Shortly after eleven my phone rang: „So, I stand here now at the harbor. The MERCATOR is behind me and next to me a gray building, looks like a ferry terminal.” This ferry turned out to be but ultimately as supermarket, but we still came together. Together we brought the car in to the nearby car park and took first luggage and souvenirs on board: Das neue-Pactor Modem, a bit of cosmetics, a bottle of Ramazzotti and homemade jam. Wunderbar 🙂

In addition, my mother had good weather here, just to be safe, if my would no longer passed on from yesterday for the weekend. Now nothing could go wrong indeed. On both days we explored the city and enjoyed the sun at the beach. Simply a great girls weekend. Shoppen stand natürlich auch mit auf dem Programm 🙂

Once again I had to find, that photography is truly an art in itself. In the two days my mother probably has more good photos taken when I was in the last two months. But I'll keep practicing. Vielleicht kriege ich das ja eines Tages auch noch hin 🙂

Far too quickly walked past the time. Monday morning we had to say goodbye again. But it's not for a long time. The end of July I have up in a week furlough.

 

 

Even from my bed I could clearly see the gray sky. I do not want to get up. Kalt war es außerdem 🙁 Also nochmal rumgedreht….maybe it's after everything better.

After breakfast and extensive work on the laptop, the weather looked still not promising. The long bike ride, I had picked out to me yesterday, was me then too risky. But a small round plus some education, should indeed be possible in this weather.

I quickly packed my things and off we went. I was not yet 5 Minutes on the road, because the sun came out. Why not the same as? Always at the booth along the direction Middlekerke. After an hour I take a break and lay down for half an hour at the beach in the sun. Wonderful and warm.

Then education was announced. If your there comes times to Oostende, I can recommend the Atlantic Wall Museum. A piece of living history. I spent almost two hours with an audio guide on the go. A great afternoon and very interesting.

View from a bunker

(More pictures can be found under Picture Galleries: Oostende)

After that, I've even indulged in a brief visit to the sauna. When I was back on the buzzer at half past eight, I did not finish off the perfect day with a German beer.

Sometimes you just have to go, then it is almost always a great day.

 

 

 

I have now been 3 Days Strohwitwe. It could be worse, but slowly but I'm missing something direct approach. But on Saturday, I've visited, da wird dann wieder ordentlich gequatscht 🙂

After I've Tuesday morning Dietmar still accompanied to the station, there were still some small organizational things on my list (Electricity / internet / visitor parking) and emails were also a few accumulated. When it was all done, I gave myself a nice afternoon in the sauna. The Villa Aqua in Ostend is really recommendable. Not very big, but well cared for. Maybe I'll be yes again, before we disappear.

Wednesday was then housework: Wash clothes, Clean kitchen, vacuuming and whatever else is present. Although we have much less living space, brushing takes at least twice as long. So many rough edges and all so close to each other. In the afternoon I treated myself still a nice walk in the nearby park. Unfortunately, the rain had, who was already popular throughout the day, just waiting. Thank God I'm not made of sugar.

As our supplies are running low, was also still a supermarket check-hip. Unfortunately, the more distant Carrefour is even cheaper than the supermarket right on the harbor. Well, if it is already expensive, then it is least close to it. Drinks drag is now one of my favorite fitness workouts. Life without a car is sometimes a real change.

Today I have surpassed even athletic: Around noon I went by bicycle to De Haan. Overall 25 Kilometer. For an experienced cyclist safely, a stone's throw, but for my third bike for many years a good start. Unfortunately, the cycle path is not directly on the sea, The sondern der N317/N34. Although nice and level, but otherwise not so appealing. But De Haan has a great beach and is generally a nice small town.

If I can still move me tomorrow, I will continue to explore the coast by bicycle. Unless, I just go in the sauna ;-).

Also, I have today finally loaded the images in our picture gallery. Still not quite perfect, but already a good start. Pictures say more than words yes. So feel invited you, to go with us on the journey.

