Brunsbüttel - Kiel, Düsternbrook 16 July

We had planned to make an early start (for a change!) but not so early. Today we take on the Kiel canal, 98 km. Calle leaves on a bus to Sweden at 01.20 from Kiel so we have to get there.

Carl woke up at 5 am, put on the coffee and then heard something outside. This boat, The Roaring forties, was just about to ram us, but Carl managed to stop it. Out popped a spritely, happy and very talkative German. He was sorry for nearly ramming our boat, but no worry, continued to tell Carl ( this is  at 5 am and the whole marina is sleeping) about all his escapades, his fantastic boat, his sailing in Sweden with 4 Swedish blondes with hair flowing in the wind on his boat, and his future plans of breaking the record of sailing single handed around the world! Laughing crazily all the time. I think this is what happens when you are too mad about sailing! Anyway, we decided to give him our place ( hooked on as third boat) and escaped. So we got a very early start to Kiel

The Kiel Cansl is 98 km long and quite heavily trafficked with these monsters. This was the biggest one we saw.

And this was the weirdest one we met! Brittish flag.

We arrived at the lock after about 6 hours and had to wait nearly two hours before we could enter. An enormous lock, but the water level only sank a few cm. There were two container boats and about 15 yachts and motorboats in the lock. This is inside the lock.

And arrived in Kiel safe and sound and in good time to get Calle to the bus. Marina in the centre of the city. Lots and lots of sailing boats. Strange to be back in a sailing boat marina again and with sailing boat people. They are also quite special in a way. Like horse preople and golf people, they have their own code of conduct, not always clear to other people. The marina we stopped at is the Olympic marina from 1936. Here the Kiel Yacht Club have its base. There was a wedding party going on  at the elegant KYC hotel which is housed in the old Alfred Krupp mansion. In the harbour for the large yachts lay the classic yacht Germania VI. Very smart and well kept. 

This boat was all decked out with balloons and decorations and a Just Married Sign. The bride and groom arrived in their wedding finery and sailed away, to the reception a few 100 metres away. I sincerely hope the bride likes sailing!

Killing time in Kiel, Calle fooling around with some photos.

Another on of Calle's photos in front of the church in Kiel.