Schliersee

The view from our bedroom window

Village centre

Still snow about

Some of the alpine flowers that are everywhere

Hot enough to paddle in the freezing lake

Or just sit on a log!

Friday 27 April Schliersee

Friday 27 April

Day off today from driving, started the day with breakfast which was lovely, smoked salmon, selection of salami, sausage or leberwurst (liver sausage), nice selection of breads and fruit, really set us up for the day.

After breakfast set off round Schliersee lake and then out to the next village but too far to go over to the next lake so headed back fro a cold beer. Walked about 6 miles in all.

Beautiful sunny day, not a cloud in the sky and stunning views all around.

Off to Italy tomorrow.

Getting ready to go



Saying goodbye to the kids in Surrey, good to have seen them both before we left



If the boat doesn't sink first will this be enough for 8 weeks?

26 th April arrival Schliersee

Thursday 26^th April

Breakfast at the youth hostel was a selection of bread, cheese and cooked meats with jams and honey as afters plus tea and coffee all part of the price for the night. I had a walk around the garden with my tea watching a pair of Red Squirrels chasing each other up and down the trees right next to me whilst listening to Blackcaps singing in the bushes.

For a change it was a beautiful day, sunny intervals at first but as we crossed the Danube out of Ulm the skies cleared to clear blue. Driving towards Munich we could se the Swiss Alps to the south standing up clear capped with white snow and Buzzards circling in the foreground. The views were truly stunning and just got better the closer to Munich we got.

We hit the 1000 miles from home mark just as we hit the outskirts of Munich and the traffic works, no real problems just lots of turns and contra-flows to contend with.

The drive up to Schliersee was beautiful up a winding valley with snow capped peaks in front of us and as we got to the village the lake opened up in front with a backdrop of green foothills into snow capped tops. We found the hotel after driving up and down the main street a few times and booked in then hit the village.

Sitting in a bar on the lakeside eating lunch and supping a cool pint in the hot sun was bliss.

After a couple of beers we walked around the bottom of the lake then back for Viv to have a snooze.

From our bedroom we can hear the cow bells clanking on the hills opposite and the view is like a chocolate box top painting across the chalets and hills. I am looking forward to a day off tomorrow from driving and chance to walk and explore.

24 April Ulm

Leaving Dover

Arriving Calais

On the banks of the Danube, Ulm, Germany

Ulm cathedral

Thought we'd left the piggies behind!!!

Dragon boats on the Danube, Ulm

Wednesday 25 April

Cafe on lakeside Schliersee

Arty picture of lake Schliersee through reeds

Viv in lake Schliersee sailing club

The Youth Hostel at Ulm

Wednesday 25 April

Wednesday 25 April 2012

Had a very pleasant night in a hotel next to the motorway just before the Luxembourg border and after a couple of coffees and a shower back on the road through Luxembourg which seemed very nice from what we could see then into Germany.

We stopped off in a little village just inside the German Border and found a café for breakfast giving Viv chance to practice her German on the assistant. We had a wander around and visited a beautiful church before heading back to the car where Viv spent a while chatting to some old dear who seemed quite struck that a couple of Brits had parked a car towing a boat on her street.

The journey through Germany was lovely with some massive valleys, bridges and tunnels in places and loads of Red Kites, Buzzards and Kestrels along the route and even the odd the eagle I could not identify.

The day ended though with some stress as Viv took us into the middle of Ulm in rush hour and road works made us undertake a few detours before we arrived at a youth hostel in some back quarter of the city for the night. They found us a nice room and we had some sort of spiced pork with rice and a very garlicky sauce followed by custard and cream .

Having had dinner and calmed the nerves we caught the bus into Ulm and had a wander around the town. It has a lovely church/cathedral after the style of the one in Cologne only smaller and some lovely bars and walks along the river Danube where we watched as couple of Dragon boats beating up against the strong current.

Photos of making ther boat tent

Lucy and Viv trying it out for size

The modified gooseneck

Making the boat tent and adapting trailer

Making the Tent

We thought it would be a good idea to make our own boat tent as we fancied a bit more space and the chance to add our own modifications seeing as would be living in it for some time and it could be quite warm in Greece. We also had to bear in mind it would be needed in the UK afterwards where the weather was likely to be colder, wetter and more extreme.

Viv started off researching various fabrics, threads and Velcro fastenings and we scrounged an old frame tent from the bin following a Wayfarer rally to Ullswater to use to make templates prior to cutting the final material. Whilst on holiday we found an Ex Army and Navy store about to close down selling Gortex fabric at a price just too good to miss, only problem our measurements were 250 miles away at home. We retired to the nearest pub and borrowed pens and napkins to sketch out rough dimensions then went back and bought around 23 metres.

