seaKAYAKCOBBER adventure on Sealevel

HITCH HIKING WITH COBBER!

2009-11-22T10:37:00.006+01:00

Entering the Black Sea

HITCH HIKING WITH COBBER

How many more trips can I make and see the sunset going down on beautiful beaches?
With how many more trips can I see the rain showers coming towards me and hitting COBBER with a sound like ‘knocking on heavens door’?
Two questions I can never answer. If time will come I have to accept and live my life without the clear blue sky. Instead a cloudy mist will take over….The Foggy Dew will appear and never go away again.
Those two questions lead me to paddle to Moldova. And that was before all the dark days will appear…

The first month of the trip was cold and the weather was harsh.Going upstream and passing by 70 locks did ask most of my material and physical condition. But as temperatures rise I started to feel more comfortable: The rhythm of the blades, the wind whispering…COBBER enjoying the scenery.

Saltwater again
It was the beginning of August when I arrived in Tulcea, in Romania. Tulcea is the starting point to go into the Donau Delta, the largest water lands from Europe. It took me four months to reach Tulcea and I did enjoy the different landscapes and cultures along the way. Passing by numerous countries through the heart of Europe. It was time to see some wide open space again: The Black Sea was only a few paddle strokes away…Yopie…!

I headed for Sulina after saying good bye to my friends from the Polica de Frontera in Tulcea.
Brathul Sulina is the water-highway of the Donau Delta. Motorboats and catamarans loaded with tourists and fishermen were passing by in high speed. A vessel from Istanbul was slowly overtaking. It took me the whole day to come to Sulina, the last port from Romania. Half way of the day I stopped in a little village called Gorgova and eat for the second time in my life sweetwater fish. It was sandy and overcooked with a lot of bones. Not my kind of fish. The taste was still in my mouth even many hours afterwards. Terrible!
But this time no fisherman to save me with his home made Vodka.

Basalt blocks were on both sides of the river and it was boring. The kilometers signs were replaced by mile signs. And an empty vessel was coming towards me, this would be the last one today, I thought. The weather was comfortable and in the early evening I arrived in Sulina. I was looking for the border police station, but it was on the other side of the river and not in Sulina town. Stray dogs were welcoming me and El Capitano said I can camp on the premises. An old factory, decayed houses and numerous rusty cranes were accompanying me. That was one of the last nights on Romanian soil. As always the border police officers were friendly and accommodating. They have been a great help along the Donau. And since they are part of the EU, the old canon boats were replaced by top gear equipment.

The next morning I had a day off and prepare myself for the Black Sea. I passed by the Sulina Port Authority and asked them for help for a weather forecast. After asking many persons I was finally led to a stair where a woman was welcoming me. On the wall was a
Fred Flintstone VHF with crackling disturbing noise.
The language barrier was as always around and making myself clear was easy from my side. The lady on the other side was speaking not much English, or nothing at all. I had to look for an alternative to get information. Internet cafés do not yet exist in this remote town and after half an hour discussion I gave up.
I decided to ask the team in Holland to update me by SMS for the weather forecast.
The rest of the day I relaxed on the Boulevard and bought my latest supplies. Horse drawn carts and dusty back roads make you go into time again. In the evening little boats arrived with loads full of melon and the whole town was buying. Including me!

The next morning I had to report at the Pilot boat and get a stamp for exiting the EU. It took ages before they let me go. For most kayakers Sulina means the end of their Journey: the last port of the Danube River. For me it was just a stop-over and have to go North to Moldova. For this I had to pass by the Ukrainian coastline that took me to the river Dnjester.

Mind the gap
I paddled for a while along the pier to find a gap. There must be a gap on the portside so I can make a shortcut and do not have to paddle all up to the lighthouse at the end of the pier. Just after an anchored vessel is the gap. Here I carried COBBER over the stones and had a look into the unknown.
I found my way and then the Black Sea was revealing itself to me.
For four months I have been paddling on rivers and again on saltwater. I felt good. No more forests or towns but a wide open sea. All I wanted at that moment.

