Lieden.

 

We took a slow gentle motor toward Lieden. I had downloaded a couple of apps for my phone which has 5g connection everywhere here. (Why not the UK)

The apps are Water Map Live and Nautical Charts Netherlands and work well. They both give slightly different types of detail and one is also in English which makes the opening times of locks and bridges easy to understand and the other shows more detail of places to stop etc. At £6.00 each they are well worth it.

Just as we entered Leiden we looked at a free mooring just after Leiderdorpsbrug. There were a couple of spaces long enough for Ti Gitu and we headed for the last one. Without looking up!!! Just as we reached the bank our fore mast got caught in an overhanging tree. The chap on the Dutch motor boat which was very close started shouting at us in Dutch to stop. We did. After a few moments after a branch had broken off and fell hitting Mo who wasn't hurt too much. With the help of the Dutch chap, who was embarrassed that he had not realized that we were British, we reversed out and went a few yards back to another space and moored. 

We had a really peaceful night at this free mooring which all have a sign saying that you can stay for 3 x 24 hours.