Unfortunately, our first day in France not started with a fresh baguette, to which we have so very pleased. Near the port no baker was to see or find. Good, that we had still roofed in Belgium. Refreshed the formalities were done first. From the harbor master our papers were checked. But not only do we, those of our SUMMER were carefully checked. Fortunately, there was nothing to complain about and we were now officially arrived in France.

Then Dietmar took my cruise planning for the next three weeks under the microscope. Again, there was nothing to complain about :-). Now my wind order must only be properly handled by the universe, then should fit everything.

In the bright sunshine considered, saw the SUMMER after more than a week city stay but a little dusty from. Prior to our discovery tour to Calais so the boat was first washed with fresh water from outside and waxed. When everything was finally settled to our satisfaction, It was already after 12 Clock. So we led our way to a short trip to the ferry port, first to the market place in a nice bistro, in which we have omelets and fries ordered for lunch. After a delicious coffee to finish, we explored the city and the beach. Calais certainly not one of the most beautiful cities in France, but also has very beautiful and attractive buildings and parks.

The ferry port is really impressive. During our beach walk, there was a constant coming and going. A ferry is larger than the next. Since we have tomorrow so by meander again. We are already looking forward to the instructions of Port Control. Today we had the opportunity a bit rusted is our “French” to train. Let's see, whether we can communicate a little better tomorrow.

The crossing to Calais was from beginning to end as planned. In the morning it was time to plan back among the three bridges and into the lock and then to the outer harbor. In the lock we were greeted by waving Belgian school children. Sehr nett! Outside on the North Sea, we quickly set sail in light wind northeast. Parallel to the coast were slightly more than 50 Nautical miles sailing route ahead. Evening at half past nine we wanted by the “Pont Henry Hemon” arriving in the marina of Calais. This bridge only opens two hours before high water to 2 Hours after high water for 10 Minutes in the hour. Da sollte man dann pünktlich da sein 🙂

As the wind with 8 Node (2 Beaufort) was quite weak, should the first time today our Parasailor be used. This ingenious sail for courses from the wind has an area of 156 Square meters (!). We have procured us extra for long ocean passages and waited since May for its first use. After thorough preparation of linen and sheets by Dietmar the buzzer was then a short time later with good speed under the Parasailor without location and great pitching from the wind. Ein Traum in blau 🙂

As the afternoon the wind freshened, Parasailor was again recovered and stowed expertly. This premiere was in every respect a complete success. Everything was fitted and it also has a lot of fun. Hopefully we will soon have the right course and Parasailor Weather.

During our directions to Calais then subjected storm clouds and the wind picked up on 20 Nodes on. The ferry traffic in and out of the harbor is really impressive. In our contact with Port Control we found, that the English of French is difficult to understand. In the third experiment we had but then also understood, that we are only after the “Spirit of Britain” were allowed to enter the harbor. So we had to take a stroll outside the port. Despite the strong transverse flow, we arrived safely in the outer harbor and had only 10 Waiting for the opening of the bridge minutes. The landing maneuver at Catwalk succeeded perfectly, despite the strong wind. Endlich in Frankreich 🙂

Since the crossing to Calais was scheduled for tomorrow, stood again today housework on the plan. Actually a shame for the excellent weather. But while the laundry hanging on the clothesline, was still time for a bit of reading in the sun. In addition it is nice vacuumed and mopped in the ship, cleaned and waxed. Although the area is quite manageable, is the number of corners and edges to infinity. True busywork! I never thought, I would even get there, to use a toothbrush to clean.

The last Belgian treats still were stashed the end and then everything was ready. At a quarter past a seven then traveled the captain himself highly by train. Despite Umsteigeschwierigkeiten in Brussels, we were complete again. For dinner, there was still one last time delicious baguettes with North Sea shrimp salad and Belgian cherry beer.

Tomorrow it goes to France. Belgium is the second country on our list. This time, the farewell is probably not so difficult, because no one is on the harbor and waves. We have also enjoyed Oostende and the Belgian coast long enough. A beautiful place, we got to know. Fully developed for tourism with all the advantages- and disadvantages. Now it is time again, To discover new. We look forward!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

View from a bunker

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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