The wind was N/NE3 and I paddled through vast fields of lilies. Now and then they wanted to keep the paddle but it saved me from a wet exit. The water was brown and with a light scent of salt. It was quiet and half a mile away a little fishing boat was passing by. Wow!
After a while I left the bay behind me and the lighthouse was slowly fading away. Little sandbanks appeared and the water was getting choppy now and then. Although there was nothing to worry about tide, the rivers spitted out large quantities of water and with the wind coming from the North it gave some "strange" patterns. I paddled in the brown surf and decided to go a little further off the coast: Chocolate with a head of yellow cream.
There I found a nice large swell. Wind was increasing and it got colder. Once around the cape I had to work hard to keep up the pace.

Welcome to the Ukraine!
After a while it was time for a break and I went to the coast. The wind was increasing and the surf was long, very long. It took a while before I had Ukrainian soil under my feet. I celebrated with traditional Hungarian salami as lunch. Welcome to the Ukraine, I said to myself.
It was becoming colder and I put on my anorak, off we went again. The afternoon took away all my energy. I had to Paddle to the Metal to make some progress. Seagulls were passing by and played in the wind. I had to think about "The Lonesome Boatman" from Davey Arthur and The Fureys. Are there also war pipes in the Ukraine?

Then I heard the sound of an engine behind me. Two people were passing by in a motorboat and wanted to know where I am going and where I am sleeping. Question one I can tell, question two I never tell…Snoops around at night I never like! According to them it was protected area. Derzavnayj Zapovednyk.
Then I told them I am on the way to Moldova, a big smile appears on their face and they wish me good luck. Crazy Dutchman!
The rest of the day I was alone and in a far distance I saw a ship. It was heading to Odessa or further way to Jevpatorya? Who knows?
The horizon was first a stripe and then it changed into a forest and later on trees that transformed into branches and a beach. I had enough, I stopped. It was cold and I felt tired.
It was a tough day, that first day on the Black Sea. But I felt satisfied. The mud in my veins will be replaced by salt again, I was thinking.
Paddling at sea was different from being on a lake or a river.
My thoughts were changing again. You have to be more concentrated and alert. I love it:
“My camp will be near the dunes and don't know what to expect tonight?? Soldiers or will there be some smugglers around: Vessels full with illegal vodka finding their way in to the EU…”

Dawn was early coming and I was out of my tent before sunset. The wind was still sleeping and the sea was tranquil. “This is the beginning of a perfect day,” I thought.
Last night I made a decision. If the wind will be strong I will register in Prymorske, otherwise I will cross 15 miles to South Saheny. But first breakfast: A cup of tea, bread, salami and smoked cheese were my starters. The cheese was from goats and smells like it has been on the Barbie. The bread was nice the first day, the second day it was getting dry and the third day it all fell apart. The kayak was full of crumbs. But it kept you going.
I packed and started paddling North again. As expected, the wind was not leaving me alone and Prymorske will be my destination.
After a few hours a shipwreck was having my attention and time for a break. I could not see her name anymore, all rust and beaten up by the waves. Now I just have to go around the cape and paddle westward for a while and then I will arrive and register.
No problem…..

When wrong comes right and right comes wrong
After my break it was only two hours more. Suddenly the brown color of the water was replaced by blue water. No more mud and dirty water from the rivers. The Black Blue Sea.
Upon arrival I am surprised to see so many people. Prymorske is only a spot on the map but the beach looks like a colony of ants. Many Ukrainian and Russian people are coming here to spend the holidays. Natasha and Nikita were getting a suntan, while a woman with one tooth was clapping her hands.
Many people….and nobody spoke English.
Before I started with my trip we made translations in every country COBBER and I would pass by. Explaining why I do this trip and my motivation. In a few minutes there are a dozen of people around me: shaking hands, giving advice and offering a shot….all in the Russian language.

The translation helped a little bit and two Moldovan people came to me and spoke some German. They helped me to a camping and I got permission from the owner to stay there for the night and register at the border police.
Then suddenly things changed quickly and the two people were told to go off. I still said to them; "We will have a drink tonight…”
Police appeared and I had to leave COBBER behind. Still a minute was reserved to change my clothes. I was directed into a LARO (Russian landrover) and armed guards were sitting beside and behind me. No possibility to escape.
We were going to a caserne and told I was arrested, for being illegal in the Ukraine.
I protested and said I just wanted to register….the coming hours were spent with explaining, not agreeing and signing protocols. A poor speaking German translator was trying to do his best although he was not objective. When I wanted to go to the Lou, I had to leave the door open and armed guards were enjoying the smell. Just call it Dutch Comfort.

