Monthly Archives: March 2015

Hiking is…..

31. March 2015Katja Henke

After my first hiking trip to La Gomera I had tasted blood. Aber nicht nur das 🙁 Immer noch kämpfte ich mit dem hartnäckigen Muskelkater in den Beinen von meiner Tour am vergangenen Samstag. The poor conditions on the unusually steep road had yet quite overwhelmed me. So I had found in my extensive internet research a circular route, which ran with little height meters through the fantastic landscapes of the volcanic plains around the crater Chinyero.

After almost an hour drive to just above the National Park boundary I reached the starting point of my tour. Up here it was almost alone. Only a few cars on the roadside pointed to other hikers. After I had my book Siert Micra also in the ditch, (of course very carefully ;-)) I replace my flip-flops against walking boots and went on my way.

At the entrance of the circular path I overtook a couple with a baby carriage. Da war ich dann doch etwas erstaunt 🙂 So leicht hatte sich die Wegbeschreibung im Internet dann doch nicht angehört.

The sun shone surprisingly warm from the sky and my fleece jacket soon wandered into the backpack. The road snaked well characterized by the sparse pine forest and the bizarre volcanic landscape.

As described, I needed to round just under three hours. The nature up here is amazingly green and varied.

During this time I met a total of twelve other hikers. Overflow was therefore certainly not up here.

When I turned off to again back toward the parking lot at the end of the round path, I almost tripped over the stroller. The young couple had probably rescheduled. While he kept the child in the car on the trail early, war sie wohl eine Runde wandern gegangen 🙂

Back to the boat I chose the longer route through the National Park.

The visibility was today so wonderfully clear, that in the West not only the island of La Gomera, but also could see La Palma and El Hierro.

To the east of Gran Canaria was good to see.

Alone, alone……

30. March 2015Katja Henke

Since yesterday I am Strohwitwe. Dietmar is in Germany, in order to test the- participate and Einstellfahrten for the 24-hour race in May. Actually a great reason, enough to go to Germany, one would think. If only the weather would not…..Dietmar been around for over a week followed very critical and the weather was a Sunday night clear: Eigentlich wollte er lieber hier in der Sonne bleiben 🙂

So he tried by all means, to miss his flight. After breakfast, we wanted to see together yet, should be set as a pretty big catamaran of two cranes back into the water again. We have always found it exciting, if our SUMMER was lifted with the travel lift out of the water. In a much larger boat but this is again a very different number.

Since the end of last week, there were two large cranes at the shipyard and Monday morning around ten-thirty we went finally start.

In principle, easily, just like our SUMMER, only slightly larger. When the catamaran in the wide straps hung, had to cancel with anti-fouling poor owners and the posts, he could not reach before because of the support. Da hätte ich aber nicht mit ihm tauschen wollen 🙂

A short time later the show was already over and the catamaran swam again.

We had still all the time because Dietmars flight was only just three clock. Really? For safety's sake, I looked again in the documents. About 14.20 Clock was the departure! This plan was thus not risen. Punctually at a quarter to one we started to airport.

Dietmar's last attempt to thwart his trip it was, to leave his cell phone just lie on the boat. Without a cell phone, he could hardly fly to Germany. But by my annoying questions the lack of essential phone fell on before leaving the parking lot. Was also here, keine Chance 🙂

Gegen ein Uhr erreichten wir dann wie geplant den Flughafen und entließ Dietmar in sein hartes Schicksal ins kalte Deutschland zurück zu kehren 🙂 Ich flitzte mit meinem kleinen Micra zurück zum Hafen und nutzte den angefangenen Nachmittag, to wash some laundry. Such a machine on board and a second ran with our work clothes in the Marina Building. A little later, everything hung out to dry on the clothesline on the deck of our SUMMER in the sun. Meanwhile, I took the time to plan my Strohwitwen-time. Die vier Tage wollte ich sehr vielfältig nutzen 🙂

Our web neighbors Patrick and Peter for the evening I had been invited by the SY Aponia to eat. Das war doch schon mal ein netter Start 🙂

Victory over the technology :-)

29. March 2015Katja Henke

I confess, I was a little suspicious because of imagined by Dietmar development of the seal of our rudder bearing . Heute stand also die Testfahrt an 🙂 Mal schauen, what would happen.