Since the beginning of June we have changed a little thing on the site: Now you can see, who has written what amounts. This is always directly above next to the heading. This is not true for the older amounts: Although it says my name over it, but wrote Dietmar. Ich will ihm doch nicht seine Lorbeeren kauen 🙂

In the night from Saturday to Sunday the victory of the Italians against England was celebrated extensively in Oostende. It seemed to us so, as if the marina is the epicenter of some of celebrating fan. The coronation took place but then in the morning at a quarter to four: For several minutes it was again a loud raucous group, only a few meters away to listen to the quay. Then a loud bang by the jump on our floating dock ..... and then ...... steps on the deck of our SUMMER. I thought, I spin! Dietmar was not yet fully awake, while I was shot out of the bed to the front. Quick pulled up the blind: Directly in front of me I saw legs with sneakers. I pounded on the window and ripped at the same moment the hatch up and was screaming: "Get, Of .......!!!“ (we want to censor times better :-) ).
Quick look for the young brats into the distance and fled to his clique, which stood at the top of the quay wall and hooted. Visibly amused the young people moved to the city.
On the prima, Sleeping was at first not to think. Not, that it would have been a really dangerous situation. Nevertheless, remained a somewhat bad. Someone had entered our home uninvited. That was not at all times! We decided to, to speak the next day with the harbor master and ask for another berth. In addition, we determined, From now on the evening Rehling always close. If we had made, wäre der betrunkene Vogel schon an dieser Hürde gescheitert und wahrscheinlich ins Wasser gefallen 🙂 Nach fast zwei Stunden fielen uns dann doch wieder die Augen zu.
As planned we marched after breakfast directly to the harbor master. They were genuinely surprised. At our place is otherwise a permanently inhabited boat and such problems had not yet given it up today. Well, the World Cup is indeed an exception time. There probably happen once things, the sonst not passieren. We were granted permission, Verholen to our boat at the dock to the front here. So now we have enough distance from the quay wall. We like it much better 
Reassured, we make ourselves again to set foot on the road to Racecourse Oostende. Unfortunately, here the summer season starts only at 30. June. No horse racing, no theater performances, even the exhibition of sand sculptures at the booth opened on 28. June. It seems we are at least a week too early for the Belgian summer.
We consoled ourselves over this knowledge back with delicious Belgian "Pannekoken and Apfeltaart". This gives it, Goodness thanks, at least the year. Back on board, was sailing trip for our onward journey towards France on the plan.

How many times after a night ride of the morning started very late on the buzzer. For breakfast we had to find, that a fresh baguette a dream, but one thing is more of a tough matter from the previous day. For breakfast the next we're in the clear and have to figure out just yet, wer das frische Baguette holen muss 🙂

After the culture shock of yesterday turned out to be the next question: Where do we start? What we do today? After some back-and-forth, we decided after a short round of the weekly market, to take a trip to another marina. This is much easier to achieve, according to chart. Had he been a good alternative? After more than 30 Minutes walk through dreary always expectant industrial areas, we could very easily answer this question with a resounding "No". Not even quieter it would have been, because behind the little drab port also runs a large ring road. So Dietmar has really made a good choice.

We followed the various docks, until we finally reached the North Sea. Directly on the beach is also the Fort Napoleon, which we visited briefly. It was created by Napoleon to 1814 built, but never got to use in any warlike activities. Today there is a museum.

The North Sea is today only in gray- and browns, decorated with many crowns show. As announced blew a strong wind from northeast. For some time, we observed a small catamaran, trying, to fight against wind and wave open sea. Not an easy task, but at the second attempt succeeded, and the cat quickly disappeared into the open sea.

We put the ferry into the city and left us near the marina in a cafe down, to enjoy Pannkoeken and an ice.
And then ... a déjà vu: We observed. In Oostende the crooks are however already known throughout the city. Warned on large posters we are of them and very important: Prohibited Feeding!!

 

About nine clock we reached the harbor entrance from Oostende. Dietmar had reserved for us a place in the Mercator Marina in the city center. A challenge for us, because a lock and three bascule bridges still separated us from our mooring. In good weather it was in the morning at the harbor quite full so we were at the locks and when passing the bridge, the tourist attraction. Despite the many observers we mastered all the maneuvers sovereign and finally reached our mooring. In the same harbor is the three-master "Mecator", which is very well known in Oostende.