They had to explain everything ten times and I can not agree with the plan to repatriate me back to Romania. I had to act stubborn: In order to continue my trip. Hours were passing by and they told me I would be prosecuted.
That same night I had to appear in court. The judge was having a good mood:
I got an oral warning and had to leave the country within 24 hours. No fine and no Siberia! Lucky me.

COBBER goes hitchhiking
The next morning I was on the way to the border. The original plan was to let me go back to Romania, meaning I would be further and further away from the original trip. They agreed I could go to the Ukraine/Moldovan border Bohlrad.
Bye bye Ukraine
A kayak in the hinterlands: people were scratching their heads when they saw me. All they can say: Baidarka, the English word for Kayak.
At the border I was lucky to meet some people from a border assistance team from the EU. They gave me good advice and a couple of bob to buy a dinner. Frank, the one from Germany said: Travelers are a special breed and a little bit crazy. I nod my head. How right he can be.
I did get a stamp and turned around towards the Ukraine again. A guard was annoying me for over two hours, always repeating: “Gave me money, gave me money”. Meaning he wants money, a tip. After two hours I gave in and gave him a small Euro bill: I got a chair and a bottle of water and a shed of his cabin. The next hours he said: “You’re a good man, you’re a good man, sweating in the sun”. While I enjoyed the privilege of his shed, money talked and repeated as well. I called him the Ukrainian Parrot.
Then I had to wait for a lift from a truck. The first one I refused. He wanted to tie COBBER under the truck, but I feared for all the pebbles on the road. I didn’t want the kayak to be a strainer. After five hours there was another possibility. Not knowing where to put the kayak with this truckload full of scrap. So soon I was told. He had to go into a cylinder. Strange things were happening in the Ukraine!
Not knowing where I would end up, I took the ride and spent two days with COBBER and a Moldovan trucker on the Southern "Pothole Highways" from the Ukraine. Yee Haah!
With hands and feet we communicated and we had a lot of fun. We shared the meals with fresh cucumber and tomatoes and the always appearing melons along the road. Yummy Yummy.
He dropped me on a highway and I ended up in Bolhorod-Dnistrovskyj. This place is also known as Akkerman. The waters of Kyllyman. Turks, Mongols and many more have been here ruling for periods of time. The white fort is a silent witness, where blood was coloring the Black Sea. I met with a sailor who spoke fluent English and the coming two days I was part of the Akkerman Gang. They have tattoos from their hometown on their arms and acted as bodyguard. We spent hour after hour with talking, fishing and drinking. Ukrainian hospitality!
This water of Kylluman is connected with the Black Sea and a day paddle from my last part of the journey: Dnjester river, or Nistro as the locals call it.
So I was back on the track. I crossed to the other side towards Ovidiopol and am surprised to see a boy with big table tennis bats paddling a big inner tube from a truck…a mile of the coast. Crazy Ukrainians!

As my truck driver said: Ukraine, Always Problem!
I agreed. When I was already paddling upstream the river Dnjester the border with Moldova was closed. Soldiers were telling me full of aggression: I had to go away.
I don't give up. But it's useless. Again I had to paddle back to Hellyman, passing Crosna Cosa and then took another route over the road where I passed by the Starokozace border. Trucks, cars and a tractor did take me back in the right direction. The Grande Final would begin.

The weeks before heavy flooding did strike in Romania and Moldova. Also the river Dnjester was infested. Houses were swept away and vast areas of land had been and were still under water. Dikes were raised to protect towns from the flooding. And I had to go upstream…
The last part of my trip was the hardest. The river was stinking and smelling like a sewer, mud all over and the mosquitoes were whole day around: Moldovan Midges, related to the one from Scotland, only with a Russian Mentality.
The last day I paddled 21 hours in a row to get rid of the terrible surroundings. I made it, after almost five months and over 4000 km of paddling.
My slogan was: Two faces, a world of difference.
I did ask attention and raised money for the SmilesforMoldova foundation. We raised almost 30000 euro to help people with Maxillofacial Prosthetics in Chisineau, the capital of Moldova.
Later on I found out that one of my favorite artists died when I was on the way…
Ronnie Drew from "the oldest boy band in the World", the Dubliners passed away. How many times did I sing his song while paddling towards Moldova?
Don't give up till it's over
Don't quit if you can
The weight on your shoulder
Will make you a stronger man.

