The Journey -
Leaving Germany on Rosy

I'm writing this on Sat 16th April 2005, at Eisenhuttenstadt.  Mike's flu is getting better and better, so our planned departure on Monday 18th April is now definitely on, barring unforeseen circumstances - like rain.

I have to say that I am extremely nervous about the next two months.  About 90% of our journey will be on 'canalised' rivers, which we can expect to be running at about 3 kph.  Personally, I'm a firm believer in narrow boats on canals, or dreamy rivers like the Thames in summer.  Narrow boats on moving water (and open water) bother me.  A lot!!!

Having said that, I've been following the exploits of the Tuesday Night Club in their explorations of the farther reaches of the UK canal system as detailed in Canal Boat Magazine.  They show that adventurous boating is entirely possible in the UK.

My current nervousness is not based on a fear of death.  In the first place, can't say that I am fearful of death, and secondly, I think one would have to be extremely unlucky/careless to be killed whilst canal boating - on moving water or otherwise.  My fear is the damage to treasured possessions on board that would occur if too much water came on board - as in a sinking or capsize - things like books and photos.

As a safety measure, whilst on moving water, I (nearly) always wear a life jacket.  Mine has no 'built-in' buoyancy - so is a very slim-line model, and is not at all cumbersome to wear.  It will self inflate on contact with water, so I should be safe even if I'm knocked out whilst falling overboard/capsizing or w.h.y.

SERENDIPITY

There have been ongoing aerial problems on Rosy.  There is a car radio on board, with the aerial affixed to the roof.  Aerial No. 1 was knocked off at its base by a southern Oxford Canal bridge when the water was running a bit high.  No. 2 first broke during operations with the boat shaft, but with a bit of drilling/tapping/bodging it kept going for another couple of years until the bicycle attacked it.  I have no hopes of the present one lasting for more than a few months.  A couple of weeks ago, I realised that the solution is to use a moveable aerial - like a mag(netic) mount that radio hams use.  Last week, I was idly looking at the scrap metal skip that the Yacht Club have - and there was a dilapidated looking mag mount aerial.  An hour later it was a gleaming stainless steel aerial, with a new co-axial tail, and the inner connections de-rusted.

Later ….  Written on Sunday 24 April.

It's been quite a week.

Last Monday we finally left Eisenhuttenstadt, via the 12+ metre drop down the lock onto the River Oder, and then via the formalities of passing out of Germany and into Poland - which latter only took about 15 minutes.  Then a whiz down the River Oder to Frankfurt (on the German bank of the river) and Slubice (on the Polish side) - which is where we moored.  The journey was extremely swift as our 4 or 5 kph through the water had to be added to the 4 to 6 kph of the current - somewhat faster than we had been advised.  After shooting the road bridge at Frankfurt, we had to turn and come upstream against the current in order to get into the backwater mooring in Slubice.  This we did, and moored up safely.

I went off shopping for some Polish beer, and then took Fanny out for a run.  After dinner, some German friends appeared, and we repaired to a nearby bar for some entertainment.  Whilst away from our boats, our ensigns were stolen which, we hope, is not to be a foretaste of the rest of our stay in Poland.  Hence I have now started flying my newly authorised Blue Ensign.

In the course of the evening, it was suggested that our German friends could join us the next day for the cruise.  The wives had to work, but the two men were free, and appeared, on time, the next morning.

Again, we had a fast, down river trip - once we got out of the backwater and onto the main river.  This was a tricky operation as we had to shoot through one arch of the bridge and then cross to the far side of the river - across the current, which was trying to carry us down onto a buoyed shoal.  I was extremely apprehensive about this, especially as no other boats were around to show us how to do it.  However, Mike had done it before, so I followed him, at a discreet distance, and we performed the evolution with no real problem.  Then whizzing on down the river Oder to Kostryn where we turned right (eastward) onto the Warta/Varta.  What a change!!  Instead of whizzing along, it was now higher engine revs to fight our way upstream against a 4 or 5 kph current.  We only had to do this for about 50 minutes to get to our planned stop for the night.  One of the wives appeared to take our passenger home.  Lutz, incidentally, is a retired actor, and his farewells are particularly well executed.  After shaking hands, he steps back a few paces, whips his woolly hat off his head with his right hand, and sweeps this hand down towards his left foot in a deep and magnificent bow.  Then erect, with both arms spread out towards you, he shakes his fists in joy, saying thank-you and farewell.

Our mooring was disturbed at one point by some incoming stones.

The next two days were similar, with long plonks against the current - expensive work as the engines are working hard and drinking a lot of diesel.  The countryside was lovely.  The air was cold, with a breeze that was quite chilly.  The river is in an extremely large plain, and meanders about a bit.  The low banks give way to marshes, with lots of willows and alders around, and extensive reed beds.  Wonderful wild life.  Hundreds of swans and many storks and cranes are commonly seen.  Reed buntings, red kite, a white tailed eagle, gulls, golden eye ducks, geese (various) … the list goes on.  On the first day we eventually gave in to the debilitating effects of the strong, cold head wind, and moored up between two trees.  We had seen no-one all day, and no boats, and only the occasional house.  The second day was similar, but we were more prepared for the wind, AND we saw a boat.

The next morning was a red letter day as I saw my first otter - about ten yards away, upwind and downstream of our mooring, sitting on a tree stump.  We watched each other for about ten seconds, until it hopped behind the stump and was gone.  Later, a barge came downstream towards us, and we all exchanged cheery waves.

I also had a problem on starting the engine - the rev counter didn't register any revs.  We tracked the problem down to the new, smaller pulley I had fitted to the alternator, in order that the engine can spin the alternator more quickly, so that it can deliver a good charge at lower revs.  The new pulley had split in two, so that the fan belt was slipping through it rather than turning it.  Luckily I still had the old pulley, so we refitted it, and all was well.

The next day was similar, though we passed through a town - Gorzow.  It looked pretty ghastly, with ten-storey apartments crowded in together.  At the far end there was a landing point, with an extensive covered market behind it - worth stopping on the way back, I think.  We carried on up the river to the village of Santok where we found a mooring on some piles set out from the bank.  I moored on the inside of the piles, Mike on the outside.  The plank from Rosy just reached the shore, allowing us to reach dry land.  In the morning we visited the village shop for some supplies before setting out.  The river had dropped overnight, and Rosy was somewhat aground, but by shifting some internal ballast, and with Mike and June standing on the side deck we slithered out and away, and left the Warta for the River Notec.  This is a bit narrower than the Warta, but still with a current, and still meandering through similar countryside.  No proper mooring, no water points, no nothing - this is REAL boating.

In the evening we moored up solidly as the next day is a rest day - not because it's a Sunday, but because it's a Grand Prix day, and Mike likes his motor racing!!

More soon.