Bedding Down in Boskoop

BOSKOOP.

We're up at 6:30am, charges start at 7am and, anyway we want to be first at the campervan garage. The Germans lead off but don't go far enough up to the exit barrier. They pay and exit through the entrance. I go right up to the barrier and it opens for me.

We're at the garage by 7:30, the owner offers to send an electrician when it opens at 8:15. He confirms that battery is broken, emphasises it by drawing is hand across his throat. I can have acid or gel as a replacement. I choose gel and end up with a bill of euro 300. The electrician explains that there should be a switch in the van to accommodate the different type of battery. He couldn't find one in our van. He tells us to contact a dealer in the UK after our holiday. I should have picked up on that comment before we left but the euphoria of a solution rendered me deaf. The garage doesn't take Visa only MasterCard so we have to pay cash.

We're too early for Aileen so we wander around the town and replenish the cash from the supermarket.

We arrive at Aileen and Jo's by 11:00 and naturally they are pleased to see us.

A guided tour of the house and gardens (Jos was a market gardener and is rightly proud of his garden) is followed by lunch.

We visit the town again with our hosts pointing out places of interest including their son's apartments. Martin, the eldest, is in so we take coffee with him. A typical apartment which backs on to a canal.

Tuesday.

We visit Gouda in the morning and have a good look around. Aileen and Rosie take the opportunity to do some shopping.

Unfortunately, it rains in the afternoon. However, it gives us the opportunity to play a traditional Dutch game similar to shove h'penny, using counters and a long board. It's called Sjoelen.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/5071/sjoelen&ved=2ahUKEwizoYbUsZrcAhUDbVAKHa_lCuAQFjAWegQIBBAB&usg=AOvVaw0iguiTCrYR8wcjf8bhUysJ