Blija : 13-03-2006.

Today we had glorious weather, it was the the day before it wasofficially the beginning of spring, in 'The Netherlands', this was(21st March 2006).

It was sunny, still cold, dry, and no rain, perfect.......

Blija comes under the Fries municipality, (gemeente), Ferwerderadiel, (Fries), also known as, Ferwerderdeel.

Blija as we approached it was big not small, like Finkum, quite bigactually, and very attractive, how very friendly everyone is in theseFries villages, where everyone gets the notion that people from thevillages (dorpen) are not friendly, I have no idea, we have beenwalking nearly a year in the north of Holland, in Friesland and I havehad no trouble, only one place I have not particularly liked this wasStiens.

The church in Blija.

We walked through Blija starting by the Dutch Reformed Church, (Herformde Kerk).
It was tucked away behind a row of houses and had a quaint cobbled side lane leading to it.

The church was built around the 1200, it used to be a CatholicChurch and was known as 'Saint Nicolas Church', and the bells that werein the tower, were lost in world war II, when taken by German soldiers.

We then looked at the graves and some were very interesting, onehead stone was made of pure white rough granite or marble, rough edgedand had a beautifull inscription.

Old houses in its own style.

There was a row of lovely old houses, very characteristic in style with dorm windows above.

There used to be two fortified Stin's/State's, (fortified farms) in Blija.

The Monsma State stood south to the church in Blija, This Stins/State, (is a fortified farmhouse), was built in 1588.

Where the Station road is now,  in the area of the house from Fokke Hoogterp.

The occupant of this house in the 1720 was a Noble, (Jonkeheer), H.D.E. van Aylva.
They were family from the then residents of the Unema State, which was north from the church, in Blija.

There is nothing of these fortified houses, (State's), left to find.

Lying down on the dyke.

When we got to the top of the dyke Annie and Marja flopped down onthe dyke and had a good rest, (as you can see in the above photo).

Walking along these inner dykes is lovely, you see so much, to thinkyou can walk along these dykes, you can walk from Harlingen towardsMakkum, right through to the 'Afsluitdyk', or right through to Holwerd,like we are doing in stretches every week.

After enjoying this peace and lovely sun we proceeded to walk back to Blija.

The farmer chasing the sea gulls.

We then walked back to Blija and there was a farmer out with his tractor ploughing his field with the seagulls sqwauking, and flapping their wings and flying off when he approached only to settle back on the recently ploughed land behind him, it was lovely to watch and see, to think how a farmer must enjoy this, what nature gives to ones self, this in itself is very tranquil and relaxing to watch.

To think if I had not gone on this walk, I would have been at home missing this sight. It diffinetly with a group of people that share your interests, so ladies and gentlemen, I truly recommend this, I am most fortunate to have two lovely people I share this hobby with and we have a good time.

With all this relaxation, sun, wind, good company, many sights andinformation one learns of places, I am glad I do not stay at home anymore and I am enjoying the healthy side of this, plus exercising.  Till the next episode...