Throngs of tourists walk on the waterfront right next to our boat passing. All paired with a noise from traffic and city noise. A bit of a shock after the quiet harbors in England, the most quiet and somewhat isolated were in the midst of nature. But on the other hand also a great starting point for the first outing, we took directly. With a superbly documented baguette and a coffee we could equally become better friends with the situation. So we explored even after a long lunch break, continue on foot to the city center and the nearby beach. The beautiful day we were at dinner on board wind down with fresh shrimps and prawns. After that football was announced, because even a sailboat is not spared from the World Cup.

So our first country we have left behind us. Then we came relaxing with a can of English Ales (Old Speckled Hen) an. It was a great time on the island, many new impressions, great nature, London and of course especially the time with Ann and Tom. Of the two, we have received a very special farewell gift. A bottle of good, Australian red wine with a handwritten instructions for use: „To drink when you are on your travel and think of us“. The we want to keep it for a very special moment. And to both of them, we think anyway more often J without wine.

We took advantage of the beautiful, sunny Thursday for a final exploration tour of Ramsgate towards the south - this time on foot. Right on the harbor we came across the sailor's Church. Here sailors are invited to certain times of day, even for a cup of coffee. Since we had already had breakfast but, remained this offer unused and we followed the scenic cliff. Our aim was, according to the prospectus of the faithful replica of a Viking ship, but we did not found. Was probably a very small boat :-). Also, where it was marked on our map, we can find no evidence for large-scale search operations and we lacked today the time. About six clock in the evening we wanted to use the good weather and set off in the direction of Oostende.

So we were against 2 Clock back to the Summer. I treated myself to after a delicious lunch or an hour sleep, while Dietmar again brought to his favorite activity: In chandlery (more or less) shopping meaningful things for our boat. And they always say, only women love shopping. Since I can not really confirm. You have to select only the transactions according to. 
A few more emails from the island, a few pictures posted on Facebook, then everything was stowed in the boot tidy for the next sailing route. In perfect weather we walked at low tide from. In the harbor entrance, but could not we almost have the heart: The depth gauge only shows 1,8 Feet of water at. These are actually 20 Centimeters too little in our draft of 1.95 m .... slowly and carefully we pushed us further about the reason and came to minutes, which seemed like eternity, back to deeper water. That was close, but yes again went well.

But this should be the greatest excitement for the whole sailing route. On the glassy North Sea we sailed with a maximum 10 Knoten Wind. The biggest challenge was to be the crossing of the large and busy traffic separation scheme between England and the Continent.
Traffic separation schemes are set up for the commercial shipping that works like highways. There is a separate area for each direction. From sailors the traffic separation schemes may only be at an angle of 90 ° ± 10 be crossed and commercial shipping has always priority.
While we sailors in the normal case with 5-7 Knots are on the road, can the professionals at speeds up 30 Impress node. It's a bit like, as one would with the Bobby-Car cross the highway. So there it is called "eyes on" and always beautiful the AIS (Automatic Identification System) watch, that gives us information about the speed and course of all vessels.

For safety reasons, we decide to make this portion of our trip under engine. Thus, we remain flexible and are also faster.

I have the exciting part of this crossing but sleepy. When I woke Dietmar four clock in the morning, We had just reached the other side. Together we sat still and took the sails parallel to the coast heading for Oostende.

In Ramsgate driving traffic begins at five-thirty in the morning. Unfortunately all ferries had directly to our berth over what led to, that the buzzer rather violently tugged at their leashes and the threshold beat loudly against our hull. Somit begann unser Tag in diesem Hafen einmal deutlich früher 🙂 als gewöhnlich. After breakfast we went with the bikes on a discovery tour the north, always along the coast road. Only we had to find, that we could not be relaxed without major altitude differences on the way as the last time at this cliff. In plain text, each relaxed descent followed, unfortunately, an uphill climb. Today we were looking over each of the 8.Gänge our folding bikes. But a bit Exercising pity yes not sure, Sailing for work so more arms than the legs.

The coast north of Ramsgate and the city itself have enjoyed it very much. Many old buildings lined up along the coast, one more beautiful than the next. In between bathing beaches, we would not expect here. An ideal place to stay.

Our lunch (times classical English: Fish & Chips und Beef Burger) we enjoyed at the turning point of our tour. But outside on the terrace, it also had great winged parasites except for our food. We were observed in any case all the time sharp and almost made us feel a bit threatened. Diese verfressenen Nordsee-Möwen sind nämlich erschreckend groß und wahrscheinlich auch bissig 🙂

The summer day we left after a brief stroll on deck then finish with a beer and summer temperatures. On Thursday the crossing to Oostende / Belgium stands at. Since we want to cross the English Channel to the many waterways overnight, it can only be good, also rested sensible to go in the next day.

