Of course the parents were even more stressed about our presence than yesterday and they must have been very relieved when we left.
We had booked a 12:30 spot in the lock. Not that it was going to be full, but it is so big that it does not normally operate for a pleasure craft only. There also was a tug going out and the lock authority kindly called us on the VHF to ask if we still wanted to go. When I say 'big lock', this is what I mean:
No, that's not the harbour, here we are tied on inside the lock (nice floating jetties, so easy work!).
Once outside, the conditions were perfect: sunny and very little wind. After an hour and a half we entered the 'prikken route' (see an earlier post for an explanation of 'prikken'):
Shortly after that, a very sudden and unpredicted mist descended. And soon it was so thick that you could only just see the next 'prik'. Thank goodness that the Germans are MUCH better in setting up prikken than the Dutch: close together and quite well visible. We slowly made our way from one prik to the next, but were unhappy to carry on to the river Weser, which is very big and busy with large container ships. So the option was either anchoring until the mist lifted (and wait for the next tide) or try to find the little harbour of Feddewardersiel, where we stopped last year. Using the track in the plotter from last year, the few visible prikken and the radar, we found the harbour relatively easily. So there we are, safely tied up in a harbour which is going to fall dry tonight. The mist has now lifted. Our plan is to leave at first light tomorrow morning (4:30), half an hour before high tide. Then go into the river Geeste at Bremerhaven and carry on to Berdekesa, halfway Otterndorf on the Elbe (you may need a good map by now!).
Who said life on board is boring? Not us!
Location:Feddewardersiel
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