Category Archives: Landau Flüge

Hiking is…..

31. March 2015Katja Henke

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

To the east of Gran Canaria was good to see.

Alone, alone……

30. March 2015Katja Henke

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A short hiking trip :-)

28. March 2015Katja Henke

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

To do much

27. March 2015Katja Henke

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Not a good day

24. March 2015Katja Henke

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

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

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

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

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

Reunion with the SY Atanga

22. March 2015Katja Henke

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

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

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

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

Now they have broken it :-(

8. March 2015Katja Henke

The port of La Gomera seems to be a good training ground training boats. Since we are here, we could already see various training strategies. Zentrales Element der Segelausbildung ist wohl das „Rückwärts Fahren“ unter Motor 🙂

We were able to watch a boat, the import an entire afternoon again and again backwards into the harbor, turned around and went back out again. Since it was an almost giddy while watching. You already said, To see an extended channel there, where the boat went over again along, like a trail.

Another team we noticed particularly because of their high safety awareness. Life jackets are definitely important. It is only the question, if you have to wear them even in the harbor, if at- and drop exercises. Auch das Tragen von Ölzeug und Segelhandschuhen bei 25° und Sonnenschein erschien uns etwas übertrieben 🙂

On Sunday morning the crew of a charter boat practiced in the empty boxes at our dock backward and forward again purely out. I sat at breakfast in exactly the right place and watched the spectacle. Actually saw the whole quite skillfully ... .to the young man at the wheel probably mistook forward and backward and the boat began to swing back against a pontoon. Man, has the gescheppert L Even from a distance you could see, that this was probably assumed not get off so lightly. My two men were equal all ears. Now you some entertainment but first had to keep the same curious and could not dive from the boat.

After the crew had but then again safely moored the boat at the dock, there was no stopping.

For this charter crew of the holiday ends well before it has even begun. Very sad, because the boys had made a really nice impression. For Dietmar the extent of damage, however, was like water on his mills, as one of its two “ungeliebtesten” Boat brands was affected (and it did not was a Hanseatic :-)). Had we gone the maneuver with our SUMMER, hätte sicher der Steg nachgegeben 🙂

After the morning excitement we gave us quite a leisurely Sunday routine of the island towards. As at midday took off even the Crusader, who had arrived in the early morning, we had the island again for us. So we walked instead of lunch eating an ice cream, because a holiday is not a Proper without creaming for Uncle Tom.

Before we sail back tomorrow to Tenerife, Dietmar still wanted to address a few little things on the boat. So I had to tinker Mr and made a trip to the beach. Although the water was still quite fresh, but if it was then first inside, ging es schon 🙂 Und die warme Hafendusche war ja direkt ums Eck.

Our last night in La Gomera we left the café on the square in Baraquito and cappuccino finish as well as many of the locals, followed the Sunday evening there along the top match of the Spanish League.

La Gomera the clocks tick or otherwise

7. March 2015Katja Henke

Before we set off again Saturday morning with the car on the way, I wanted to quickly buy a few things on the market. Even when leaving the port area you could feel this wonderful lazy weekend mood. Today had somehow all time. The café gentlemen sat together at the first coffee. Not yet a great many, because it was still quite early. Also available on the market it went leisurely. On bread stand chatted merrily, while bread and cakes changed hands. I could since the offer of the 15 Not withstand years on the island live from Switzerland. Fresh brioche and raisin bread was long since gone my way. In the afternoon, even some cake wandered to my shopping basket. So it but not quite as unhealthy approached, I bought then but still sufficient vitamins (associated with fewer calories) in the form of fresh fruit and vegetables.

After breakfast we made our way to Hermigua. Particularly struck us was the old boat davit. Has been in operation since the port of San Sebastian, it was no longer needed and the entire metal structure was 1957 dismantled and sold. Since only are the brick foundations, it is not so easy, imagine, as here earlier bananas were loaded. But in the age of the Internet you need actually no more imagination, man kann einfach „googlen“ 🙂

How it looks today

And the sooner

The natural swimming pool, which opened sometime thereafter at this point, has not enforced. The stainless steel staircase, which once led into the water, was also dismantled and the small restaurant is empty.

