Category Archives: Landau Flüge

It’s SUMMER-Time again

28. December 2014Katja Henke

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.

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.

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.

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.

Above the clouds

18. December 2014Katja Henke

If the weather on the coast looks rather uncomfortable and thick clouds covering the blue sky, Tenerife is an ideal opportunity, to escape the gray. Most of the clouds are a clear view of the sun block, at a height of 1000 to 2000 Meters. Tenerife has but a lot of high mountains and volcanoes to offer, to which one can escape up through the clouds. That's why we planned another trip to the Teide National Park for today rather gray day. So "snaked" we are with our Fiat Panda again high up into the mountains and eventually drove the last gray and damp clouds. Then finally we arrived in the sunshine. Below us, the cloud cover spread like a carpet of. A sight, probably everyone knows from the airplane.

Despite the good 2000 Altitude it was very warm in the sun. After this first photo stop we followed the only road in the Teide National Park. The air up here was wonderfully clear and the sky was deep blue. The landscape, who had created the volcanic eruptions up here, ranged from bizarre, sharp lava rock fields over flat, black and gray sand dunes to greenish shimmering boulder. This impressive images could not even escape Dietmar and up here we also need our favorite topic Do we need again to stop and make "a photo?“ nicht zu diskutieren 🙂 Nach knapp einer Stunde erreichten wir das Besucherzentrum inklusive einem Café und beschlossen, take a lunch break in the sun. Before we made a short trip to the souvenir shop. Here Dietmar soon found. Since we intend in the future to sail in rather warmer climes, I could but persuade him, that this great hat makes no sense on board with us.

From our place in the sun on the terrace of the cafe had a great view of the summit of Teide. This was about another 1500 Lightly covered feet above us and was covered with snow. Not far away we saw the cable car, almost all leading up to the summit. The gondola really seemed tiny against the massive mountain. We had to take a closer look and were on our way.

Although still pleasant temperatures prevailed at the base station, it has already been alerted on large table : On the top: 5° and 40 km/h Wind !!!! Meeting, but also a bit Winterfeeling. We were well prepared. Dick packed we were five minutes later with his feet in the snow and marveled at the great view.

A narrow path led around the crater , which we arrived in the hope, that it would be a trail, followed. After a good 25 We gave them hope minutes but up and turned around. This path led clearly back to the base terminal! The guide I read, that it would be about five hours to get there on the road. We had not planned, denn wir hatten doch schon die Rückfahrt mit der Seilbahn bezahlt 🙂

On the way back to the station it was perceived dimensions uphill all the time, and the thin air made us very to create two. We fought so both the whole time against our evil Canary cough, of refusing to be recovering from even despite intensive "zone therapy". Good, das wir unsere Reise im Auto fortsetzen konnten 🙂

At the end of the national park could be seen on the ridge several unusual looking building. It was the "Izana Atmospheric Reseach Center". Up here you can because of the particularly pure and thus clear the air and mostly cloudless skies particularly well explore the stars and the universe.

With a clear view of it was for us unfortunately over a short time later, denn es ging wieder bergab 🙂 So kamen wir zurück an die Küste unter den dichten Wolken und mit Nieselregen. Today we had rain Weather successfully struck a bargain! Let's see, whether we will be back tomorrow so successful.

400 Kilometers in three days

14. December 2014Katja Henke

The island of Tenerife had a lot of other interesting towns and landscapes to offer according to our guide next to the capital Santa Cruz. Starting today, we finally had a car for three days and were able to expand our exploration radius significantly.

Unfortunately, in the Canaries, the weather in December is rather changeable and according to weather forecast rain was announced for our first trip to the north of the island. Therefore, we began our journey of exploration in the south and followed the coast road west. Similarly as in Gran Canaria, the south of the island is firmly in the hands of Tourism in the form of many hotel facilities, Restaurants and Bars. So we left the tourist resorts unnoticed and quickly on the left and put only in "Los Gigantes" a break.