For today, according to the weather we had the perfect weather for the trip to Ramsgate: Wind 3-4 aus West, later turning on Southwest. In bis Boo 5. Clear and sunny, no rain.

After detailed consideration of the tides, we wanted to go at nine clock, so in the evening we reach Ramsgate also run-in water. So it was at half past eight: Cast off and shortly diesel bunker on the other side of the harbor. After we had finally made it, to find the harbor master and fill our tank again, a policeman came to our boat: „Good morning, I`ll check your boat“ J Ok, we have nothing to hide and smuggled we do not have. Then new items, with the young man in the parlor. An endless form later we were released with best wishes again. With half an hour late, we went out into the river Chrouch. From the promised 3 Wind speeds was unfortunately only one half-site. Good, we thought, then we can finally try the Parasailor. When all the lines were ready prepared, then stood still over suddenly 12 Wind accounts on the display so repacked L-what the heck. So it does not rust at least one.

With a good pace we followed our planned route. But then around noon we witnessed, that slowly moved in together dark clouds around us. The wind fell asleep. On the prima! Yet appeared on our boat the sun, So we decided to an extended lunch break with Angel insert (unfortunately unsuccessful) and waited for what, were to come. They came but - thank God - not. The wind can again, the clouds broke up and before us came a wind farm in sight, I had overlooked in my probably planning. How annoying L So we put a new route laid on a flat. Driving over flat spots, which are at Tide to sandbanks, is simply nothing for my nerves. Although the water depth would have been definitely adequate for our 2m draft, I kept to the other side breath.

The last quarter of the way it felt the wind but then again pretty "good" with us. Or maybe it was a single, lasting three hours with gust 20 Node, which blew us quickly to our port. Once again, it was much more strenuous than we had planned. With more than seven knots speed on wind, against a short, bolt steep and high North Sea wave , shoveling hundreds of gallons of salty North Sea water over the deck. For the last 4 Nautical miles to the buoy we enjoyed the trip under engine. Shortly after eight o'clock we were alongside the western bridge in Ramsgate 5 Mooring securely moored.

As usual, the day began with a delicious breakfast after we are already at 9:00 are crawled out of my bunk. Immediately after the visit from the local chandlery on the program. Das ist wie die Verlängerung von weihnachtlicher Vorfreude für den Mann 🙂 Seit Tagen quält mich der Gedanke, I again get more air into the limp Spherical, so he can just abfendern better in rough landing maneuvers to the noble boat skin better and thus protect. The solution was a bicycle air pump with another adapter (found at the chandlery) to equip and then to pump vigorously. A tribute to the talent for improvisation!

Thus in high spirits we have taken the project banana boat attack. It involves an ingenious folding boat, which is produced in Germany and is to be indestructible. If sharp coral heads from dinghies “Rasierpinsel” make, to the banana boat no problems getting. We will eventually find out and report. After a good hour all attachments were there where they belong, Brand new Yamaha hung on the transom and the boat was ready for the first ride.

The motor jumped on and off we went. Does the mood made! Even a seal we could for some close-ups on “Eye level” inspire. After about an hour, the test drive was completed successfully. We had to hurry because a storm was on its way. Quickly washed off the boat with fresh water, Engine again hung on the stern pulpit and then everything again lashed and stowed safely.
In the afternoon, the backpacks were shouldered and it went to TESCO supermarket, to the provisions to replenish. Annoying are always only the many water bottles in the luggage.

All good things come in threes! Thus Katja was finally motivated to get into the mast today. One of our Fallen (Linen) had wrapped itself around the radar and had to be freed, before it damaged still one of the sensitive cable. Double backed it up was a breeze and the case was klariert. Since the Katja's climbing experience has really paid off. There were nevertheless already 7 Meters.
A very good English steak with salad and fresh fruit for dessert rounded off the evening. Katja has once again our route planning for the next destination, the Hafen Ramsgate, checked. Wind, Weather and power seem to be perfect. Departure is tomorrow 8:30 be.