Bederkesa - Brunsbüttel 15 July

Up with the birds, Brötchens bought and away at 6.45 with the plan to reach a marina close to Kiel today. Carl and Calle as always believe this will happen. I have my doubts.

Not much to see on the Schifferverks  canal, cows and sheep.

These are sheep. Yesterday we passed some cows resting in a meadow. We started mooing at them, and they stood up and start following us!! They just kept running next to the boat. We were going a bit faster so they could not keep up with us, but we looked back and as long as we could see they were still running. We felt very bad and hoped that they eventually turned back to their peaceful meadow. This is all because it is cloudy, rainy, slow moving and a bit boring on the canal.

Before reaching this lock we passed under numerous bridges, two of which were very low. We had to remove the antena in order to pass under the bridges. The thought of having to turn back at this point of our journey was just too much.

Arrived at Ottendorf lock before 10 am. The lockmaster will only open the lock at 1 pm, when the tide has turned.

The other side of the lock, with a little marina on the right and the mighty Elba ahead. 

According to the lock master it is not a good idea to take on the Elba right now, we should wait until tomorrow.

So untill we decide what to do, we look at cows, again!

Not looking forward to crossing this mighty Elba!

Carl and Calle coming back to Lellebelle after confirmation that we can pass through the lock at 2 pm.

They have also decided that we will cross over the Elba after 6 pm when all conditions, wind, waves and tide will be perfect.

I would rather stay the night in this little port with the South African flag! Turns out the manager of the restaurant worked in South Africa for a year.

Need to pass the time untill the tide turns so took a 2 km walk into the town.

Little German town with typical buildings. The town is Ottersdorf.

And another good way to pass the time is to watch cows, their backsides for a change.

And so we have travelled from the mouth of the Rhone River to the mouth of the Elbe River! Not bad for two pensioners. Tasted France and Germany. And it's not over yet, Denmark still waiting.

And so we set off at 6.45 pm, crossing the Elba. Carl and Calle up front, Leslie at the back, suffering!

Made in record time without too much of a bumpy ride and straight into lock.

Apparently we went in on the wrong signal but no one seemed to mind. Helmet came on behind us.

A new lock system for us, with floating fenders.

And straight into an overfull marina with German pop music blaring from the quay. What a fun entrance. We had to try up as the third boat.

Visited by a family of hungry swans.

Another boat from Sweden in the marina, but no contact!

A calming walk along the waterfront in Ottersdorf before the crossing.

Beautiful seaside promenade, low tide.