Kayaking in the OL'days.

2009-09-16T16:38:00.004+02:00

Well it's been ages since i wrote on this Blog. After coming back from Moldova a lot of changes took place in my life. Well some good, some bad. Kayaking is still the main part and since a few months i did add guitarlessons to it as well.

Anyway overhere (sorry, in Dutch) a artickle for our newsletter from the kayakclub. It's about the old days and the new modern days of kayaking.

Den ouden EGKV handboekh.

In den blauwdrukh vhan het opleijdingsboekh voor Kanovaarenden van AchthienAchtenderthig. beschreef men:
Men houde de peddel met den rechterhantdh onwrickbaer vasth, opdat men zo een vasdten handth nodigh heeft om voruith te vaahren. ……
Dit was de instructie die men ten tijde van de Jongens van WillemsZoon aanhield. De club heette destijds. Den Eersthen Groningher KanoVereeniging. En was gevestigd Aan den Randen van het Elsborger onland, oftewel de NoordWesthoek van het huidige Paterswoldse Meer. Zijn de tijden veranderd?
Reeds in die tijd wou men in clubverband peddelen en werd er op techniek geprobeerd te varen. Of zoals men zo mooi zei;
TER LERING ENDE VERMAAECK.

Zondag 16 augustus 2009 zal de boeken ingaan als de Tocht der Tochtjes. Maar liefst twee maal vijf kilometer zal moeten worden afgelegd.
Nicolien had hiervoor een nieuwe wing peddel aangeschaft, Bart had het neopreenpak aangetrokken en Allard had de handschoenen aan getrokken. Marlies had voor de zekerheid maar een zeekano meegenomen en Dinie had de pols reeds in het gips gezet om maar geen kraakpols op te lopen.
Robbert en Jörgen (dat ben ik) hadden de spatzeilen maar hoog opgetrokken, terwijl ik zelf mijn hoedje nog maar eens aansnoerde. Want nu moest het gebeuren. kortom een barre tocht bij 25 graden boven nul.

Na vertrek vanaf de Loods zat de TomTom achterin bij Robbert: Allard vertelde feilloos waar we heen moesten. Kijk daar kan een Plezante vrouw met Flaamsche Swoele Stem niet tegen op. Op naar Niehove. Hier werd in de haven eerst maar eens koffie met cake ingenomen om toch goed beslagen aan de tocht te beginnen.
Daarna te water in een metersdikke soep van groen en nog meer groen.
Nicolien gaat als de brandweer met haar nieuwe peddel en we moeten haar zo een halt toeroepen, anders komt er een versnelling in the nauwe planning van deze meermaal vijf kilometer buffelen. WE mogen de krachten niet meteen verspillen in den beginne.

Het waait hard maar we gaan ervoor. We komen langs Pamazielje en dan volgt een uitspraak van Bert……Met houde de peddelsteel onwrikbaar vast.
Marlies steigert en een vergadering voor de instructeurs is al bijna een feit: Wie heeft je dit geleerd???
Misschien was het oud Hollands of werd de instructie verkeerd geïnterpreteerd. maar we weten nu in elk geval dat een peddel met zoveel kracht vast houden met je rechterhand uit de boze is. Al laat Den oudhen EGKV handboekh anders sien.
Hierna blijkt het al beter te gaan en word de hand losser om de steel heen gedaan, we gaan als de wind.
Nu en dan kijken we even over het land en na nog even door doorbijten komen we op het Kommerzijlsterdiep. Hier gaan we onder de brug door en belanden in een wel heeel stil Kommerzijl. Een paar kinderen is het enige wat we horen. De plaatselijke kroeg is open maar toch ook weer dicht. Een kleine wandeling volgt en al gauw zijn we uitgewandeld. Kommerzijl lijkt ten dode opgeschreven, er staan de wereld huizen te koop. Ikzelf durf niet verder te lopen, zo meteen vallen we van de wereld af.
Terug maar weer naar Niehove. We hebben de wind in de rug en gaan als een speer. Al gauw hebben we de kerktoren al weer in het zicht en besluiten toch nog maar even pauze te houden. Even bijkomen van een monstertocht en de krachten verdelen voor dat het laatste stuk moet. We drijven snel met de wind de goed richting op. Marlies demonstreert nog een snelle sleep aan de voorboeg en zo komt de haven in zicht.. Wat een tocht: De voorbereiding is het halve werk, of was het meer-werk?