Los Gigantes is located in the far west of the island on the edge of the Teno massif. Where the cliffs fall steeply ten kilometers of almost 500 Meters down steeply into the sea. A truly impressive sight. This is also the only port located on the west side of the island. But this is not suitable for boats with depth, because it has a strong tendency to silting. So we would probably stay with our almost two meters draft already in the driveway or anywhere else stuck. For this reason, there were only motor boats with shallow draft and only a handful of local sailing yachts at selected locations. Too bad for us, for here we would like to have inserted a stopover.

We left the coast and wound our way up into the mountains. Between countless banana plantations, the landscape was always greener. Our goal was the place "Masca". A former "Pirate's Nest" and beautifully situated on six hundred meters high in a canyon with sea view.

The town itself consisted of only a handful of houses, but the view in the steep, green valley was a dream. In a small inn we made our lunch break and eating the typical wrinkled and delicious "Canarian potatoes" to a cool Shandy.

For the way back to the port we used the last of the sun and drove up high to the national park "Teide". The Teide is the highest mountain / volcano in the Canary Islands with 3718m height . Here we got before a first impression of the bizarre and impressive landscape of craters with diameter and 17Km from the cool temperatures, in the 3000 Prevail meters high. Not without reason Fiction films were here already shot several Science. For our hiking trips, we will now probably think of appropriate clothing.

On Saturday we were on our way to Porto de la Cruz. But first there was a visit to the Ferriteria (Hardware store) on the agenda, the only two highway exits was removed and was clearly visible from the highway. Since Dietmar had to get only a few things, I decided, to wait in the car and browse a bit in the guide. Keine besonders weise Entscheidung 🙂 Nach über einer Stunde teilte ich meinem geliebten Ehemann per SMS mit, I was now completely but cooked and cooked through and if he would not thaw immediately, this would be an immediate separation principle. A short time later he was beaming beside the car, loaded with a bag full of great things. He would have been only half an hour away, or??? 🙂 Auf meiner Uhr waren es irgendwie fast eineinhalb Stunden 🙂 Zeit ist eben relativ. Especially in a male shopper.

Then we finally go on the island highway in the north of Tenerife. Unfortunately, here, the rain had not yet moved. He probably did not know our weather forcast. Nevertheless, we strolled in a rain break through Porto de la Cruz. The city is apparently firmly in hand by English tourists, where the beautiful old town seemed particularly appealing with typical Canarian houses. We personally liked Santa Cruz something better. But this impression could have caused the unfriendly weather.

Right on the water, we found a great bakery with attached café, in which it not only many different dark breads and tasty cakes, but also gave Christmas cookies and studs. This also of course we could not say "No" and tried some cakes.

Refreshed, we followed the coast then head west to Garachico. In Internet Dietmar had come across a report, the reported positive of a marina in Garachico. Neither in Imray leaders still in its current charts we had been able to find this mysterious port. Now we wanted to look up on the spot times, if was some truth to the story.

Even from the shore road you could see the masts of sailboats clearly and a small road took us directly to the new marina. Modern and well maintained but not yet fully completed, there is a gated community in front of a gigantic high breakwater.

We were not particularly surprised when we have a panel on the harbor edge endeckten, this port as the EU project distinguished. Schade, that he was so far not been marketed better. Nowhere we could not find contact details of the port offices. But we managed with the help of our accumulated knowledge of Spanish and with "hands and feet", to get by the guards the phone number of the harbor master. We want to see once in the course of the next week, under what conditions one can make a stop here. The adjacent city, which is within easy walking distance, We liked that is very good!

To come back to the Marina San Miguel we choose, to take the shortest route via Masca. By now the weather had so suffered, that there was no nice views to enjoy more and the rain drummed violently and loudly on our car window. Also Masca was in this weather deserted. So we had to take the narrow street just before boulders into eight, the wind and rain from the steep slopes spin on the way. Other cars were barely on the go.

On the other side of the mountains was the bad weather will be nothing to see. Even at the port no drop of rain had fallen. On the boat we made ourselves with a nice movie from our video library cozy . Until now we had not met any new sailors in port, with which we were able to spend lovely evenings. A bit went with us to the "winter blues" wide. Therefore, we decided, but to fly over Christmas in Germany and cold to visit our families. Wir hatten Glück und fanden sogar noch einen günstigen Flug 🙂

The next morning the sun was trying to compensate for the weather the last two days and immediately started a "holiday well-being" wide. In Les Galletas at the harbor we had breakfast outside on the terrace of a cafe and bought then still freshly caught tuna directly from fishermen for the evening. After this was safely stowed before the heat on the SUMMER in the refrigerator, we drove back north. We actually want to go to the Teide for hiking today, but still shrouded in thick clouds. In the north, the sun was beaming with steep and overgrown slopes. So we changed our plans very relaxed and were guided by the weather.