First problem was how to raise the gooseneck to give a bit more height, a piece of drainpipe cut to fit over the spinnaker pole attachment point held together with Velcro and a new pin bolted through the back side raised the front end by about a foot meaning I can sit on the thwart with clear headroom and Viv can almost stand up.

The idea of using the old tent to make a pattern was partially successful, it was a good way of testing out design ideas and using gaffer tape instead of stitching saved time but in the end it was easier to cut sections out directly from the main material. It was particularly useful though in working out how best to overlap and join sections to reduce the chance of leaks and get the best runoff for water.

We started with the roof panel cutting two sections joined at the ridge and overhanging the side poles, followed by the stern section and round the sides from the rear to the side doors. Then we designed the front side section up to the shrouds. The front section velcros into a fold around the shrouds and along the roof up to the mast. The idea being in hot weather we can take the front panel off and either leave it open or replace it with a midge net allowing air to blow through by rolling up the rear door and putting a midge net over the opening.

By using Velcro to fasten the front section in place it gives flexibility to remove it in decent weather and put an extension made from the old frame tent on to cover the whole of the foredeck as added storage space. In really bad weather the double seal should stop water leaking in we hope! Side doors were made quite large again so they can be rolled up to let in air and light if the weather is  too hot and were made last of all to ensure they fitted properly with the rest of the tent.

We made small neoprene covers to fit around the point where the shroud meets the roof and glued them in place with evostick which seems to work really well. This allows them to be pulled together giving a tight seam around the shroud.  Similarly where the mast comes through the roof we made a neoprene collar out of an old wetsuit that wraps around the mast and overlaps the ridge of the tent underneath forming a seal held in place by two Velcro straps to keep it tight against the mast.

The sides of the tent are held down by Velcro straps, a real pig to sew through especially the hook side that just strips the thread and breaks it on a regular basis.

We had a bit left over so Viv made replacement bags for the front of the thwarts to hold hats, gloves and glasses and a cover for the engine when not in use.

We did have a spy come over at one point, rumour had it Richard Branson was interested in what we were doing before he decided to go under the sea and explore the deeps rather on top of it. Taking a photo of his balloon seemed to scare him off though.

Steve from Witchcraft Engineering at Hockerton did a really good job adapting the trailer welding on a piece to mount a winch so one person can now get the launching trailer onto the road trailer. He also built a small mount so the spare wheel can be carried on the trailer rather than inside the baot or car allowing easier access to it in an emergency. Both the winch and spare wheel can be stored in the car easily at the end of the journey for safety.

Reached Belgium

Hi Folks

We have travelled just over 600 miles so far since leaving home and had a nice night with both Leah and Gareth going out for a meal with Leah's boyfriend and his family. The next day Viv and I travelled over to see old friends from university who put us up and fed and wined us to great effect. We left Dover with the white cliffs just about visible in the rain and mist and headed off across the channel. Pretty calm crossing and sun briefly on the French side although it soon clouded over and poured off and on. We decided to book into a small hotel for the night in view of the frequent rain showers, just did not fancy a damp tent in the back of the car. It is surprising how restrictive a boat on the back actually is not just for manouvering but also worrying about leaving it unattended in public places and finfding parking spaces. We intend to get up early and head off for Luxemburhe then on to Ulm in Germany for the night before hitting the lodge we have booked into on the German Austrian border Thursday. I'm glad we are on our way now, too late for anything else we have left behind.

Saw loads of Buzzards, Kestrels at least one eagle (not sure what type) and a few Red Kites.

Boat packing

Packing the boat 20 April 2012

Friday 20^th

Packed the boat up as trial run this morning but as I am writing the weather has taken a turn for the worse and it’s pouring with hail, great big hail stones falling so had to put a cover on the boat and scuttle indoors for a bit.

It looks like it will all fit in, quite surprise in a way as the pile has been growing in the corner of the rooms for the last few weeks.

Forward buoyancy tank

• The following spares jib sheet and forestay, wire to make shroud, tent poles, tent repair kit, buoyancy aid, mattress, tiller extension with new UJ fitted, re-arming kits for lifejackets and mast head buoyancy, mainsail battens, pipe to make new gooseneck for tent

Forepeak all in dry bags

• Guitar, Land tent, fleeces and gillets, bag each with sleeping bags, sheet liners, bivvy bags and inflatable pillow and stuff pillow for Viv and me, a bag each of emergency dry clothes and a bag each of clothes for the cruise.
  Each one in a separate dry bag with tags on them to easily identify what is in each with a line that hangs down over the forepeak lip to make it easier to pull out the required bag. Telescopic fishing rod and tackle.