WE binden de boten op en gaan op verkenning bij het dorp. Appeltaart met Zahne hebben ze ook hier en al snel zitten we lekker op het terras. Daarna snel de kerk in om te biechten dat we hebben gezondigd aan alweer Appeltaart!
Daarna lopen we nog een eindje buiten het dorp en komen wat Quessant schapen tegen, half geit/half schaap lijkt het. Mooie beesten om te zien. Daarna gaan we nog even de ring van Niehove op. Dit terpdorp is een radiaaldorp, gebouwd op een verhoging, zodat men droge voeten hield bij opkomend water.

Daarna gaat het huiswaarts naar den Club. Waar men den Kanoos in den Loodshe neder zal leghen, zodath deze kan bekomen van wer eenh geslaagdhen togcht.
Is er veel veranderd over de jaren?? Waren de boten vroeger van hout, nu zijn ze van polyester. Een dikke wollen trui is nu een hightech millimeter dun sofsshell. De peddel houden we nog steeds vast…niet meer zo onwrickbaer maar nog steeds met vaste hand.

Moldova, the river Nistro

2008-12-30T10:14:00.004+01:00

Recently I just did show you all some pictures from the trip from holland to Moldova. It took me five months to complete the 4000+Km trip across Europe. Finally I made it to Moldova, entering from the Black Sea and the waters known as Kyllyman.

The weeks before heavy flooding did attack Romania and Moldova. People lost their houses and cattle did drown. The last few hundred kilometers were terrible for me. I had to go upstream, while mud and Moldovan Midges were giving me a hard time.

The last day i had to paddle 21 hours in a row, to be in time for the deathline: so press and all the other people could welcome me.

But in the end there is the reward. In Voda lui voda I was welcomed by the staff from the hospital, TVcameras and a large crowd who welcomed me. I did ask attention for the SMILESFORMOLDOVA foundation. Passing over twelve countries we did have a lot of attention and we put the project in Chisineau on the map. Other parties are now also picking it up and the Maxillofacial Protetics Treatment Room will be realized with a lot of help. Thank you all for your support.

Ukraine and Black Sea

2008-12-25T11:09:00.003+01:00

After leaving the Danube, I ended up in the Black Sea, overhere i had to go North in order to reach my last part of the trip, de Dnjester river in Moldova.

The sea looked more like the Brown Sea and I did have some '"adventures" while in the Ukraine. I had been arrested, had to hitch-hike with my kayak for a few days through backcountry Ukraine and then final was back on the track, in Bilhorod-Dnjstovski. That's where I meet some locals. We spend two days with talking, walking, fishing drinking and more drinking.

The lads did give a me home-away-from-home feeling. Or call it Ukrainian Hospitality. And as the bottle did get more empty...we were able to communicate easier. Needless to say that the next day i needed a day off.

Donau too....Two

2008-12-14T11:34:00.003+01:00

My fist night on Romanian soil. Moldova Veche.

Paddling the Kazane...the narrow part of the Dunaj

The Biggest dam from europe...it cost billions of Dollars but no money left for a kayak friendly jetty.

Sun is setting over Serbia, while camping on the Romanian side.

Donau..Duna, Danube, Dunaj

2008-12-09T13:49:00.003+01:00

On the way to Moldova, I had to paddle over 2400 kilometer on the Donau. Passing many countries and different cultures.

The big dam right after Vienna, Austria

Budapest, Hungary by night.

The Kayakclub from Novi Sad, Serbia.

Spending the night on a houseboat just outside Novi Sad

Dunau

Main and Main Donau canal.

2008-12-08T12:26:00.003+01:00

On the way to Moldova, I had to go upstream the Main and Main-donau canal to reach the Donau.

