Category Archives: Germany

Au Backe

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This morning it was to get up early, for my taxi to airport was ordered at 6: 30. Now you ask you sure: Why airport?????

The eingeschleppte by Dietmar from Germany a “Plague” was not without a trace passed somehow on me. As well as? We have been Yes the last seven days in cramped together and in the last night of our trip I had with undefined header, Ears- and to fight tooth pain.

The weekend after our arrival we have take therefore also very easy. Dietmar coughed up ever more fiercely to himself. Bei mir hatten sich die undefinierten Schmerzen im Kopf mittlerweile leider in sichere Zahnschmerzen verwandelt 🙁 Irgendwie hatte ich das Gefühl, that it could be something more and I decided, to fly back to Germany. Dentist is never a pleasure, but then I wanted to know that also the same reasonable done. Safe is safe. Und der Zeitpunkt war eigentlich mehr als günstig 🙂 In zwei Wochen wäre ich sowieso das letzte Mal nach Deutschland zurückgeflogen.

My flight went from Porto to Frankfurt-Hahn. From there it should go on with the car after Leverkusen. My rental car booking made yesterday on the Internet was unfortunately still not confirmed have been. When I got off the plane in Frankfurt and went toward the rental car desk, I knew why. All queues and after an hour I knew: Today, I would get a car here :-(.

The connection of the Airport Frankfurt-Hahn to the public transport network is impressive. The next achievable, larger railway station in Mainz. And to Mainz to arrive by bus (Drive an hour and ten minutes). So I went on a little trip and reached Leverkusen against half past five.

End good – Everything good. Und morgen früh geht es dann zum Zahnarzt meines Vertrauens 🙂

 

Welcome back to Madeira

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The time is in Germany as always “as in flight” past and today it went already back with airberlin from Düsseldorf to Madeira, back to our SUMMER. Eine Woche hat sie es ohne uns aushalten müssen 🙁 und das sah man ihr auch an. Apparently moved in the last week a small sandstorm on Madeira and had covered everything with a dark brown sand layer. The Calima from the Sahara across the Atlantic has transported the sand up to Madeira. For better adhesion, probably even a little rain in the game has been, as much, that the sand could perfectly set on all white and polished surfaces.

Before Dietmar first went under deck, missed he first an extensive wash his SUMMER, while I took out the two large travel bags below deck. As always we had tried, Luggage on the amount of 23 Pounds to exploit. 22,5 Kilo has brought our a travel bag on the scale :-). The other bag was but just too small for such amounts. In the two kilos had fresh strawberries my backpack and 2 Pounds asparagus found place. Die Gepäckkontrolle hatte sicher beim Durchleutchen unserer Taschen kräftig den Kopf geschüttelt 🙂

We had decided already in Germany, to break up as soon as possible in the direction of the Azores. And the weather promises to be perfect for the trip. Still, stable, the wind blows from North-East and a change is not in sight. Morgen werden wir die Einkäufe erledigen und Donnerstag gegen Mittag wollen wir uns auf den Weg machen 🙂

 

 

Azores weather :-(

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Since we are in Madeira, We watch the weather, because the next blow to the Azores is almost with 700 Nautical miles long.

A low pressure area after another passed in the last few weeks on the Azores and brought much wind or even storm or hurricane and unpleasant high waves. For us it was clear anyway, that we go could sail only after our return from Germany, aber bisher hätte sich für uns auch kein akzeptable Wetterfenster gezeigt 🙂

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To the Declaration of a weather map:

We would like from the Green marking needle (bottom right of the picture) to the Red (top left of the image) sailing (black line). The colors in the map represent the wind at a given time. From blue, green up down to the orange/red, increasing the wind. The numbers right indicate the wind gusting beside the small weather icons in the cards and the arrows the wind direction. The number of the small weather icon specifies the wave height.

So we had this day very nice strong ( up to 47 Node) Get wind on the nose. Das will ja nun wirklich niemand 🙂

Aber ab heute war es das 🙁 Fünf Tage optimale Bedingungen, Wind between 10 and 20 Nodes from the right direction and barely wave. Did you do that now?

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Tonight we are sitting on the plane to Germany. The weather we might move a good week?

Travel arrangements

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When it comes to Germany, needs to be done before much. Not only, that the packages already stacked with my parents, We have ordered in advance on the Internet, travel always useless things, you are just too good to throw away or give, back to back. It is always a good opportunity, mal ganz gründlich klar Schiff zu machen 🙂

On the other hand, you want even people, meet you again after a long time, etwas mitbringen 🙂 Madeira hat ja mit dem Madeirawein und verschiedenen anderen Leckereien viele Möglichkeiten, others to make an unusual joy.