But first we looked at something completely different: namely formula 1 in Sepang / Malaysia on Spanish TV. How long we had not done? 🙂 Daher war es dann auch gar nicht schlimm, that we were on our way until about eleven clock. Nach Sebastian Vettels Sieg auf Ferrari war die Welt für uns in Ordnung 🙂

Outside the harbor waiting for us again the well-known sailing conditions (35 Knot winds for about. two hours, then no wind, and wind on the nose with 28 Node). Das nervte schon so ein bisschen 🙁 Aber nach der Starkwindperiode kontrollierte Dietmar das Runderlager und hatte beste Neuigkeiten: The rudder was BONE DRY loader !!!! Bald werden wir in der Bilge Staub wischen müssen 🙂 So sollte es sein.

During the monotonous driving under engine ensured dolphins and pilot whales for change.

Three different dolphin species, we identified this time. A special highlight was the Atlantic spotted dolphin, with its special drawing.

(The picture is not of us, sondern aus dem Internet geklaut 🙂 )

A short hiking trip :-)

28. March 2015Katja Henke

If no one wants to walk with me, dann gehe ich halt alleine 🙂 Dietmar war heute leider unabkömmlich, since it around 14 Clock had arranged to spark.

I had planned, at twelve clock bus ride into the center of the island and then walk over to El Cedro towards Hermigua up. On the way to the bus station I wanted to do a few little things.

To surprise Dietmar, I was out of the huge amount of pictures, which had accumulated since our departure, a small collection of these and wanted to deduct. In San Sebastian, there is a tiny photo studio and the owner had assured me yesterday, that he could do it in five minutes. It took more than five minutes, but the time passed in the store talking to the old man in a flash. Even though he only spoke a few words of English and I unfortunately still only a few word of Spanish, haben wir uns wirklich gut verstanden 🙂

Time clock at twelve I was sitting on the bus and off we went. From sunny San Sebastian we went to the cloudy and misty island center. In Parajero I got out and walked away. Yet less than a mile I had to follow the road, Before I could turn into the cloud forest. The trails are wonderful signposted and I wandered laid down.

Eventually came the trail to a stream and followed him down the valley further. Until El Cedro the roads were to some extent a bit muddy, however, to run great.

The descent towards Hemigua proved to be quite difficult. Gone were the wide trail. Now it went downhill and the path was always rocky and narrow. In addition, the stone steps were additionally by the rain or slippery. Several times I ran faster downhill, as I wanted. And once I even landed on the ass. Thus, the descent took frightening in the length. But on his way simply no hurry announced…

Nevertheless, the view and the scenery was just great, almost more beautiful than the route through the cloud forest.

Below arrived, wanted my legs and my feet no meter go any further. The Bus, I had selected for the return, was long off and away to San Sebastian. Im Restaurant an der Hauptstraße rief man mir ein Taxi und eine halbe Stunde später konnte ich auf der SUMMER meine Füße hochlegen 🙂

To do much

27. March 2015Katja Henke

After the wine-loving last night I had it today to take things slowly and clearly Dietmar had solidarity and ordinary headache, although he had drunk only two Shandy.

On the other hand helped definitely fresh air. So we made our way to the market, because we had gone out for the planned hangover breakfast the bread on the SUMMER. After a short walk and breakfast, the world saw then again much rosier.

