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Voyage to Sweden


Germany homeward bound

Kieler Woche ' 24/6 Wind still from the north and the trip to Germany could continue.
Passing Damp2000 the wind had increased to 6 Beaufort, the clouds had become dark and in the north thunder could be heard.
Henri decided to go into Damp2000 and wait to see what the weather would do.
This was a good decision because the thunder became fierce, and it brought a lot of wind and rain along with it.
After two hours the sky was once again clear, the wind had decreased to 3 Beaufort, so on to Kiel Henri sailed.
Just outside Kiel the Orm came into the "Kieler Woche".
This is a sailing party, which is held every year, attracting sailing ships from all over the world.
It was a wonderful sight, all those sailing ships on the water.
A lot of ships came close to the Orm to see what kind of ship this was.
For most of them, this was the first time to see a sailing Viking ship.
A lot of greetings were exchanged.
First the Orm went to Strande to fill up with the gas needed for the Kieler Canal.
The lock in Holtenau was opened especially for the Orm, so Rendsburg was reached at eight that evening.
Just in time, too, because small ships are not allowed to sail here after dark.
25/6 Wonderful weather, no clouds, easterly winds ( from the rear ).
On the Kieler Canal one may sail, not tacking, but the engine must run in the neutral position.
The German water police are very strict about this, but encouraged by the nice weather Henri had not started the outboard engine.
He was lucky that the cameras alongside the canal did not pick this up.
At eleven o’clock the lock in Brunsbüttel was entered.
On the river Elbe that same wind that allowed Henri to sail on the Kieler Canal was now in front and there was a lot of stream.
In Otterndorf the Orm had to wait for two hours before the water was high enough to use the lock.
In Bederkesa Henri treated himself to a real meal in the restaurant.
He had been working twelve hours already that day.
Because there were a lot of noisy and drinking young people, Henri did not want to stay here for the night.
One hour ahead was the lock of Lintig.
That lock would be closed by now, but it would be very quiet there and the Orm would get the first lock in the morning.
Because this lock had to be taken without the mast, Henri had already taken it down.
Now it was impossible to set up the tent, but he could sleep on the deck, as the temperature was good.
Bederkesa
the closed bridge 26/6 In western Europe the summer had started and it was very nice weather.
The lock was taken at eight o’clock and it was two hours to the next one in Schiffdorf.
After taking that one, the Orm arrived in Bremerhaven at eleven.
Here Henri had to wait for the right stream on the Wezer.
With stream and wind from behind, sailing to Elsfelth was accomplished in almost no time.
Here the mast had to be taken down again for the low bridges on the way to Oldenburg.
Here Henri ate his meal, because this time the Orm had not been too late to catch the lock.
A Dutch merchant-navy vessel was moored on the Küstekanaal, and Henri was allowed to use the ship’s radio to call Yvonne.
Considering the big delay he had encountered on the Küstekanaal during the outward journey, he decided this time to take the Elisabeth Fehn Canal.
At ten o’clock in the evening the Orm was fastened on the pillar of the first low bridge.
The mast and the tent were both set up, and Henri could finally have his well-deserved night’s rest.
27/6 But where there’s a bridge there is normally a road.
At five o’clock in the morning Henri was awaked by the noise of all the cars passing overhead on the bridge.
He had to wait till eight for the first bridge opening.
Because the Orm was alone that morning Henri disregarded the maximum speed, and with the help of the bridge/lock keeper, all the bridges and locks leading into the small tidal river Leda were taken very quickly.
It became low tide so the stream was good.
With this speed it was very difficult to get the Orm through the narrow turns of the river.
At noon Henri reached Leer and he had a shower and some lunch.
There was no hurry to sail on the stream on the river Eems was ahead, and it was better to wait.
At two o’clock, at slack water, he continued to the first harbour in Holland, Delfzijl.
Now the Orm was within signal reach of the Dutch radio transmitters.
It seems the people in Holland had taken a great interest in how that little Viking ship was doing and a radio interview was held.
Late in the afternoon Delfzijn was reached.
Here the safety raft could be returned.
It had not been used, although it had come very close.
Henri was invited for dinner by friends in Holwierde, the family de Boer.
So the return to Holland had turned into a small party.
lunch

[  last updated :  9-5-2021  ]


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