Island ferry

Back at the ferry at the end of the afternoon.

It takes about 40 minutes to the Lauwersoog harbour on the mainland.

Schiermonnikoog village

The island of Schiermonnikoog has one village, also named Schiermonnikoog.

Schiermonnikoog beach

We enjoyed a daytrip to the island of Schiermonnikoog yesterday. It's still unusually warm here, and it felt like a Summer day. Autumn seems far away!

Schiermonnikoog is known for its wide beaches, and even more because it was low tide when this photo was taken.

Shrimpcutter TM26

This photo was taken from the ferry that took us from Schiermonnikoog back to Lauwersoog at the mainland, last Sunday. Just before arriving at the Lauwersoog harbour this boat went by, giving us a pretty view in the late afternoon sun.

Wondering what ´TM26´ meant I googled and found out that the letters TM stand for Termunterzijl, a small village in the north of the Netherlands. The number 26 seems sequential.
It´s originally a shrimpcutter named MEEUW ('SEAGULL'), built in 1911 in the Groninger village of Oude Pekela. It was motorized in 1928, claimed by the Germans during WW2, and from 1971 used for sport fishing and other recreational purposes. In 1988 the cutter was completely renovated.

I'm linking to Weekend Reflections.

Sea-buckthorn

Very common on the Dutch islands, so also on Schiermonnikoog, is this plant with its small and bright orange berries called sea-buckthorn ('duindoorn' in Dutch). It's native to fixed dunes and sea cliffs in Europe and Asia.

The berries are a favourite 'dish' for many migrating birds, that pass the island at the same time that the berries are ripe.
I also read that especially in France sea-buckthorn is commonly sold as fruit juice or as an ingredient in non-alcoholic and alcoholic mixed beverages. Other uses include the berries to be processed as fruit wine or into liquor as well as jam. They have a very high vitamin C content, on average exceeding that of lemons and oranges. (info from Wikipedia HERE). Isn't that interesting, I don't recall though having seen jam or fruit juice made from sea-buckthorn..  have you?

I'm linking to Floral Friday Fotos.

The fisherman's bicycle

The main function of bicycles is to take you from A to B of course. They can also carry a lot of stuff, like your (sea)fishing gear to the beach.
I didn't manage to catch the fisherman on camera..

Curved edge

Most people who are on the beach walk near the sea line, where the sand is hard and it's easier to walk. We do too, though I'm glad that this time we chose this route, because otherwise we would have missed this beautifully shaped edge! Apparently there has been a water stream here that caused the difference in height and made these half-round curves.

An island path

Although Schiermonnikoog is relatively small (about 200 km²), the island has many different landscapes: beach, dunes, woods, salt marshes and tidal flats. The thought is that this nature belongs to us all, and therefor much of it is open and accessible to the public. Only during the breeding season some paths are closed so birds are not disturbed.
Here we are on our way to the wide beach that I showed you yesterday.

Wide, wider, widest

 The beaches of Schiermonnikoog are among the widest in Europe. Even though it was nearly high tide yesterday when we arrived at the most western point of the island, the beach was so wide that we couldn´t even spot the sea. Isn´t that amazing?

I´m linking to All Seasons.

Sailing on the beach

With a sunny day ahead we took the ferry to the Dutch island of Schiermonnikoog this morning at 9:30 am to make a day hike. And what a nice day we had!

A big part of our hike was on the North Sea beach. We watched this group for a while 'sailing' on the sand. The small vehicles reached quite some speed!

Friends

Photo taken in the Eureka Texel tropical bird garden.

Abandoned

I´m no member of the City Daily Photoblog community, but when I noticed on several blogs that today´s theme is 'abandoned' this photo immediately came into mind. We found this tiny plastic pink mould left on the Texel beach a couple of weeks ago.
Who knows how many foot-shaped sand cakes have been baked with it this Summer..

European Searocket

 On the day we made a long hike through the Texel Slufter area and then back on the beach, we enjoyed our lunch -a few sandwiches and a banana each- sitting on the beach. Looking to the right this was our view. Aren't those white flowers pretty? Back home I googled for them and learned that their name is European Searocket ('zeeraket' in Dutch). The plant is widespread in Europe, especially on coastlines. They grow in clumps or mounds in the sand on beaches and bluffs.

I'm linking to Floral Friday Flowers and Today's Flowers.

The Texel Soup Kettle

 DE TEXELSE SOEPKETEL, or 'The Texel Soup Kettle', is a foodtruck that had a former life as a fire engine on the island of Texel, which explains most likely the kind of enchanting "70s look". Not just offering "soup", but "fresh and delicious pure organic soups made with love and pride" as is stated on their website.
That there were no happy customers when I took this photo in the village of Den Burg must be due to the fact that it wasn't near lunch time (or dinner time). Next time we will definitely try :)

Texel Schapenboet

A 'schapenboet' is a typical Texel sheep barn, though they have never been used to keep sheep inside (for this they were too small) but only to store hay and other sheep food. The barns are located on a piece of land on some distance from the farms. The shape of the roof is called a 'saddle roof', which is bevelled on one side.

The schapenboet on the photo dates from the 19th century and is located just outside De Koog village, upon entering the Slufter nature area. The barn was renovated and registered as a local monument. It is now in use as an official and original -typical Texel- wedding location; inside is room for 40-50 people.

Coffee time

Enjoying coffee and lemon-cheesecake sitting in the gardens of the estate 'Landgoed De Bonte Belevenis', near Den Hoorn on the island of Texel.

Love Rock

Somehow I have a hard time understanding people who feel the need to carve their names (added by a date and/or a heart, or 'I was here' for instance) on trees or benches, or write on rocks, or wherever. On this boulder however everyone is invited to "Write down the name of your beloved on this stone".
Well..feel welcome! :)

You can find this stone when you park your car near the lighthouse on the northern tip of Texel, and then walk to the entrance of the beach. Apparently it's also a kind of memorial stone, as the last line is "For Louise van der Sluis, 24 November 2010".

Rainbow lorikeet

 My husband took this photo of a 'Regenbooglori' (Rainbow lorikeet) at 'Eureka Texel - Orchideeën & Vogelbush' , an orchid and birdbush on the island of Texel.

I'm linking to Saturday's Critters on Eileen's blog.

Artichoke flower

I know artichoke is a vegetable (don't think I ever tasted one though..), but I surely didn't know that the artichoke grows beautiful flowers! I was really amazed :)
Photo made last weekend in the gardens of the estate 'Landgoed De Bonte Belevenis' on the island of Texel.

I'm linking to Floral Friday Fotos and Today's Flowers.

Directions

 At the top of the North Sea beach near De Koog village, on the island of Texel. The signs (mainly) point to a number of beach restaurants.

I'm linking to signs, signs.