Back on La Gomera I had wished, to finally go sometimes migrate properly. Dietmar was indeed go in January with Peter and Manu of the SY MELODY with a hiking and has been pretty excited, though indeed not migrate to his favorite pastimes belongs. Even the phone number of hiking he had saved himself. So we tried to make out with him for an appointment. Really stupid, that he the next FIVE (!!!!) Weeks was booked. The nice lady at the tourist office could not help us: All booked up – Wir waren zu spät 🙁

So tried Dietmar, To achieve Andy least from the diving school in San Sebastian. If not on land, dann wollten wir wenigstens unter Wasser etwas Neues entdecken 🙂 Leider nahm niemand unsere Anrufe entgegen und auch im Laufe des Tages bekamen wir keinen Rückruf. Auch hier waren wir nicht wirklich erfolgreich 🙁

If nothing else works, helps women actually always shopping. That should also work on La Gomera. But safe side, I did not pull off alone, alone because shopping is so boring. And of course, Dietmar stood at your disposal.

Schon im ersten Laden waren wir sehr erfolgreich 🙂 und hoffentlich werden sich nächste Woche verschiedene Leute über die von Dietmar überreichten Mitbringsel freuen. Aber mehr wird noch nicht verraten 🙂

During our stroll through the city we passed also an optician. By Dietmar's loving care of his current spectacles with kitchen paper and lens cleaning cloth, the plastic glasses were badly scratched and Dietmar annoyed the whole time. Now he saw his chance for a new pair of glasses. But it was not so easy. To investigate the prescription you need an appointment. Tomorrow morning at 10 Clock will Dietmars eyes expertly measured and a new pair of glasses is then probably nothing in the way.

Thus, the optician was the first date on our Friday work schedule. Otherwise I had actually only a prescription medication for me organize. Since the medical center (Comedy) is located directly opposite the marina, I wanted to take the opportunity. In Tenerife again I would need a car, um zum Ärztezentrum fahren zu können 🙁

Actually, it was not all that difficult. The doctor spoke only Spanish, the drug goes in a different brand name than in Germany and on the island had it not available, you had to order it. Despite all the adversity I had the next morning, genau das was ich brauchte 🙂 Leider war der Preis auch nicht besser als in Deutschland. Next time I will'd rather do something at home leave.

In the afternoon we went on a sightseeing tour. In the large bow, we had to shoot this time in the harbor from the driveway, was the lighthouse we noticed on the cliff high above. That was our next destination.

In part, our path led through abandoned banana plantations. Dort sah es fast schon etwas gruselig aus 🙂

But if such thick storm clouds raise, see it would be creepy almost anywhere.

Everywhere dolphins

26. March 2015Katja Henke

Our mood was still somewhat depressed after yesterday when we loswarfen half past nine Linens, but the sea strove for sunny intervals. We were half an hour on the way, because already the first dolphins came past our boat.

So we had during our crossing all three times visiting the fascinating and fun-loving companions. A great school even accompanied us for about half an hour on our trip.

Before La Gomera the wind freshened again on strong and Dietmar had to put behind the wheel of one or the other salt water shower. The time of our arrival at the port we had today but gets very unhappy. As we had only three miles to the harbor entrance in front of us, came up behind us on the horizon, the 15-clock-speed ferry from Tenerife on, followed by “normal” 15-Ferry Clock. We rolled the mainsail and hoped, thus reducing our speed so far, that we would not make the both in the narrow harbor entrance. But with the wind we ran just under Fock still nearly eight knot speed. So we had to drive a beautiful bow, until the two big ferries had reached their places in the harbor. Which one should simply not invest. Quite apart from, have ferries before everyone else anyway a “right of way”

The amount of water in the bilge was after almost six hours with almost half a liter in an acceptable range. Nevertheless, Dietmar had an idea, to the rudder stock further seal in addition. Thus, once again stood a visit to the in BT on the program. But before we went after the successful crossing first eat an ice cream.

With us today SY Aponia of San Miguel had left for La Gomera. We made an appointment with Patrick and Peter for half past seven for dinner in the city. Before Dietmar but was again unstoppable and had his idea, of course, immediately implement. Let's see, whether we will be able to achieve a further improvement.

The evening at our favorite Frenchman was very funny. Back to the SUMMER expected but unfortunately the same battlefield, we had previously left. Although it was very late, we then had the last little things at the helm stock again assemble, before we could fall into bed tired.

