Here are some maps showing the route we shall be taking upon the waterways this year. This covers the Rhone, Soane, Canal des Vosges, Mosel, Rhein, and Mittelland Kanal.

With the official books on the Canal and River systems of Germany only written in German, there is more than one way to skin a cat when you can’t speak or read the language. The solution is a little time consuming, but well worth the effort. Today I have commenced scanning the relevant information and saving […]

The last of our chart books for the canals arrived yesterday. It is now full steam ahead with the planning. The German books will be interesting, for unlike the French, there is no English translation provided. A quick learning curve in acquiring the German language is coming up for us.  

Spring has sprung in Sicily, and each day that high creeps ever closer. It is now that the island truly comes into its own. Arriving in late Autumn last year, colours were muted, whilst during winter it was the vibrance of the oranges that contrasted against the drab gray brown landscape. With each day that […]

A morning of rain, with good old thunder and lighting: a time for staying in the warmth of indoors.

The collation of ports and locks for our trip from Port St Louis to Lyon has been completed. In conjunction with utilising current information about the current flow and so forth, now it is possible to consider the planning of our journey upon this river.     Some links that will help us with our preparations […]

I may not have been up and about today, but still put the time to good use. After several hours, the numbers have roughly been counted: 1700km from Port Saint Louis, France to just before Potsdam, Germany (here we will plot our last part of the trip as we draw closer) 166 locks to lock forward […]

Our journey to Berlin through the Rivers and canals of Europe is well into its final planning. It will see us sail to Port St Louis for removal and storage of the mast. From there, it will be into the Rhone, Soane, Mosele and Rhein Rivers, followed by the Mittelland Kanal into Berlin.  

Back on board Gratis at last. Wind still blowing, so still awaiting the painting to be done.

We safely landed in Catania, Sicily last night. After a good night’s sleep in the Sheraton (our treat) we are ready to undertake the 2 hour drive to the marina.

In Milan, preparing for the flight to Amsterdam.

We depart for Milan this arvo.

A flat towards the end of our Etna journey. Is it already six days ago? Yesterday: deck tidied, stainless lifelines (the rope fence around the decks) removed, combings (tops of hull) sanded and oiled. Today: inclement weather, good for the washing. Saturday afternoon is departure day.

New Year’s Day, 2016. A moment of downtime as we enjoyed a trip to Etna. Just snapshots of the day, as viewed from within the car as we motored along: the good ones will come once the work upon Gratis is completed and we have plenty of time up our sleeve.

The cabin is coming along. Cupboard shelving is being created and the bed base cut. The camera was returned yesterday, so photos will start coming once more.

40 – 50 knots a – blowing here today.

Bob and I were hit by a cold this week: too long away from civilisation, it hit us like a sledgehammer. We have hired a car and are busy running around ordering the wood and so forth. Images are slowly coming along. It’s lovely revisiting, for so much has happened this year that one easily forgets.   […]

Bob purchased some hatches for the cockpit storage area the other day. Today has seen him commence sizing the current holes for the covers. A last, no more water can find its way in, and the cockpit is another step closer to looking completed. Tomorrow morning, he heads off to purchase the wood for the […]