From Mittelland Kanal to Havel Canal through lake district to Potsdam in August, then Potsdam to Zehdenick, September. Car journeys Nancy, France to Germany, Austria, Switzerland and return Potsdam, Germany to Poland and Return  

We head to Oz later this arvo.   Image: Mecklenburg lakes

Brrrrr!!!!!! It’s freezing here in Berlin! Gratis has been winterised and is awaiting a lift from the water. We in the meantime are awaiting at Tegel Airport for our flight to Hong Kong. The 2016 journey has come to a close.       Image: Sunset at Lehnitz

This morning saw Gratis make her last trip of the season as we took her to her winter mooring in Spandau in glorious weather. All that remains to do is the final cleaning, winterising the engine and packing for the trip to Oz.  

After a relaxing few days our trip to the Mecklenburg region came to an end and to Potsdam Gratis returned. Our visitors departed, the preparation of Gratis for winter has commenced. We depart for Oz on the 6th November and will be in Adelaide by the 14th. Then the missing spiels will come.

Sorry it’s been a while, but life is extremely hectic. Since the last post, we have explored the sights of Berlin and motored Gratis to Zehdenick which is situated in the lower region of the Meckelnburg Lakes. One word describes this landscape: picturesque!    

Narrow one vehicle roads led us through tiny villages and farming country where surprisingly large fields had replaced those typical tiny land plots that Europe was so well known for. Farmers here were busy turning the stubble. By mid – morning we had entered the region renowned for Dresden China. A bit of prior reading […]

A relaxed day with a delightful wander through the old town of Bautzen. Whilst the upper town has been well restored, it was in the lower section at the base of the old fortification wall that we delighted in. This wall mural was so lifelike. ‘To our amazement, we actually caught sight one of these elusive Kingfishers […]

This morning took us to the Bautzen Stadt Museum, where the main aim was to visit the Flickenteppich, a 1776 quilt created by Prussian soldiers. Upon arrival, we spoke to the person at the entrance who proceeded to introduce us to a Ms Pohl. On learning we had come all the way from Australia to […]

Prior to departing Legnica, we visited the archives office which happened to be just around the corner, I discovered after a search on the net. The people here couldn’t have been more helpful – quite different to the Polish of earlier days. Taken into a large room, we were told to wait whilst the receptionist […]

Some years past, my (Karyle) father had commenced researching his family tree and arrived at a dead – end on the eve prior to their point of departure at Hamburg, Germany. Basic information – such as birth dates and place of birth – on the family members that made the journey was gleaned from the […]

Off to Poland tomorrow – by car.

We have been enjoying the days of relaxation that have been interspersed with undertaking small work projects. Yachthafen Potsdam is a lovely mooring, with walk paths and a swim beach just out the door. The toilet now has a small tap that means the guess work of closing the inlet/outlet valves for our guests is no longer […]

In Australia seagulls are the sailor’s nightmare. In Spandau it is the swallows we discovered, as we awakened to their birdsong and upon looking out the windows found the lifelines covered in a mass of the tiny critters: Out went Bob: thankfully, our little friends left no packages. After looking at the facilities and marinas […]

We have done it!!!!!   1700+km from Port St Louis France to Spandau – just outside Berlin.     Nine days until our visitors arrive gives us time to find a winter berth for our beautiful girl.

More exquisite scenery and the best weather experienced for some time. Excitement for the day was two relaxing hours spent waiting at the Spandau lock as the operators waited to place as many boats as possible into each filling/emptying cycle. Moored for a few days at a delightful little marina – Sportverein Wannseeaten 1911 e.v. […]

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

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 […]

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 […]

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!