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Since shopping (with a few exceptions, in General four wheels or a hull have) not so Dietmar thing is, I went to Funchal today afternoon alone. After my last purchase in the market Hall, I was on the hat. Here I would all get, what I wanted to do with, but would also match the price or would I annoy me again?

Arrived in the city the huge cross ship in the Harbour was just me. Today, hustle and bustle was right here. So I was not the only victim least and could look around the market stalls at rest.

After my last shopping experience, I took a stroll through the market first, to compare the prices. All goods are actually awarded, but many signs are draped beautifully between the goods, that you can not read the price. Oder die Schrift ist extra klein und undeutlich 🙂 Die Preisspannen waren wirklich beeindruckend. You could pay between one and ten euros for a kilo of Annona. And so it was not, that the expensive ones had the better quality and vice versa. So I bought two large Annona and had to shell out for a euro, also I took a kilo of passion fruit bananas for scarce three euro. I was allowed to choose even myself that, so that migrated only beautiful fruits in my bag . So shopping was fun.

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So I can each, He's coming to Madeira and to Funchal, highly recommend the market Hall, denn mit offenen Augen hat man hier unglaublich viel Auswahl und super Qualität auch zu vernünftigen Preisen 🙂

After two hours, I had done all purchases and drove back to the port. Packing tomorrow still enough time is. Tonight, emails are written again diligently, the blog updates and the newsletter sent. A good feeling, If everything is on stand, before it disappears. Tomorrow in the morning we're still together beautiful clean boat, the last wash and just in time to 17 Our plane in the direction of Düsseldorf will take off and watch.

 

 

 

 

 

Alone, alone……

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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.

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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 🙂

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

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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 🙂

Back to the SUMMER

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Saturday it was finally over. Nearly four weeks had gone faster but the country than expected. At eight clock in the morning started my flight from Cologne / Bonn. Before classifying me in the line of security control, I bought another fresh whole wheat bread, one last gift from cold Germany.

For my return flight I had an extra 20 Account kilo excess baggage. This is much cheaper than a packet to send to the Canaries J and also safer and faster for Norwegian Airlines. The last week in Germany, I had not only used, prepare our tax return. Incidentally, I've worked a long shopping list. So I had beside appointed by Dietmar spare parts for our SUMMER following things in luggage: Six cans of white sausages, 2 Lecturer Ragout Fin, about two kilos soluble cappuccino in different flavors, various finished salad dressings and spices, about two kilos Nidegger marzipan (in different flavors :-)), wide range of medicines for all kinds of "aches and pains", an extensive selection from the current DVD bestseller list and various cosmetics, the woman urgently needs to survive :-). It is quite amazing, what things of everyday life one misses abroad as.

Time at half past eleven my plane landed in Tenerife. At the baggage claim, I could see my captain already outside waiting. My suitcase but had to wait a surprisingly long time coming, so that I was almost one of the last, which was finally able to leave the airport. Outside, I was finally able to then close my bearded sea dog in his arms again. Vor uns hatte die Crew eines Kanarischen Fliegers mit wunderschönen Stewardessen bereits den Flughafen verlassen 🙂

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With the car we went back to our first SUMMER. After a brief survey was clear: Today was a good day for a bulk purchase. In the fridge, there was not yet a gaping void, aber der Anteil an frischen Lebensmitteln lag deutlich unter fünf Prozent 🙂

In the late afternoon we pulled Dietmar again on the kart track, to some Englishmen to miss a rubdown. Good, I was there again. It is a suitable photographer to document the heroic race victory was still urgently needed :-). And just as it was then. The second came Kart 59 Seconds after him to the finish.

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Since we were already on the way anyway, then we made an excursion to La Galletas, to us to represent a bit of the feet. Despite the overcast sky, the weather was still pity on us and spared us from the rain, though it actually looked like the day after. Back to the SUMMER Dietmar was then treated with an ordinary, serves fresh dinner and had to leave the photos of the first two African-day pass over safely. As fast as the first day was over, back to our SUMMER.

The next two days were rainy and windy. Our excursion experiments under tied the weather by abundant rainfall duration. So we use the time, to store the goods brought to the orderly, reading and lounging. On Tuesday and Wednesday we were expecting a suitable weather window, to sail in two stages to La Palma. Until then, everything was supposed to be ready prepared.

It’s SUMMER-Time again

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Since Sunday we are back, back to our SUMMER in the heat of Tenerife. The four days in Germany are flown by. Christmas Eve we had left in the morning at half past four clock to the airport, to travel back to cold Germany. Contrary to expectations, our taxi was on time at the port and also the flight with Ryan Air took no further surprises. We ended up almost 30 Minutes early in Cologne in rain and good 10 Grade C ° ..grrrr.

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At home we exchanged our first summer clothing against complex, warm winter clothes and was also well prepared, To celebrate Christmas. The first two days we wanted to spend with my parents in Leverkusen, before we opened ourselves to Dietmar's parents in the far north to Lauenburg / Elbe.