On to Santa Cruz

11. December 2014Katja Henke

Exactly at a quarter to ten we stood for a sporting walk to the bus stop, whose position we had scouted a precaution before dinner yesterday. Our parts and punctuality was of course in vain again, because the bus appeared as expected with Spanish "punctuality". This means, he had almost 15 Minutes late. He tried the minutes lost during the nearly hour rapid highway driving to Santa Crux catch up, what him on the ca. 60 Kilometer route and the 17 Stops temporarily succeeded. Arrived safely in the capital, Santa Cruz, we plunged immediately into the busy and lively city life.

After the first long walk in the hot sun along the water, we relaxed for a large and ice cold glass "Shandy"(Beer / soda) in a cafe opposite the ferry terminal. After some time we took the many winding streets and alleys of downtown targeted. In contrast to the hotel settlements as e.g.. in addition to our port, here is the real life of the inhabitants of Tenerife instead. We strolled by side- and the shopping streets, bought postcards and stamps for our friends at home and completed yet all sorts of different little things.

Highlights eines der der war "Market Our Lady of Africa" (The market our women from Africa). A huge area with an open market hall, many small shops and a market. Do everything, what culinary delights to offer the island and much more from distant countries such as. African specialties .

Time passed by very quickly. Shortly before our departure led us our way even in the impressively large department store "Corte Inglese", where you can find almost anything on seven floors, in order to fully equip in every respect. With department stores of this kind were e.g.. Karstadt Kaufhof or extremely successful in Germany a few years ago. Especially in the food- and delicatessen we felt from the pre-Christmas offer completely "run over". At the end we left the "luxury Temple" perhaps because yet again with empty shopping bags. The return bus ride was uneventful and the timetable agreed time almost exactly.

What you have to do everything, In order to receive a yellow fever vaccination

4. December 2014Katja Henke

Golf in Pasito Blanco, Gran Canaria is a very costly affair. So expensive, that Hille and Torsten her yesterday wider plan by the rates rejected again. So nothing was out of the second cozy evening and again was "goodbye" on the agenda. Langsam hatte ich wirklich genug 🙁 Aber auch diese Beiden sehen wir ja nächstes Jahr in der Karibik wieder und bis dahin, There are so emails and WhatsApp. After all, a small consolation.

Today we wanted to do two important things. Since the Marina Pasito Blanco has no free wifi access, I also wanted to have a prepaid data card for the Spanish mobile phones. Difficult it would be, the yellow fever vaccine, I absolutely needed for my trip with my mother in January, to get here in the Canaries. This was the first clearly easier task of the Twos

Gran Canaria is a popular German destination and repeatedly we had seen advertising for a German medical center in Maspalomas. So our first road led us there. Clearly visible billboards were already placed on the main road, nevertheless it took time, until we reach a shopping center and the right in this tiny practice (Medical Services!) had found. Aber immerhin sprach man dort deutsch 🙂 „Gelbfieberimpfung, since it could not be helped further! Who could help since, no idea. Perhaps the Centro de Salud? Where would the next, but you also do not know ". On the prima, an hour later and not one bit smarter we were back on the road.

Perhaps could indeed help the Internet. So we got out the data card and drove back to the port. Unfortunately, the Internet was also no clear information on the web. So we tried it once at the Port Office, perhaps had even an idea. There, they sent us back to Maspalomas to the hospital and when that might not help us, then the Centro de Salud. As a precaution, Dietmar had already picked out the Spanish word for yellow fever vaccination = = fiber amarilla and vacuna. And that was a very good thing, because unfortunately understood the lady at the counter of the hospital not a single word of English, let alone German. After we had made us the extent understandable, we got the answer here, that one can not help us. So on to the Centro de Salud. Armed with our fairly stylized map we just needed the help of two passers-by, until we reached the Spanish Health Authority.