That's always the problem on a boat. In most cases you will find the current construction site in a central square, the one still to sleep, need to cook or live. So one morning builds everything apart and admits it then again every evening together so far, that normal life can go on. Und am nächsten Morgen fängt das ganze Spiel wieder von vorne an 🙂

Not a good day

24. March 2015Katja Henke

Highly motivated, we were on Tuesday at nine clock departing finished. Today should reveal, whether the repair was successful.

About eleven clock we were back in the Marina San Miguel and were both totally frustrated. Again it was water in the bilge. It was really crying. Dietmar disappeared headfirst into our bed box and set forth on the rudder stock. In our mind's eye again appeared the image of SUMMER in the travel lift or on land. Whether we can still prevent?

While Dietmar repaired concentrated, I had free time and surfed a bit on the Internet. Suddenly us our rudder problem appeared small and insignificant, because in the south of France, an Airbus crashed the German Wings. Although the extent of the tragedy were not assessable, the day for us was gone. A black day, the better you should remove it from the calendar.

Even if we came back to the solution of our personal rudder problem in more detail and in the early afternoon to yet another, short test drive took, sentiment remained depressed. After all, we had succeeded, to reduce the penetration amount of water of up to ten liters per hour on a narrow half liter three hours. That was not so far wrong! However, we both had somehow expected, to find after repair no more water in the bilge.

Afternoon Dietmar phoned again with the Schöchl shipyard in Austria and still got another tip. So we will again break towards La Gomera tomorrow. Vielleicht sind wir ja dann ganz dicht 🙂

Reunion with the SY Atanga

22. March 2015Katja Henke

Once we were in the port actually been all week indispensable and could not move away far from the boat us, We had considered on Sunday, yet again to ride Santa Cruz. But not just, to once again spend a day in the city. We had other plans. Since last week, the SY Atanga is up here in Santa Cruz Harbor. Sabine and Joachim have we met in La Coruna and have since then via email loosely in touch. They both have similar plans as we, but let it tackle almost quiet. So they were in the last few months always a bit behind. Now we are finally landed times together on an island. The 55 Kilometers could be overcome but wonderfully with the car.

After we filled up at the farmers market in Las Chafiras and the fishmonger in Los Abrigos our supplies for the next week without a rental car, we went against two clock on the way. So we met as agreed previously (Although it should be a surprise visit, but no muggings are) one against three clock at the harbor.

Just in time before the first rain we went on board and are likely to make ourselves comfortable under a roomy cockpit tent in the cockpit. After so long, there is much to tell, and the time flew by, while it was raining cats and dogs outside. Since a trip to dinner at the nearby old town in this weather no one particularly irritated, Sabine improvised on board even a dinner for us. Noodles with pork and broccoli in a creamy sauce. The combination sounds a bit unusual to, aber dabei war sie nur ungewöhnlich lecker 🙂

When we made ourselves but about ten clock after the fun night on the way home, I had to find, that I had left my shoes at the dock in the rain. Sehr erfrischend 🙁 Dietmar hatte seine sicherheitshalber in seinem Rucksack verstaut. Sehr nett, Dear Husband, dass Du meine nicht mit genommen hast 🙂

We swim again :-)

21. March 2015Katja Henke

Since Saturday afternoon we go again – Gott sei Dank !

As more and more clearly the Spanish era of the Germans over. Jose had said Wednesday night to us, he came Thursday at seven clock in the morning (!!!) to mask the water pass so then the new antifouling can be painted. This early time had already made us very suspicious. Um sieben Uhr am Morgen arbeitet in Spanien doch noch kein Mensch 🙂

And as expected, was also at nine clock, as we climbed down the ladder after breakfast, noch niemand zu sehen 🙁 Irgendwann im weiteren Laufe des Vormittags tauchte ein Eimer Antifouling bei uns am Schiff auf, followed by a roll of duct tape (to mask the water pass) and two paint rollers. So far away, so good…..but Dietmar had asked the workers remains a difficult task. He insisted, that the paint should be mixed thoroughly before application only by drill with a mixer. Such “strange” Procedures were here probably not standard. The mixer attachment had to be specially procured with, aber immerhin gab es schon eine Bohrmaschine 🙂

So we arrived just in time after lunch to two back, to become witnesses of the ordinary mixing the Anti-fouling. Two hours later, the first layer was then applied properly. It looked really good before. The time now missing “the only” two more paintings, then we would be finished with the hull.