Over 70 locks I did pass. Sometimes with help from the lockmaster and the lock. Later on i had to take the kayak out on my wheels and walk around. This last is very tiresome.

The lock with most difference in waterlevel was Erlangen, Germany.

Over 20 meters.

Take a break

COBBER had a fight with a boulder

The Rhine...to strong to go upstream.

2008-11-03T21:18:00.002+01:00

The people from Wannheim Kayak Club near Duisburg in Germany did look after my like a prodigal son...I did have a good homestay their for a few days. They also helped me to get a lift upstream the river Rhine with a ship. The stream was to strong to paddle all up to the Main canal.

The m.v. Waldhof did bring me in two days from Duisburg to the Maincanal. It's was a good learning experience to see from a ship the movements on the water.

COBBER is having a break and getting a suntan on the deck from the m.v. Waldhof.

One of the first damages along the way...hitting a boulder near a lock.

Many more would follow...

Germany. april 2008

2008-11-02T18:41:00.002+01:00

The first month of the 4000+ Kmtrip was taking most of my condition: Going upstream and passing many sluices/locks. But also a lot of nice bridges

Pushing and pushing the Dormund-Ems Canal, no side effects

After passing a lock, the waterpolice did pass by and asked for my papers. I forget that I had a liter of "fresh"milk in my cockpit. And did step on it. It later turned into sourcreme.

I met many people along the way, overhere the couple that takes care of the kayakclub Sterkrade: Thorsten and his wife. Thanks for the beer and the hamburgers!

Images along the way..from holland to moldova

2008-10-27T13:52:00.004+01:00

Images along the way

Above the pumpstation from Termunterzijl.

At the moment I am still busy with….ahh many things and don't know where to start with my story about paddling from Holland to Moldova.
So it's better to put some photo's on the blog and then hopefull it will come back.

The small fishing village of Ditsum, Germany. during the trip I was doing report for the dutch newspaper "De volkskrant''. Overall I did write over 60 artickles.

After crossing the Dollard I have to upstream the river Ems. In the background the port of Emden. This was all during my first days of the trip (april 2008)

COBBER returns!

2008-10-07T17:30:00.003+02:00

COBBER is home!

I just left Moldova September 13 on the way back to Holland. And was going back by plane.
Before I left we took COBBER from Chisineau to Galatz (Romania) by road, a ship was waiting to take him back to Holland .
A patient who was treated in the hospital with help from the SMILESforMOLDOVA foundation was so happy and delighted with his new prostheses that he offered me a free ride to the border. After a few hours we arrived.

Travel in style
Then I did tie COBBER behind a car and the last 20 Km we drove to the Shipyard where COBBER would go home over the water.
The BASE Express from VOS (VroonOffshoreServices) did take him in three weeks to Holland, Den Helder. Storm and rain; windforce 9
So Saturday afternoon I did receive a call and we had to pick him up from the ship.
We drive with wind force 9 over the Afsluitdijk and returned home safe.

United with my kayak: COBBER.

I made it!

2008-09-17T18:40:00.005+02:00

Curious about what happened??? More later...

Hello to all the people.

August 27 I did arrive in Chisineau, the capital of Moldova.
After paddling over 4000 km and passing by 11 countries I could say to myself: I MADE IT!

Well I did not maintain my English Blog for a long time. I was busy with writing for a Dutch newspaper.
So in the coming time I will tell you what all happened (in English).

regards Jörgen

half way...

2008-06-17T11:25:00.002+02:00

Since two days i am in Budapest. Or Hungaria as they call it.
When I did leave the Main and the Main donau canals things went easier. No more locks and more locks, only a few...still they were one to remember. Kilometers of walking to get back into the boat. After leaving the West of europe i did went into Slowakia, where i did paddle for two days, I did not change money, so I just went all the time south of the danube, where it is Hungarian soil.
Useless to say, you meet and experience a lot of karackters and situations. All worth the trip.

The danube is making it not hard for me, paddling in these waters go by itself and not hard work...maybe later.
I sleep on the banks of the danube, in clubs, in sheds etc... so just the way i like it.
People are friendly and nothing to worry.
In Vienna i had to repair my boat, it had over 5 holes and most of the keelstrip we had to replace. Taking it out of the water and carry it over locks and boulders everyday, will take the most of the material.