Port side forward of thwarts

• Spinnaker
• Bucket with four flasks, two large two small to fill with hot water each day before sailing and two cups with handles to hang on bucket with lids.
• Large dry bag with wet weather gear two smaller bags inside for Viv and me
• On the front of the thwart (seat) a bag containing hats and gloves
• Under the thwart milk and water

Around mast

• Fuel can with 5 litres of petrol

Starboard side forward of thwarts

• Danforth anchor secured to floor with quick release catches
• Bucket with 6 meters of chain and 30 metres of rope
• On the front of the thwart (seat) a bag containing hats, sunglasses and small binoculars
• Under the thwart the boat tent in large dry bag

Rear port side

• One large and one small fender with fats release clips to side of boat
• Oar, paddle and spinnaker pole strapped to side of boat
• Bag containing grapple anchor, 3 metres of chain and 28 metres of rope

Rear starboard side

• One large and one small fender with fats release clips to side of boat

• Oar, paddle and boat hook
• Pump fits just under floor boards

Across the front of rear tank

• Boat tent frame in a bag under a series of pockets that hand across the back adapted from a car boot tidy.
• Two spare sheets/mooring lines and two spare thin lines
• Safety line with small fender to trail behind in bad weather if needed, will also double up as tripping line for anchor
• In the pockets all tied to line across the rear, packet of flares, tow first aid kits one with bandages and plasters the other ointments and creams, small can of petrol to easily fill engine if runs dry and will give about 20 minutes motoring. Small can of meths, assorted sun creams and lotions, a supply of teabags, coffee and hot chocolate and soup, biscuits and malt loaf. A waterproof windup torch and small stuff bag.

Boot.

• We opted to use a series of flat see through boxes and one larger one for the cooking gear that way we can fit two each side, one across the middle and two the other side plus the one large one across the back in the middle. This then allows space behind the boxes on the sides to fit spare meths and gas canisters for cooking and oddments not likely to be used on a daily basis. When we sailed off Mull we found it easier to have things in boxes in the boot with the most used items in three boxes easiest to get at and lift out. Things like the tin containing the cooking cutlery, washing up bowl, dustpan and brush can then all fit in the odd gaps. Boxes packed as follows
• Documents, charts, maps, cruising guide lap top
• Two boxes of spares, rope, hand drill, oil, assorted nuts, bolts, washers, pop rivets, glue, epoxy resin and hole fillers, space blankets, sewing kit
• Assorted dried meals
• Towels, wash kits
• Electrical items, GPS, solar charger, adaptors and plugs, dongle, phones
• Misc storage

Safety Considerations

We shall in the main be sailing solo so safety has been quite a big factor in our planning.

Prior to the trip I completed a shore based yacht master course, VHF radio course, Health and Safety first aid course and applied for an RYA International Certificate of Competence.

We bought the Imray charts of the South Ionian and the cruising guide giving detailed notes and maps of anchorages and local conditions. It is also worth spending time talking over the proposed route with friends as seeking their views and advice. Our thanks go to Doug Wensley, Simon McEvoy, Dave Eberlin, George Stanton and Joanne who worked in Lefkas previously running a sailing school to name but a few.

We bought a 40-litre self-inflating masthead buoyancy system, a bit expensive but all things considered essential and better for peace of mind. Similarly we have in the past just sailed with buoyancy aids but as we will be on our own have invested in two self-inflating life jackets with re-arming kits. We will also carry a spare buoyancy jacket in the front tank in the event one malfunctions. We also rigged safety lines that tape to the base of the shrouds and are easily released with a quick pull, they are about 12 feet long and have a foot-strap for easier access back into the boat should it capsize.

In the event no wind we can use a Honda 2.3 horsepower 4-stroke petrol outboard and decided to take oars as well as paddles having used paddles before for close in work but again on the safety front being alone three back-ups are better than one.

I fitted two extra cleats to the rear on the side just in front of the back tank as in the past it has been awkward mooring up to jetties trying to tie ropes around either the side or foot straps. I did look at folding cleats but they were all quite expensive and quite heavy but might invest in one for the foredeck at some time.

Map of South Ionian - proposed route

Proposed intinerary

The rough plan is as follows but may be subject to change especially if the weather is against us.

Saturday 21 April

Set off south to see our daughter Leah in Farnham who has just got back from visiting Malawi.

