Thursday, February 26, 2015

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Spot of the Week - Werder/Havel Germany

Winter is a good time to think about where we have been before and where we liked it.
When we still lived in Berlin we visited at one wonderful, sunny and colorful autumn day the small town Werder (Havel), which is 10km South of Potsdam or 40 km from Berlin city centre.

The town is located on an island within the river Havel. It was first mentioned in 1317.

The region is acknowledged as a recreation area and well known for fruit-growing, especially apples, cherries and strawberries.

We like especially the mixture of town live surrounded by nature, particularly the river.

Some impressions we preserved from our viste:

Imbued by Travel IX

Yes it is true, the Baltic Sea in winter is not a nice, cosy place where you would like to stay outside all day.
But still....it fills my heart with excitement and I fell very attached to this, kind of rough, nature.


Baltic Sea in Winter - 2015 - Acrylic on Canvas - 120x100 cm - prints available at Saatchi Online

Imbued by travel VIII

Our trip to Finland last fall was of major impression on every member of our family.

A very first painting inspired by the beauty, quietness and peacefulness of the autumn atmosphere we were happy to experience there (and for sure just the beginning of a series ;-))


Finland - 2015 - Acrylic on Canvas - 100x80cm - $1000,- at Saatchi Online

Thursday, February 19, 2015

winter break

We are still kind of hibernating...well not really since there ist some work going on at Madita during the last weeks:
Like removing rust from her keel and building up new layers of paint and antifouling; sanding and varnishing all the wood parts outside and some parts under deck; we bought two new hatches and started to adjust the width of the holes so they fit in.....

A lot of this and that is left to be done, until it is time for her to be slipped back into her natural element...which should happen on March, 28th.....

Until then we keep on dreaming about our next sailing trips ;-)

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Finding

The first piece of a new sculpture series made of finds.
The objects will mostly come from driftwood or other natural materials found at the shores of the Baltic sea.



Monday, November 3, 2014

Friday, October 31, 2014

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

København/Denmark - waterside

There are different ways to approach a foreign city. To me it is very special to explore from the waterside.
Here are some pictures of the danish capital, which we like very much, because life is very much connected to the sea and being on the water.


Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Sunday, October 26, 2014

Finland Fall 2014

This autumn break we took the chance for a little trip to the...... no not South.... we felt we had way enough sun and warmth this summer in the North.....
The decision to travel to Finland was manifold: Finland is the only scandinavian country we haven't been to, yet. Finlines seems to be the only shipping company allowing dogs at the ferries and within the cabins. On the search for the perfect cottage for rent, we soon found Lomalehto, located in East Finland. That set it :-)



Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Madita hibernating ;-)

Two weeks ago Madita got ready for the winter.... Wolfgang chose a new place for her hibernation in Kiel/Germany and so far we are happy with this choice. The whole movement was professional and careful. Now the work on her can begin ;-)

Sunday, October 5, 2014

Saturday, October 4, 2014

Ginko


Around the corner of our street many Ginko trees are planted.
One of the joys in autumn is to collect fallen leaves and Ginko's last longest before the color fades and the material becomes too dry.




Ginko - 2014 - Green Soapstone - 13x9x6cm - $150 at Saatchi Online

Imbued by travel VI


I always enjoy the evening strolls along the shore, coming from Sonderborg Lystbådehavn harbor going towards the Sonderborg castle. On the way are a lot of trees standing narrow and mysterious. I sometimes wonder if little ghost are living in their tops...

Sonderborg - 2014 -Acrylic on Canvas - 100x80cm - $500 at Saatchi Online

Autumn


A month ago you can already feel fall standing in front of the door.
One foggy sunday morning we were going back from Glücksburg/Germany to Sonderborg.....


Friday, October 3, 2014

Sonderborg/Denmark - 08/03/2014


We are back in Sonderborg, the vacation is ending.
Although sad, that the time went by so fast, we are more than happy about this great journey.
Madita ran 613.1 NM. We passed the 59° of latitude and reached Norway. 
We saw wonderful landscapes and beautiful nature  and met some really friendly people. The weather was much better than expected (all the warm sweaters are still clean in the closet). Wolfgang catched his first fish and the children had so much fun swimming, climbing rocks, being in nature. We simply had a great time!


Aarøsund/Denmark - 08/02/2014


From Middelfart/Funen to Aarøsund/Jytland Denmark, distance 22.1 NM, weather partly cloudy, 23°C, wind turning from west to east 4-5 Beaufort.

We have a good sailing day and we see the lovely porpoise several times. But still the mood is a bit down since we are coming to an end of our journey....


Middelfart/Funen Denmark - 08/01/2014


For today we stay in Middelfart and take a 15km hike along the shore. We pass the castle of Middelfart which is private property but people are aloud to walk through the park. A little house can be found there, in which assumedly H.C. Andersen has written "The little mermaid".

The path leads further into a nature reserve for deers. Although the children are constantly chatting we see some deers really close in the woods and on the open meadows, which is quite exciting :-)


Middelfart/Funen Denmark - 07/31/2014

From Endelave to Middelfart-Lystbådehavn/Funen Denmark, distance 35 NM, weather cloudy, 22°C, water temperatur 21°C, wind southwest 5 Beaufort.

It is a rough ride today. The wind is coming more from the front than the side. A gust of about 30 knots hits Madita hard and she bents 70° to the side, which leaves me completely wet in the cockpit and most of the stuff downstairs fall from luv to lee. Good luck no one was hit....

In the evening we are all happy to eat something and call it a day early.


Friday, September 26, 2014

Endelave/Denmark - 07/30/2014


From Tunø to Endelave, distance 14 NM, weather partly cloudy, 25°C, water temperature 21°C, wind first 0-1, later 2-3 Beaufort from northwest.

