Category Archive

Potsdam Potsdam

With our arrival in the Potsdamer Havel after another delightful day, this year’s canal experience is almost at a close.

Brandenburg an der Havel to Potsdam, Tiefer See Brandenburg an der Havel to Potsdam, Tiefer See

What a treasure the people of Berlin have in their lake district. We never realised the size of the water catchment bordering the landscape to the west of Berlin (in fact, the truth is, that until the planning of the trip was underway we didn’t realise there was one). The traveller has to experience travelling […]

Burg to Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany Burg to Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany

What a day! Vibrant colours, warm sunshine, practically clear sky: what more could we ask for? Thick fog created a dreamscape as it encased the surface of the canal. Sun risen and fog dissipated, off we set for what would be our final day upon the Elbe – Havel Canal. Farming country interspersed between thickly […]

Burg to Brandenburg an der Havel Burg to Brandenburg an der Havel

Our Elbe – Havel journey came to an end today as the Grosser Wendsee (lake) was entered. What an exquisite environment. So worth the trip!!! Wit ’til you see the rest of the pics!

Rühen to Burg Rühen to Burg

Bob and I awoke to a chill pervading the air. Arising, it was to discover a thick fog pervading the air through which a rust orange sun was attempting to break through. The planned stop at Hildesleben didn’t eventuate. Massive works bankside for kilometres meant no mooring areas were available to the traveller. New bridges, […]

Peine to Kilometre 256 near Rühen, Germany Peine to Kilometre 256 near Rühen, Germany

A relaxed start to the morning, a food stop just outside of Wolsburg, past the Elbe Seitencanal, more exquisite countryside and the most peaceful of stops at kilometre mark 256. Some distance from the town, all that resides within this tract of countryside is farming land and a small restaurant resting alongside of the canal’s […]

Hannover to Peine, Germany Hannover to Peine, Germany

A relaxed day with the first of the Mittelland locks: 14.5 metres thank you very much, and no rising bollards. Other than a rapid surge in the initial stages, it was a pretty tame ride. An unusual windmill, a few canoeists and a dinky Dutch cruising barge added to the flavour of the motor. The […]

Minden to Hannover, Germany Minden to Hannover, Germany

  Clouds cleared for the first time in three days. Sun and a bit of warmth at last – until the rain arrived, that was! (sorry, but no pics) After the exquisite tiny villages, Hannover with its crowds and modern feel didn’t really appeal to our senses. It was interesting to observe that whereas twenty […]

Gartenstadt to Minden, Mittelland Kanal, Germany Gartenstadt to Minden, Mittelland Kanal, Germany

About 70 clicks done on the waterway in continuous light drizzle saw us arrive on the outskirts of Minden: thankfully there was no freezing the socks off today. We are really sorry, but there are no pics. The image above is from our travels upon the Rhein.

Munster to Gartenstadt, Mittelland Kanal

Well, in cold wet conditions we travelled 30 kilometres or so along the Dortmund – Ems to the 108km mark, where a right turn took us onto the Mittelland Kanal. Another 30 saw us arrive at the night’s stop: peaceful calm countryside still raining, of course. The Mittelland Kanal was a miniature highway, as a continual flow of […]

Munster, Dortmund – Ems Canal, Germany Munster, Dortmund – Ems Canal, Germany

Sorry it’s been a few days since the last update: Between motoring and studying the charts for the Mittelland to Spandau leg, life has been hectic. The past few days have seen our journey along the Rhein and Rhein – Herne Canal come to an end, and we are currently enjoying our sojourn upon the […]

Yachthafen Y.C. Dortmund – Ems To Munster, Germany Yachthafen Y.C. Dortmund – Ems To Munster, Germany

Low rolling hills, between which nestled red bricked homes with their rooves of like colour. The occasional old barns and homes of mixed brick, wood and shingled rooves were interspersed throughout the region. The Germans were still in the process of greening the waterway, with hundreds of young saplings taking a foothold along the banks. […]

Oberhausen to Yachthafen Y.C. Dortmund – Ems (km 30)

6:00am and Bob was awakened by a lady’s group performing their morning exercises to music in the park next door.   It was hello to the Dortmund Ems Canal early in the day as Gratis continued on her way to the Mittelland Kanal. Late afternoon and a tiny stick canal led us up a narrow […]

Hitdorf to Oberhausen, Germany Hitdorf to Oberhausen, Germany

This afternoon Gratis completed her Rhein sojourn as she turned into the Rhein – Herne Canal. The widest we had been onto date, it easily handled two barges of twelve metre width and a small boat or two. It was important to keep toward the back in these locks as the rush of water was […]

On the Rhein

120km today. Beautiful country. Moored in a marina at Hitdorf.  

Koblenz to Hitdorf Koblenz to Hitdorf

 Awaking to find a thin fog drifting upon the surface river, Bob and I relaxed with a warming mug of coffee each. A small breeze at last set in, and off we set. Only a few short kilometres took us to the lock that would conclude our Mosel journey and see the commencement of the […]

Koblenz One Afternoon Koblenz One Afternoon
Koblenz to Luxembourg City, Luxembourg (car) Koblenz to Luxembourg City, Luxembourg (car)

Situated upon peaks that soar seventy metres above the Alzette and Pétrusse Rivers, the city of Luxembourg is linked to the rest of the world by numerous bridges and viaducts. Wandering the town, we were amazed by the intricacy of the town’s layout. Constructed on multiple levels, that range from the mountain peak into the […]

Wiesbaden and Trier Wiesbaden and Trier

The last two days have seen us out exploring. Wednesday took us along the southern Rhein’s banks to Wiesbaden and back. Next year shall see us returning for a much more in depth exploration, for the area was truly spectacular. Yesterday, it was Trier, the oldest town in Germany. On a plaque in one church was […]

Koblenz to Trier (car) Koblenz to Trier (car)

This was the day we drove to Trier, a town with no less than nine UNESCO world heritage sites. Tourist beware, this is a place that requires more than four hours’ duration for exploration. We intend to return. In short, the town was settled by the Celts in 4BC and named Treuorum: it is believed […]