The building was then put "Please take a number". After some time, we were also on the number. Again our Spanish skills were required. After some back-and -give us and the support of a young Spanish woman as an interpreter, which as we waited in line, We were in the north of the island, nach Las Palmas weitergeschickt. The friendly lady in the hall wrote us the name of the corresponding Institutes of such vaccinations and a phone number on. But an address she could not call us, unfortunately,. After all, we were once again taken a step further. Also gab es keinen Grund nicht optimistisch zu bleiben 🙂

Meanwhile, it was now afternoon and a bit annoyed we were already. How somehow expected, we could under the given phone number unfortunately not reach anyone. So we asked yet again the internet and found after some searching to match it finds an address. With this we fed our GPS and set off towards the 60km distant city of Las Palmas in the north of the island. The navigation system led us far from the city towards the harbor to a shabby industrial area into it - It really will be our destination?!? It really could not even be now. Nowhere was a reference to the Institute to find. Utterly frustrated we turned around and made our way back

Our way home took us a short time later at the Centro de Salud of Las Palmas by. We had nothing to lose and also asked here again for the address. There, too, we could be (of course) not help, but one further referred us to the University Hospital of Las Palmas. Since this was on our way back anyway, we tried our luck there too. Even the journey was a challenge. To get into the car park, we cheated us through the ambulance entrance. The main entrance was completely blocked due to construction and the lady at the information desk spoke no English course. But you sent us further to the first floor to a nice gentlemen, with which we could discuss our problem in English. And you will not believe it: We were too late (now it was already after five clock), but apparently the right place. Morning aged eight clock would us on the second floor in module 5 can help. Overjoyed, we made our final way home.

But our search was not over yet, then as it turned out the next morning.

Not punctually at eight clock, but after about half past nine and further 120 Km drive, We were after a short search against module 5 on the second floor. Fortunately, we did not need to stand in line and were able to try, to carry forward our concerns. And again we encountered complete lack of understanding: Seeding would not be here J Since there but the injection point. The exact address, but you could not tell us. The injection site was in a brown building close to the "Place de Belem". This place turned out to be a huge roundabout out front of the industrial port. Brown building there were many. The last part of the way then helped the police on the jumps. Only 400 Meters still separated us from the target, lay on the edge of the shabby industrial area, in which we had been yesterday.

When we finally arrived at the right place, We were pleasantly surprised. After an extensive vaccination advice we only had to overcome one last hurdle: The inoculation itself could not accept money, and the reason they sent us an invoice to the next bank. After all the various challenges we mastered this easy exercise without problems and were finally at noon both vaccinated against yellow fever.

The rest of the day we wanted to use, to explore the north of the island. To us our way led first by Acura.

In a cozy bar with tapas we celebrated our vaccination success, before we pretty, old town and the famous rum distillery "AREHUCAS" visited. The disappointing short tour of the rum factory was compensated by the subsequent "witty" tasting again and we stocked up on plenty for the next long evenings a.

We went high up into the mountains to Teror. The old town was completely deserted us. Very sad, because the old houses and churches were really to look gorgeous. Maybe it was because of the uncomfortable weather, which reigned high up in the mountains.

Also, we shot a short round, since Dietmar with his short pants, it intends to carry on throughout the winter, doch etwas frostig war 😉 Natürlich nicht diese Hose im Speziellen sondern kurze Hosen im Allgemeinen 🙂 Zum Schluss unserer Tour hatten wir uns noch einen ganz besonderen Leckerbissen aufgehoben. South of Las Palmas is still obtain a complete volcano crater remained, one can overlook great from a nearby mountain.

On the way back we took advantage of our set of wheels still an IKEA visit. Here we bought some stacking boxes, with which we wanted to bring more order into our ship. After a brief visit to the box-host (Mc Donald) we enjoyed a quiet evening together on board.

We also need to get visitors and soon say goodbye again :-) :-(

2. December 2014Katja Henke

After the first trip yesterday we had the first week back something quieter. For now, only the organization of a rental car and some internet work were on the "to-do" list. In addition, the guide would be studied extensively, to explore as much of the island over the next three car days.