Further north, the town of Agulo is located high above the sea. The old town is very well maintained with a total of detached houses with red tile roofs, but also with many vegetable gardens.

On the square in front of the San Marcos Church be the night before St. Marko (24. April) lit large Sandelholzfeuer, jump over the especially the young men vied. We left it rather less sporty at the planned walk and returned before heading into the bar on the main road. Here too…..Weekend mood! The men were sitting together over wine and one way or another cigar was smoked. Auf ortsfremde Gäste war man eigentlich gar nicht eingestellt 🙂

Before we started our way back across the island by the Garajonay National Park, we visited the visitor center Juego de Bolas Las Rosas. Here you can get interesting information about the island and the National Park and can arrange tours.

To the visitor center around a large garden is, in which are found many plants of the flora of La Gomera.

It was particularly interesting for us but the area, in the old traditional crafts and skills of the islanders were explained in detail. An example is "El Silbo", The whistling language of La Gomera, which developed due to the difficulties of communication in the mountainous landscape of the island. So that they will not be lost, it is now available in the schools again as an additional course and enjoys great popularity.

The way back through the laurel forest, originates in the cloud forest Terziär, was really great. More than 20 different tree species, 18 Ferns and 120 Shrubs and herbs form part of an almost impenetrable thicket.

The whole day it was quite hazy, but in the afternoon, the view was adopted complet. So we were much earlier than expected at the port, as a lookout point with no prospect does not really invites you to linger. So the cake in the morning bought was used and we observed a cup of coffee from the SUMMER of, as well as San Sebastian disappeared behind a thick veil.

“Uncle Tom” an Bord

6. March 2015Dietmar Henke

The time had come, keeping one's word, I in December 2012 have given a human, with whom I on a racing yacht of Gran Canaria across the Atlantic to St. Lucia had sailed. We are talking about “Uncle Tom” from England. Katja and I have spent the last year shortly after the beginning of our trip several weeks at Ann and Tom in Felixstow / Suffolk. A beautiful time, in which we have closed the two very into our hearts.

On Monday at 12:30 landed the plane on time in Tenerife and against 13:30 we were with Uncle Tom together aboard our SUMMER. Tom has long had to do with his life boats and sailed almost everything, which has a mast and floats. Ann and Tom have just been a busy parade behind, to live closer to your children and numerous grandchildren. Another good reason, to spend a few days relaxing on the sunny Canary Islands with us.

On Wednesday at 8:45 we have cast off the lines in San Miguel and applied course in San Sebastian / La Gomera. The sailing developed as recently as often: only little wind, then no wind and 12 Miles from Gomera there again 30 Knots of wind and wave tidy “on the ears”. It was once interesting for me to see, as it looks, wenn der Steuermann eine Dusche nach der anderen einstecken muss 🙂 Normalerweise war es ja meistens ich, was wet. However, the role change also had other advantages. Mit jeder heftigen Dusche von Tom lernten wir auch ein neues Schimpfwort kennen 🙂 Keine Sprachschule würde diese in ihr Programm aufnehmen!

On Friday we took the car in the west of the island to Valle. The roads are really excellent and very curvy. Unfortunately, I was not allowed to drive faster than Katja allowed me. If the tires started to “whimper” like a puppy, hatte ich schon Ihre Knie im Kreuz 🙁 Naja, das 24H-Rennen ist ja glücklicherweise schon gebucht 🙂 Derweil Katja den botanischen Obstgarten von Valle besuchte, Tom and I were on us, the “Alexander von Humboldt II” to visit from Bremerhaven. The ship was 2011 known as the sister ship of the Becks advertising “Alexander von Humboldt” built. That's the ship with the green sails and the song “Sail away…live your dreams….”