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Comfortable and with good food we enjoyed the time with our families. Finally, we had once again cat society, we still miss sometimes painfully on the SUMMER. So got the hairy fellows a special luxury treatment. It was played and cuddled, there was no tomorrow.

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So without winter Germany wanted us but do not dismiss to Tenerife. So we had to "learn" on icy roads themselves upon our return to the Rhineland, that Mother Nature has been very active there. Due to our late-night trip but the usual traffic chaos was fortunately spared us. All too soon our visit to Germany came to an end and after the last breakfast with my parents, went back to the airport.

But since many people wanted to relax over the holidays a little in the sun, was packed out and the plane was due to the high volume of air traffic a little delay. Good, that we were not under time pressure, because our holiday is yes, thank God, do not be over in a week again 

Thus, we could quite calmly deal with the hectic hustle and arrived in the late afternoon our SUMMER in San Miguel, who had been waiting well sheltered us. Back on board we drank once a "investors beer" in the cockpit in the warm sun.

To conclude this Christmas season stood us in the mood for fresh sushi. We ordered the sushi dishes on the menu once up and down and then we sat outside long at the beach promenade at our favorite Chinese in San Miguel.

Goodbyes, Birthdays and finally together again on board

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Last Friday promptly at 17:37 landed the jet of Norwegian Airlines on Gran Canaria. The end of the five weeks since well cultured Strohwitwer-existence approached in large steps. In other words, Katja was back on board! Not, that it would have been boring or too quiet, but the joy on my "better half" was great. The luggage was next to all kinds of personal items and a travel bag, which was well stocked with tasty and above all homemade Christmas cookies. It worked out well, that we were on the way to Las Palmas with the car by Lars von catamaran JOY OF LIFE and his two friends Michi Hamburger and Olli, to the birthday of Frank (HIS CAYLUNA) and Torsten (THE INFINITY) to celebrate together. We arranged for almost three months ago in Lagos, that we all want to meet on this day in Las Palmas again, to toast the good time together, before our paths would probably separated for a long time. All of our friends wanted to cross the Atlantic in the next few days and continue their journey in the Caribbean continue, while yet another year, we in the Canary Islands, the Azores and spend on the coast of Spain and Portugal want. The ceremony was held in a Chinese restaurant with an excellent range of delicacies instead. After a big "Hello" Katja distributed in small bags some of your Christmas cookies in the round. There is such a thing with the Christmas atmosphere at 26 ° C and shorts. In Germany people drink mulled wine and brandy punch and cold from the nose, while we are isotonic drinks and ice cold beer on the table have J The evening was a great success, especially since even had joined us a few other sailors, the worried with your stories for a lot of joy. Around midnight we were all in high spirits again back on the boats. The evening was really fun!

The next morning, Katja finally got to admire our new wind generator on the equipment rack. Two weeks ago, I ordered the part in Germany and then with the help of Lars, who runs a hamburger forwarding, to Gran Canaria exported to our "Yacht in Transit". Here I learned very interesting information about customs and formalities. All things, may again be determined later very useful. The second wind turbine has the task, to optimize our energy balance and recharge the batteries when we are at sea or at anchor without shore power on the go. I have to admit, I was really proud of, as the generator then the first time supplied power and the new masts, on which it is attached, almost perfectly-fitted to the instrument carrier. Once you've made yourself such an installation, then you know the more appreciated, what our Yacht Service Gutowski has done in Grömitz over the winter all in good working.

This morning at 06:25 picked us up the alarm clock from the bunks. In gut 30 Minutes we definitely wanted Lars, Michi and Olli adopt yet. Just in time for sunrise, the trip should go to Grenada in the Caribbean. The three guys were very dear to us from heart, because we had spent a very good and extremely fun time together. So sad was the farewell to one side for us, so exciting and thrilling is the trip for the 3 His comrades. Once these machines were started and solved the stern lines, it also went quickly out of the harbor out to the west. Tonight at 19:00 UTC, we will set up the radio on and ask 12.356Mhz, as it is this going so.

In the coming days, we still expect the CAYLUNA SY and SY INFINITY to a stop here in Pasito Blanco before these are then sail to Cape Verde and the Caribbean.