In the late afternoon, the CAYLUNA announced, which would insert on their way to the Cape Verde still a short stopover in Pasito Blanco. Then we looked forward particularly. Especially therefore, because it would be so for the time being our last meeting. Only at the end 2015, be when we have crossed the Atlantic, We'll meet again.

So we stood expectantly at the bridge and took the linen. Although we did have until Friday evening saw us last time, the joy was great. So we left the first three do their final preparations, before we showed up with a bottle of white wine for dinner on board. Birgit had conjured all a great casserole for us, which was also completely plastered. All too soon, the time passed. Then, when the bread maker of CAYLUNA had finished his work and was a fresh fragrant bread for the crossing finished in the Pantry, We finished the nice evening. For tomorrow, so everyone wanted to be fit rested.

The CAYLUNA wanted to start early tomorrow is not the same at sunrise. So we did not have to put as in the JOY OF LIFE extracting the clock, but were after our breakfast even much too early in the neighboring bridge. Among other things, were some technical problems to solve, because Frank was received via shortwave no weather. Birgit had pre-cooked a delicious soup and equipped the galley for the crossing. Thus was still a lot to do and we decided, this time not to wave their handkerchiefs on the web, if the casting of lots CAYLUNA would Linens. Since I'm always built very close to the water, if shows only the word goodbye on the horizon, I was glad, that I was spared this long agony.

We started around 10:00 Clock and made for two with the island by car uncertain. First we led our way along the coast eastwards. Each pretty bays were completely built with hotels and apartments, the adventurous clung to the steep rock walls partly. In Porto de Mogan we stopped for a lunch break. Even from the street, you could see the large and busy harbor, the two of us really liked. However, we were not unhappy, to have landed in the rather quieter Pasito Blanco, for a steady stream of tourists pulled over all the time just before the webs and the boats moored there. Dort hätten wir uns doch wie auf dem Präsentierteller gefühlt 🙂 Wir gönnten uns in einem Cafe mit Hafenblick noch ein spätes Frühstück, before we turn our backs on the tourist part of Gran Canaria.

As soon as you leave the coast road with car, you enter a different world. Thus, the road wound up into the mountains. Traffic has increased after a short time significantly and we were traveling almost alone. Bizarre rock formations in some iridescent colors, at reservoirs and waterfalls, led us to become very narrow street in the center of the island to Roco Nublo, one of the highest peaks of Gran Canaria.

Almost four hours we cruised relaxed about the island, before we abstellten against six clock back our car in the parking lot at the harbor intact. Also for the evening friends had back in fashion in transit. The SY INFINITY was already on the other side of the harbor. Just across from our berth. That evening we left the kitchen cold and feasted together again at an Italian restaurant in Maspalomas. Since Hille and Tosten are avid golfers, they decided spontaneously, but to stay another day and play a round of golf. The golf course we had already tested and found to be "good" :-). Thus, we were looking forward to the unexpectedly prolonged stay and another nice evening.

Finally back - time for the first voyage of discovery

30. November 2014Katja Henke

After two days back in the heat I had acclimatized me again something and Sunday at noon stood me so inclined, to explore the surroundings of the port closer. After a brief tour of the very well-maintained apartment complex with a children's playground and a small supermarket we went to the beach. If one were to follow the coast further, could be determined in Maspalomas achieve a good half hour. Or so we thought if.

Since there is not as much variety was offered at the harbor, got us in the mood for city and people. So we moved to the advent of coffee with brought, homemade cookies together go. Unfortunately, there was a long stretch of coast in the current water level walk impassable. Since reversing for me but not out of the question, I decided, so that we could walk to the cliff along and above - of up there so wonderfully green and well maintained golf course applied also looked much more inviting. And he was not even fenced. So what should happen? I just losstiefelte, Dietmar followed me then cursing and scolding alarm, because he did not want to get one of the golfers on the cap.

The golfers were eyeing us suspiciously while, but apparently we looked so harmless or perhaps dangerous, that no one dared, to contact us. We were lucky, because all the players seemed to understand their craft so far, that we were not shot by a stray bullet. After a quarter of an hour we approached unmolested the end of the course. As far as everything was already went well. But now a new problem emerged in the form of a two-meter-high wire fence at the end of the square on. Now that would really not have been necessary L Just when we decided to turn back, I discovered a large gap in the fence. On the other hand we find ourselves in a moment while dry rain reservoir, but the last meters to the beach promenade should probably also to master yet. And as so often in life, solved this problem by itself Seconds later ...

