Monday, 29 July
After a rather sleepless night we got ready to go after a barge had looked like it wanted to moor where we were berthed.
We saw other yachts heading for the open lock but there was an enormous ship slowly coming down so we ducked behind it to rush over before the lock closed.
We were too late as the lock door was closing, but the second lock was open and the signal to enter (flashing white light) was still on so in we sped!
There was just Quattordici and us and we thought we would have a long wait while other boats joined us, but no, after only 5 minutes they shut the door and we had our own personal lock service!
We went up quite a bit this time and came out into the wide Elba on a tide just a little against us.
We motored as the wind was light and we wanted to get a spot in what we expected to be a busy Cuxhaven marina.
The tide soon turned and we ended up with about 3 knots with us by the time we entered the marina. We found a berth quickly too!
Poor David spend most of his afternoon trying (and failing) to find a fitting for the new gas bottle as the Swedes use a different bottle and fitting. After much effort he found out that all we had to do was take the Swedish fitting off and it would fit the EU bottle (!). He wasn’t best pleased but at least we now have gas!
Meanwhile Kevin and I found a Lidl in town and for supplies for tomorrow’s 24 hour sail. We also filled up with diesel.
There are seals in our marina!
We had excellent fish at the Hus op ‘n Diek (house on the dike) restaurant.
Tomorrow we leave with the tide – farewell Germany! Auf Wiedersehen!