What a coincidence! Aboard the Tall Ship I discovered a man, the known seemed to me because of its exceptional hairstyle. It was actually Frank Mestemacher, I ago 2 Years in the course “Leak and fire fighting” have met on the Baltic Sea. Frank has stayed with me as a real sailor in the traditional sense memories. He wrote the book “Celestial navigation” written and is a master at dealing with the sextant, the highest art of navigation. Frank could also remember me and so he invited us, his “World of traditional ships” know each other better. Since he was in Tom come to the right address, because he has previously worked for several years at a shipyard and built wooden boats.

The Ship “Alexander von Humboldt II” was only 2011 newly built and spends the winter in the Canary Islands and the summer in the Baltic Sea. A maximum 78 People can be accommodated on board. The team consists of volunteers and paying guests. However, such a ship is also extremely expensive to maintain and so, at least a portion of the costs are covered. And the fan base gets bigger every year!

We wanted Frank of course not interfere too long at his watch and gave us just under 2 Hours then passed again by board. The sailors will take in the next week to Lisbon and then move back to the Baltic Sea. We thanked him very much for the great leadership and wish Frank all the best for the journey.

Of course we did not go, ohne ein handsigniertes Exemplar von Franks Buch zu erwerben 🙂 Wenig später trafen wir dann auch Katja wieder, which also had a nice trip. In the Garden, she has visited, they had learned a lot over the Canarian flora. For Example, that the widespread Kaketen a particular concern lice is grown, from which then the red dye is obtained for CAMPARI. Yummy, delicious! Heute war ein guter Tag für uns alle 🙂

Too little time ?!?

27. February 2015Katja Henke

Tomorrow we sail back to Tenerife and felt we have far too little time for the beautiful island of La Palma had. Because of the many hours under water was our "Country Time" just unfortunately somewhat limited.

Nevertheless, we have still made some small trips.

We visited on Wednesday the southern tip of the island with your volcanic craters, Lighthouses and the old but still in operation in Saline.

Here are the wind was blowing so hard in the face, that running a real challenge was.

The sea was quite of his wild side and we were glad at least for today, to have solid ground under their feet and our SUMMER sure to know the port.

On Thursday I went to Dietmar immersion test off alone and explored the surrounding area of the port, Dietmar while in the boat again at resolving outstanding issues - "We have water in the bilge, especially during sail in heavy seas "- worked.

Located next to the Marina is Tazacorte on a wide, black sand beach in front of a beautiful and colorful town scenery. Directly behind the cliffs rise 600 Meters in height with many natural caves. These were, until it banned the island government, inhabited by "alternative" or "hippies". Since the banning all inputs are blocked with cast solid steel bars.

Nevertheless, it was an interesting visit and the view from up there was amazing.

It was determined to endure great. Although I prefer not to think so hard about, how so many people together in such a small space without water (and without wastewater) gelebt haben 🙂

Then I made a trip to Tazacorte. Almost every day we are driven through the little town, to pay more attention without her.

It can still be found right in the center in open banana plantations old farm houses. I for one was glad, that I had not taken this time.

Friday was our last day on the island. Accordingly long was our "to-do" list. Or a last visit. Shopping in the diving school we wanted to combine with a visit to the doctor recommended by Veronika, should exhibit us a new diving efficiency certificate. Then we have enjoyed a great breakfast at "Steffi", owns the Creperie right next to the dive center.

We went to Santa Cruz. From the capital we had during the Carnival days actually only seen the harbor, before we began the flight.

Good, we were again returned. In the old town is a beautifully restored house next to the neighbor. Many stores offer jewelry and crafts at. Even fancy clothes as typical of La Palma linen pants and beautiful, colorful clothes you can buy here. Since I could not resist and had access to the boat despite the limited space. Two new clothes and a pair of pants hiked in my backpack. Natürlich erst nachdem sie bezahlt waren 🙂

On the way back across the island we made a trip to the National Park Caldera de Taburiente.

By car you can very easily reach the viewpoint "La Cumbrecita". From there, you have an impressive view of the Caldera de Taburiente, a huge volcanic crater, whose walls up to 2000 Meters high. 1954 the area was declared a nature reserve. Therefore, no roads also run through the crater. Just walking on many, sometimes very challenging hiking trails you can explore the crater precisely.

SY CESARINA

A log of our travels