Anyway, we are looking forward, that we are together again on our SUMMER and will soon leave for pastures new. The berth is here to 3. Paid in December and slowly we also want to start planning again. But always nice and slow, so my dear wife can be completely healthy again. Our trip is fortunately not a "sprint" but rather a "long-distance race" and that is known not to be decided in the first round J

On to Leverkusen – a colorful bird and a brisk beetles

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The past two weeks have run an unscheduled for us and once it has been confirmed, that life is not really predictable. It began with Katie's surprising message about three weeks ago, had to remain much longer than expected in Germany due to a pending OP. Of course I wanted to stand by my Katja at this time and had booked a flight to Cologne / Bonn. At the airport I put it as a souvenir for a talking parrot in the backpack. If they already have to see in the morning from the window of your triple room in the sad misty sky, it should nevertheless be able to enjoy at least the pretty and colorful bird with hooked beak. Just in time before departure on Friday luckily got the message, that the OP was successful. Throughout the day kept me Beate (Katie's mom) about the events up to date and in the evening I noticed a sigh of relief when Katja me after the “Wake up” said, that as far as your go well. With this message in luggage journey home was then much more relaxed. Arrived shortly after midnight in Cologne was waiting Katie's friend Karen on me and brought me to Leverkusen to our apartment. It was a very nice feeling, that all the time was always someone there for me. The past week then designed primarily as, that the day was reserved for Katja and I usually spend the evening at Katie's parents.

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So DC on Saturday morning we went to Katja to Cologne. Katie's friend Karen had lent me your VW Passat for the whole week (!) and therefore I needed only 30 Minutes for the trip to the hospital. The room was in the 5. Floor and I was glad, that Katya had brought the whole ordeal seemingly well behind. Even the bird did not miss its effect and got the same a place on the bedside table. It turned out, that the OP has been considerably more complex than planned. Katja but only meant, that she was glad, that the doctors have done such a good job. Two hours later I was on my way home, because Katie's loyal friend Anja and Beate also wanted to come. In the evening, I told you then “Good night” and then went on to Aachen. Ralf and Kerstin our sailing friends from the SY Lothlorien invited your friends traditionally a Feuerzangenbowle a. Somehow I felt after the last 36 Rotated hours as indicated by the Wolf, but of course I was glad I was also very, Ralf and Kerstin by our expert learning in Brest and the beautiful time together in the Marina, to see again. So I spent a very nice evening with delicious punch, delicious food, nice people in a beautiful house. For a subsequent Gastgeschenk I must still leave with something, because I did not get to the range.

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Actually, more spontaneous, I visited then the end of the week my old buddy Gerd from Düren, who had risen recently, a new race car. After his call, if I would not even look at me the good piece, there was no stopping. One of the few things, I really miss, is the track. From the hospital, there were only a few miles to his house. After a great “Hello” with Gerd, Mike and Marco I felt really good. All these guys I've known for many years of the race on the Nordschleife. With Marco, Walli and Benni could I 2011 the best ever for me 24 Go-hour race on the Nordschleife. Team spirit, a great atmosphere and a great car made this race a very special experience for me. It will appear on my personal hit list always on top.

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The boys told with such enthusiasm by the “VW Fun Cup” Racing series, I felt transported back directly into the time, as we drove RCN. These were some of the nicest times ever on the Nordschleife. After the evening was clear, that we are together in 2015 the 25 Would deny hour race in Spa. The anticipation is huge! 🙂

On Wednesday I was able to pick up my Katja from the hospital. Together but everything is much more fun. Yesterday we went for me back to Gran Canaria on our SUMMER. Until then Katja on Friday 28. November comes back to me, there is still a lot to do. I'll probably Verholen our SUMMER to Las Palmas in the north of the island, because there the birthday party of Frank and the farewell will be held by some sailor friends, which are then sail to the Caribbean. Katja und ich wollen auf jeden Fall dabei sein 🙂

 

 

Planning is overrated

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If all had gone according to plan, I would be sitting back in the warm sun in Madeira. When I look around me but so, Although it is warm and the sun shines, aber Madeira ist das definitiv nicht 🙂 Irgendetwas ist wohl schief gelaufen…..

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Reason for my stay in the country have included some doctor visits, which were routinely on the calendar. And apparently I'm like a car in a age, where ever notice hidden defects at TÜV. So the doctors now imposed ban sailing and I had a “Werkstatttermin” arrange for mid-November. Nothing really dramatic, but you must fix just yet. The end of November I will be fit to return to the SUMMER again.

Unfortunately, our travel schedule was now but a little confused. Actually yes stood at the next island group. Upon my return, we wanted to sail to the Canary Islands and spend the cold winter months. For Gran Canaria visit had been announced and the end of November would leave from there many of our friends in the Caribbean.

At the moment we are trying, to get all these dates under one roof. The design looks like, that the Dietmar SUMMER brings to the Canaries and then I come across this again there. We'll keep you up to date, if the planning is concrete and ripe for.

Until then, I use here in Germany the forced break, to do all the things, which have accumulated. In addition, it is also very nice, time again with “old” To spend friends. Denn direkte Gespräche sind doch nicht mit Emails zu vergleichen 🙂

Even from a distance I try Dietmar course support, as well as I can. Whether it comes to the mooring organization on Gran Canaria or telephone Kitchen Tips, I do my best, if I can not already be on site as planned.