"If your on the promenade well, You go here best through the sewer tunnel! Then you can easily climb up on the left side of the wall. "Came a voice from the darkness. Ok, what now? Ignore or go? If you will kindly responded to German, you're definitely curious first. Inside the tunnel it had set up a homeless domesticated. This told us willingly and very polite the way forward. Perplexed, we found ourselves three minutes later on the boardwalk again.

After a little adventure trip we still enjoyed the stroll to the bustling promenade with restaurants, Hotels and shops. Back to the port but we chose because of the falling darkness a less exciting itinerary. By taxi it went safely through the illuminated streets back to the SUMMER.

For dinner, we treated ourselves to something special: A can of brought by Kerstin and Tommy bavarian white sausages with sweet mustard. At first we were the "canned white sausages" something reserved about, Finally, we were just real and fresh white sausage from the local butcher used in Allershausen. But after the first bite we enjoyed genuine feeling in Bavaria evening pleasant 20 ° C in Gran Canaria.

Goodbyes, Birthdays and finally together again on board

30. November 2014Dietmar Henke

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

22. November 2014Dietmar Henke

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.

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.

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.

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 🙂

Finally change – we take a boat trip :-)

23. October 2014Katja Henke

Since this afternoon would take off my flight back to Germany, was another dive this morning unfortunately not possible. So when I could not even look out at the water for fish, then we wanted to do on the water just. So we sat ready on time at ten-thirty, to go with the camera on whaling. Finally change, mit einem Boot sind wir ja schon ewig nicht mehr unterwegs gewesen 🙂

Around Madeira, there are relatively many whales. Sorry, we had seen no, as we were traveling with our SUMMER. Last week, almost 500 Been spotted off our port three sei whales meters. The animals up to 18 Be meters long and weigh between 20 and 30 Tons. Unfortunately we had let this special opportunity and made no boat trip since we did not know, that the whale-watching boats launch directly from our harbor. Now we wanted but some games a try. Let's see, if we were lucky.

Normally the boat operator gets information from a so-called “Spotter”, located on land on a mountain and scans the sea with a powerful binocular. Unfortunately, today was the view rather moderate and thus we were on our own. After a short time we were able to find. In the distance we saw another whale watching boat, that a large group observed pilot whales. This can be adopted by our coming not fazed.

So we had the opportunity, long good fifteen minutes to watch the animals right on the boat. The pilot whales are also “Grindwal” stated. They can be up to eight feet long and weigh up to three tons. In our group, the largest animal was about five feet long and very impressive imposing. In addition, there was also a calf, that always remained close to his mother.

After this first success we went in search of other animals. Unfortunately wanted the dolphins, are quite common in this area were well on the way, not show today. For us it was not so bad, dolphins because we had quite often seen. For the other holidaymakers, who were traveling with us, did us but sorry.
But if only the rapid travel in the well be motorized boat was a pleasure, take a bit of roller coaster. A little further away from the land of the east wind had already rebuilt light waves, die mit zunehmendem Bootsspeed wie Sprungrampen wirkten 🙂

On the way back we met our Grindwalfamilie after once. There are simply beautiful and impressive animals. On closer observation we were sure, that it was not the first pilot whales, we had seen. On our way to Lisbon, we were surprised us over the lazy dolphins, who came to our boat in the past sunrise but very slowly and leisurely. For Dolphins, it would certainly have been slowly, aber Grindwale sind wohl immer viel gemütlicher unterwegs 🙂

Back in the harbor it was then first goodbye. The bags were packed and I was on my way to cold Germany. We had cleaned out properly in the last week. My luggage consisted of a huge bag filled with warm clothing, that were clearly redundant on board, and one of our two folding bikes. After much back-and-forth we decide, but not take the bikes, because they do take a lot of space below deck. Also, my backpack was filled to bursting with other things, were not required on board. So packed like a beast of burden, Dietmar took me to the airport. Wait for me in Germany ten event- and busy days.

SY CESARINA

A log of our travels