Bremerhaven to Rendsburg

Now that we have sort of decent Internet connection again (having 5GB of data is useless if there is no coverage), we can tell about the last few days.

When we left Bremerhaven, the tide was very low and we had to navigate the river Geeste through the mud banks:





But soon, after the 'Tidensperrwerk' (tidal lock), the river (and later the canal) became quite pleasant although somewhat shallow and therefore not easy to navigate.

We overnighted in Berdekesa and went on to Otterndorf where you get onto the river Elbe. This is always a challenge, it is the river which leads to Hamburg and is navigated by big ships which pass you (or come towards you) at a speed of 16 to 20 knots. They pull huge waves and in fact the only two times we have had 'green water' on deck (meaning that the bow is covered in water) have been on the Elbe. No problem, as long as you steer into the waves.
We are still with Jildou, here is a picture (but not during a wild wave!)





With the tide behind us, the 9 miles from Otterndorf to Brunsbüttel were covered in just over an hour. We were very luck with the lock into the Kiel Canal, sometimes you have to wait, floating around in the river for an hour or more, but this time we could go straight into the lock. No, not the pleasure craft lock, the big lock which you share with some ships of up to 40000 tonnes (we are 10....).
After the lock we tied up in the yacht basin which is literally meters away from the locks. Here you can see both chambers, one locking 'out', the other one 'in'.




The process goes on all night and you hear the churning of propellers during your sleep. But it's a unique experience which we enjoy. Also you get the feeling that you are almost in the Baltic, only 100km of canal and one set of locks to go! Everyone here is either on its way to or coming from Kiel.

This morning we left at 9 for the first canal stretch (we do it in two days). The canal was relatively busy with big ships so no time to get bored. After 60 KM you get to the famous railway bridge with the hanging ferry:



A few kilometres later you turn off to Rendsburg, which is a good place to break the journey (not many people do the canal in one day and there are few alternatives).

So here we are, we have watched the Netherlands beat Australia in the football World Cup (not very convincingly, I'm afraid). And we have eaten ashore in the excellent restaurant at the yacht club.

Tomorrow, the weather forecast does not look too great, so we might well stay another day.

Location:Am Obereiderhafen,Rendsburg,Germany