Sunday 22 April

Continue down to Kent to visit Chris and Caroline old friends from university that live near Dover, they are putting us up for a couple of nights and it will be a nice chance to catch up on things.

Tuesday 24 April

Catch the 09:00 ferry from Dover to Calais then along the coast towards Dunkerque for a short time before turning inland to Lille on the E42, on to Mons around Charleroi and then south into Belgium and onto the E411 past Namur into Luxembourg where we might spend the night and have a look around.

Thursday 26th

We carry on towards Sarrbruken on the E29 before joining the A8 into Germany where we have booked into an alpine chalet in Schleirsee for a couple of nights that will give Viv chance to practice her German again. We can leave the boat at the chalet and pop across to Austria and don the lederhosen and sing songs from the sound of music.

Saturday 28^th

Back on the road again heading south on the A13 then A22 into Italy towards Bolzano, Trento and then skirt around Verona where we turn left and head east towards Padova and Venice.

We turn south again near Podava and go past Ferrara, Ravenna and then down the coast road past Rimini and Pesaro and find somewhere to stop the night. 

Sunday 29^th

Hang around between Pesaro and Ancona for the day drinking Italian wine and eating olives, salami and local cheese in the sun thinking I would normally be getting ready to go back to work on Monday!

Monday 30th

14:00 catch ferry from Ancona to Ingoumenitsa in Greece arriving the following day after about 23 hours sailing and on a somewhat a larger boat than we will be using a few days later.

Tuesday 1^st May

Arrive Ingoumenitsa in Greece at 08:30, which is on the Greek mainland near the bottom end of Corfu. Then south along the coast road which is supposed to be stunning to Preveza where we go through a tunnel under the mouth of the estuary. Exit the tunnel and sharp left to find Cleopatra Marina where we can leave the boat for a couple of days, as they cannot launch us until Thursday.

Wednesday 2^nd

Day off from travelling so we might explore a bit of the Greek mainland above Preveza and maybe even go inland a bit seeing as we are going to be on the coast for a while.

Thursday 3^rd May- Set sail

12:00 Mihangel gets wet in the salt water and hopefully if she floats we will be off and camping on the boat that night otherwise it is going to be a long stay in the marina until the ferry back in June! It seems strange we have to wait for a crane to lift us in as there is no slipway, still quite an impressive start being craned in rather than sliding down a beach or muddy slope.

We intend to sail around the Amvrakikos Kolopos estuary for a few days getting our sea legs and shaking the boat down before we head for the open sea.

If all goes well we will sail out from Preveza then hang a left (port turn) to the island of Lefkada going down the canal between the island and the mainland towards the island of Meganisi to the south east of Lefkada. From there we would like to go south along the coast for a couple of weeks towards Patra and cross over the straight of Patraikos Kolops near Mesolongi towards Akra Araxos on the Peloponnese peninsula. Then down the east coast of the Peloponnese peninsula to Akrotirio and across to the island of Zakinthos.

Tuesday 5^th June

We make our way up the east coast of Zakinthos and across to island of Kephalonia where hopefully we meet up with our son Gareth on the 5^th June at Sami on Kephalonia. All three of us then have a week sailing up the east coast of Kephalonia and maybe across to island of Ithika. We intend to try and camp on the beach where they filmed captain Corelli’s Mandolin (we can re-enact part as Captain Steve’s guitar with a cast of three). We need to be at Fiskardo in the north of Kephalonia on 11^th June so Gareth can get his flight home and we can set sail for the marina allowing time for inclement weather.

Monday June 11^th

We need to be at Fiskardo in the north of Kephalonia on 11^th June so Gareth can get his flight home the next day. We sail north across the top of Ithika, Akrotirio and back to the island of Lefkada. Then continue up the east coast of Lefkada back to the marina for either Thursday 14^th or Friday 15^th June.

Friday 15^th June

We take the boat out of the water 15:00 hours on Friday 15^th the marina fees include a wash down before we put Mihangel back on the trailer for the journey home.

Saturday 16^th June

Catch the midnight ferry from Ingoumenitsa in Greece back to Ancona Italy.

Sunday 17^th June

Arrive Ancona Italy 13:00 hours and start the drive back home.

Monday 18^th June

We have booked into an apartment near Nice for a couple of days.

Friday 22 June

Catch the 16:45 ferry from Calais to Dover

Steve and Viv Wayfarer Greek Odyssey

Hi Folks

This is my first attempt to see if we have managed to set up a blog site to record our Greeek adventure

If it works I'll update as we progress

Regards

Steve