After a short trip we reach Endelave today. We have been her in 2011 and again we are fond of this island north of Funen in the southwest Kattegat. It is a great pleasure to visit this lively community surrounded by beautiful nature.



Thursday, September 25, 2014

Tunø/Denmark - 07/29/2014


From Langør to Tunø/Denmark, distance 12 NM, weather sunny, 30°C, water temperature 24°C, wind 2-3 Beaufort

After we recovered from last night's alarm, we make a short trip over to the island Tunø. Here we spend a happy day, taking a nice walk to the village and climb the only lighthouse located in the tower of a church. The evening passes for the children with playing in the harbor with a whole bunch of kids.



Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Langør/Samsø Denmark - 07/18/2014


From Grenaa to Langør/Samsø, distance 27,7 NM, weather partly cloudy, 25°C, wind northeast 2-3 Beaufort.

It is not like the end of our wonderful summer vacation is coming but a second journey starts today. We clean up Madita from outside and inside and fill up fuel and water before setting our course for Samsø. The children take responsibility today setting the sails and it becomes a beautiful sailing day.

The plan for today is to anchoring in a bay close to the harbor Langør on the danish island Samsø. When reaching the bay it is already rather full, but in the harbor there is a forest of masts. We give it a try and let the anchor down at 5 meter. The first attempt fails. When going for a different spot another ships passing us with high speed and let the anchor down right in front of us. Now it is really tight, but anyway the anchor grabs and the weather is calm. We stay and shortly after we are at the small beach of this beautiful and peaceful bay.

Before going to sleep Wolfgang sets the anchoring alarm; soon after we are fast asleep.

At 1:30 am just a second before the anchoring alarm starts beeping someone is shouting very loudly from outside "Wake up, you are drifting!!!". We jump on deck and I am shocked, that we are already bumping against another ship. The anchor chains are twisted around each other. It is pitch dark and only in the light of our flashlight Wolfgang tries to free the anchor chains, which miraculously works out. Under machine we try to leave the anchoring field, but is hard to orientate and see where the field ends. We have no sight, don't know whether there are blind rocks nearby and hardly can figure out, which way to take to the harbor. Luckly we reach it anyway and go alongside the very first boat. 
At the sky there are millions of stars. 

We are awake early next morning and the mood is down. We are not sure what our mistake was: Is the anchor to light for Madita? Should we have used a longer part of the chain? Was the ground too bad? Was the field to narrow? We feel frustrated and dispirited. 

A little later Wolfgang takes the dinghy to drive out to the other boat we hit at night, to make sure, that there is no damage done. When he is back, he feels much better. The people on that ship reported, that they were already on deck for a while that night, because two other ships before us drifted when the wind turned and had problems. They saw us coming slowly towards them and were prepared having enough fender out. No damage was done, and much more important no one was hurt. Our hearts are a little lighter, but still I am distressed...


Monday, September 8, 2014

Grenaa/Denmark - 07/27/2014

From Anholt to Grenaa, distance 27NM, weather sunny 30°C, water temperature 23°C, wind south 2-3 Beaufort.

It is an extremely hot day again and we think about making a second harbor day on Anholt, in a way to give the children again the chance to play with other kids. But later this afternoon we all think, we have enough of days not moving further on.

On top of it, we feel it is a good idea to drive at nights when it is much cooler. We are able to sail a good part of our way to Grenaa. Just one hour before reaching the harbor the wind is gone and we have to start the engine.
It is easy to find the harbor entrance at night and soon we can make out a free box with the kind guidance of a flashlight shining through the quiet night of a harbor almost at sleep.
The car is still where we left it some weeks ago....:-)


Anholt/Denmark - 07/25/2014


From Donsö/Sweden to Anholt/Denmark, distance 55 NM, weather sunny, 33°C, water temperature 23°C, wind northwest 2-3 Beaufort.

Magdalena helps me today making a trip to the nearby ICA supermarket; afterwards we have to take a shower again....

On early afternoon we are on our way, leaving Sweden behind (for now....;-)) and returning to Denmark, visiting the wonderful island Anholt. Since we have some experience with this harbor, we plan to arrive at night, anchoring in the outer harbor and sneak into one of the first free boxes very early in the morning. 
At the beginning we can sail with Genua and mainsail, later we have to start the engine.
During this afternoon and evening we experience a broad variety of weather phenomena.

When we are just about 13 NM east of the island Laesø, the danish rescue station Lingby Radio reports that there might be a sailing ship making water and may be in need of help. We can see no such ship in trouble around and like some others report that back. This incidence makes me think: How you can easily be lost without any help in a fully crowded place, but out at sea everyone around considers himself addressed when the call for help goes out, keeping sharp lookout and would not mind to drive extra miles just to help some strangers....
the sun is going down and the only lights around come from the huge cruising and cargo ships. It is already dark when I look at those giants again and have the vague  feeling that there is something in the dark. I take the binoculars and right, there is another sailing ship, running with engine but without any position or other lights just about 50 meters away from us. When Wolfgang uses the flashlight to illuminate the vehicle they are instantly flashing back....at least they knew that we are there for some time....

When reaching the harbor entrance another ship seems just leaving Anholt. But the position lights are going back and forth and we are completely unable too figure out which direction they might take. Feeling a little stressed we try to take a safe course to avoid them, when the other ship just switches on it's anchoring light......

In front of the island about 20 ships are anchoring, at least this is the number of set anchoring lights, it is impossible in this darkness to figure out how much more there are without light... 
The mole of the outer harbor bassin is completely full with ships of all sizes. We go along side of another boat at the inner harbor, not sure how many boat are between us and the pontoon. Wolfgang brings Hugo for a walk by dinghy and after being back we both all fast asleep until 6 am, when the first ships starts to leave....mission completed :-)