Amsterdam's version of "joy riding" ???  

Along the very edge of some canals, an ankle high pole has been installed, as the Fire Brigade got tired of calls to drag cars from the canal.  In some areas, cars park right up parallel or nose to canals.  One two many drinks and you are in the water.

Canals are flushed out three times a week.  The water is fairly calm.  But it is dark and murky.  Being Saturday and a pleasant sunny summer day as well, the waterways were abuzz with various sized boats today, chugging along.  Some were guys, cans in hand, often shirts off.  Some were all females, must cruising along.  Some boats were moored and food and drink were laid out.  People reclined on cushions, as another at the tiller steered.  Families motored along.  I saw one boat where Grandma had been wheeled on and sat perched in her wheelchair, enjoying her trip.  So many were out for a "weekend drive".

Out in the harbour, a huge cruise ship was in port.  Dozens of small boats bobbed about, to see it.  The canals are fresh water.  At one point in the harbour, lower down is a saltwater layer with sea fish living there, and right above is the fresh water layer, with fresh water fish swimming around.  I didn't know this was possible.

Tonight, a floating platform was the performance stage for a free concert.  Locals sat on fold up chairs,  neighbours were perched on their high front door balconies.  The nearest bridge was full and was other vantage points along the canal's edge.

Amsterdam also has 2,500 canal boats used as homes.  Many have gas, electricity and running water. Most looked fairly shabby.  Externally they were poorly maintained.  How wonderful they would look if freshly painted.  But that's not how they are.