Thus, it was clear, that we could forget our appointment on Friday evening crane. That fit in time so the front and back no more. So stellten wir uns innerlich schon mal auf den Samstag ein 🙂

On Friday morning we had to wait until, to the catamaran trip, lying next to us yesterday at the quay wall in the water, had invited all his guests. Due to the unfavorable Northwest wind-wave location with plenty of the tours started at the moment of San Miguel, right next to the SUMMER. Since it was safer, begin the painting only, if no one had to go past our boat.

A clock we had arranged to meet a nice couple from Gütersloh to eat. The two had many years himself a “Hallberg-Rassy” located in Neustadt an der Ostsee. So we got another new Spanish restaurant with good food and very cheap know and spent a nice time. The two spend the winter every year in Tenerife and wanted tomorrow 10 Weeks Canaries fly back to Germany. Sorry, we had met only in the last week, sehr schade 🙁

Gegen halb drei waren wir wieder zurück im Hafen und unsere SUMMER war tatsächlich fertig gestrichen 🙂 Jetzt musste sie nur wieder in den Bootslift, so that the supports removed and the lower areas also could be deleted 3x. So we set out, prepare everything. The alignment of the two belts was much easy than in the water ashore and soon we rocked again freely in the wind. Although still far too high above the water surface, aber immerhin etwas 🙂

But even the trickiest task stood before us: we had to install the rudder again. Although we have two people put the Marina this evening at seven clock available, we moved the action rather on Saturday mornings. Jose had promised, to come on his day specially just. We do this would rather deal with it, as he was also been to the expansion of this.

About ten clock we were ready to go. The rudder of SUMMER weighs good 80 Pounds and is a really cumbersome part with a total length of 3,20 Meters (Rudder blade with rudder stock). First we had the SUMMER by lift to more 1,20 Raise meters, be able to perform at the helm exactly perpendicular through the lower rudder bearing. With this amount we brought the travel lift to his constructive limits. It would not be two more inches in height have been possible. We were really at the absolute limit.

After the first step with three men (Jose, Dietmar and I) was well done, but it was even more complicated. First, we lowered the SUMMER again twelve inches from the stem and fixed so that the lower bearing. Dietmar swung with the shaky and short head back to the ship and ship-mounted in the various seals and the shaft. Means he was knocking us about it, if the travel lift the SUMMER could be re a little further down. After some time, we were then so far, that the 75mm thick shaft just had to pass through the upper rudder bearing, before it could be then finally fixed in position and secured against falling. But this last act which it had in it.

Although we could now communicate directly back since Dietmar now 4 Meter onto the deck, but it was not easy, the instructions of the captain is the direction in which to align the rudder, implement as desired. Because the precise alignment in the millimeter range of a 80 Kg rudder with a slightly rocking 15 Ton ship with only one man and one woman is not blowing cotton. Unfortunately, that went from always right digital. Either the rudder does not move or it was moving too much. So also rushed nor the driver of the travel lift for help, but also to third there was no child's play. Dietmar was on deck slowly but something restless: “What do the three down there? If not do everything yourself makes etc. pp” at least I heard him curse softly.

We have now changed our concept. Wir machten gar nichts mehr 🙂 Denn die SUMMER schaukelte ganz leicht im Lift und irgendwann stand das Ruder perfekt. “Only” more quickly pull up and……. nailed it! We really fell from the heart.

While Dietmar yet assembled, all other parts of the steering gear in the boat, I started out, to emphasize the still untreated sites with antifouling. Finally I was allowed with brushes. It was fun and I malerte the three layers in record time.

Three clock we had our appointment crane. Finally back in the water. The wind had our appointment calendar and notes in his time at a quarter to three, it blew again strong with over 20 Node. The really needed now nobody. Despite the adverse conditions we again safe water and made our SUMMER short time at our traditional fixed berth.

Once on board, everything was put back into operation and reliable work, the watermaker had something refilled the tanks and the dishes was rinsed in the closet, we went to celebrate the day to Los Abrigos fish to eat.

Blue fingers and black feet

18. March 2015Dietmar Henke

It is a strange feeling, that our SUMMER rocking motion and when you look out the window, then you look once six feet in depth to the water surface.

Yesterday and today were days of work and dirt. The paws are constantly full of goo, Color, Dichtmasse und die Fußsohlen sind am Abend so schwarz wie Stempelkissen 🙂 Daran beißt sich sogar ein Schwamm aus Stahlwolle die Zähne aus :-). Have accustomed myself since Monday, evening to go with shoes in the shower. Then I can imagine me at least, that the black broth of the shoe sole is. Das hilft 🙂 Unsere SUMMER hat sich in eine echte Baustelle verwandelt und um dem geordneten Chaos etwas Ordnung einzuhauchen, we vacate the evening all the tools again neatly back to the place, where we have also hergenommen.

Jose wanted to come yesterday and start sanding the hull. The poor lad but was constantly sent to other ships and at noon it was clear, that it would be nothing more. Does not matter, dann eben morgen 🙂 Wir nutzten die Zeit, reduce the partially decomposed strongly sacrificial anodes, To polish stainless steel mesh, to procure new sacrificial anodes, to overtake the propeller of the bow thruster and clean the SPW-rotary-wing propeller and fill with new grease.

For lunch Katja had once again conjured up something delicious on the table. After such a meal you right back in the mood, to plunge back into the labor.

A small problem but we have already, because we can indeed be no more water running. Probably the others would thank us, wenn plötzlich aus den Ventilen über Ihren Köpfen irgendwelches Abwasser herauslaufen würde 🙂 Man muss es sich schon gut überlegen, how much one evening nor drinks, because “Pischbox” is yes 150 Meters. In addition, one would have in the night even climb down the ladder. Da sollte man besser richtig wach sein 🙂 Die Nummer mit der Flasche im Bad ist auch keine wirkliche Option wenn man den Frieden an Bord bewahren möchte 🙂 Also, who drinks much just have to run too often. It's that simple!

At noon today it finally went with the grinding of the old antifouling down to business. Jose had brought a colleague and together they ground like champions. At times, the boys had disappeared in a cloud of mist of blue sanding dust. One could get the impression, that there were two Smurfs dabble along. It's a really hard job and for this we have the two rewarded with a decent tip.

Without Words! On the rest is our SUMMER. Arbeitssicherheit auf kanarisch 🙂 Bisher ist aber noch kein Schiff von den Böcken gefallen, I've heard….

Today, we have dedicated ourselves fully to the bathing platform. The thing was so so rusted and the screws partially rotted, that it was a real slog to remove all the screws, to remove rust and reinstate. The bathing ladder, we have completely disassembled, the welded brackets and beams were to remove rust and polish then to preserve the end it all together with the preservative wax TECTYL. Das Ergebnis lies sich aber sehen und dieser Schandfleck ist endlich beseitigt 🙂

Against 15:00 Jose and colleague was also done with the grinding. Jose seems to be a very happy man despite the many and hard work. He is 45 Years old and the father of four children (it works as a forensic pathologist). He wears a black belt (third DAN) in TAEWONDO and trained after work 2 Hours 5 Days a week. It may also two minutes to hold their breath and dive with a harpoon to 15 Meters deep for hunting. Und singen kann er auch ganz gut wie man heute gehört hat 🙂

On Friday, the work should be completed. Then you have “the only” yet the rudder reinstalled and the SUMMER back into the water. But we have a good run and are quite optimistic, that luck will hold us.

SY CESARINA

A log of our travels