Well later on when i will be home a nice report will follow...seems i am into Eastern europe english, can not think clear, the way i want to write it.

See you later,

Jőrgen

or t

the first lap

2008-05-19T13:21:00.003+02:00

goodday,

to all viewers.

well yesterday i did paddle my first few hours on the donau.

having paddled for over a month upstream, i was a relief. just go with the flow.

i left the blog a while unattended because i was to busy with paddling. and as i have to write for a newspaper as well every week overhere in holland, the english site is forgotten. the river rhine i did paddle for one day but the current was to strong. i did go to the wanheimer kayak club near duisburg and they helped me to get things organized.

we find a big vessel that did bring me to the main river, upstream the rhine. and we did a good interview as well in duisberg.
a whole page was for smilesformoldova.
then the battke of the river main did start a long and tiresome river....if you go upstream. sometimes, imean often the pace was not only 3 km an hour....and then the numerous locks. as for now i had more than 60 locks i did pass by.
some are helpful, sometimes have to wait for 2 hours to go together with a vessel. sometimes had to take the boat out of big quays and was always happy not to have my back in two pieces....all in all a reminder for the people who read thisl do it downstream and a beautiful river is there for you.
after a few weeks of hard work i did arrive at the main donau canal. also there a lot of locks and after a few days the lockmaster did not want to help anymore...the height was getting to dangerous for a kayak. so back to the traditional handwork, all in all hard work and always happy to be on the other side of the lock.

but it.s not all about suffering. one night a man passed by with his son, and promised to come back...with warm chicken, lots of softdrinks, lights, bread etc....i had to refuse a lot because it will not fit in the boat, although the chicken was already reserved for the belly.
or an old lady who did keep an eye on the boat because she did not trust the youngster hanging around.
for the rest it.s perfect kayaking, the cold freezing weather is now gone and we had a warm week. and now some rain again.
my first lap to the donau is done. 1245 km.
and although i speak some german...it can not be avoided to have some misunderstanding now and then...the lockmaster one time did hang out of his window because i made an error...i just could not understand what he did mean.
aber keine probleme jahhhhh.
i will take a few days of rest overhere in regensburg and do a interview and then at the end of the week it.s paddling again.
i also have a big hole under the waterline of the cockpit, but the tape is doing a great job.

well the coming two or three months i will be on the donau, danube or whatever they call it.
in 3 weeks i will leave the west of europe behind me and will go into serbia, etc...see what will overthere....

images along the way, the river Ems

2008-04-24T12:13:00.005+02:00

Well,

after trying very hard to do things in the internet cafe the right way. i did have refuge in a Photoshop.

See here some results....paddling the Dollard and Ems...

The photo above is at Termunterzijl.

The second night of my journeywas minus 6...but during the day it is very comfortable.

The boys from the ARV, the academical Rowing Club in Munster did give me two days of shelter in their very nice clubhouse. This club stands for tradition and a life time commitment. Leather seats a billiard and during the night BBQ with Bradwurst und Beer. Thanks!

Well, it was here that i planted my tent near an old pump station, and then we sun went down......

A dirty rotten week.

2008-04-17T13:19:00.003+02:00

Well,

After a great crowd did wave me goodbye on saturday, i went of to Termunterzijl. In an easy pace i had to be there on sunday early afternoon. Josephen and my mum would say goodbye to me

During the night it is cold and freezing: minus 6 was registered one night, while my body does have to get used to the temparatures as well.

After two days i had to cross to Germany and the weather was perfect. No wind and a sunny day. When I arrived in the little harbour from Jemgum, things started to get worse. I did start to vomit and my bowls are not cooperating. I have been in bed for three days. Last friday I continued upstream the river Ems. Hard work and a lot of headwind as well.

I made it to the Sealocks of Heebron. And now continue to go inland. I pass by numerous locks and have to wait long times in the rain and the hail. So fun at all.
But like they said, Better a bad day in the kayak, than a good day in the office,
so far I made it to Munster. A nice city, with a lot of bridges and nice cafes.

After spending all the time camping, I now have residence in the ARV, the rowingclub overhere. A nice hot shower is welcome and a meal in a restaurant is welcome.

See you later,
I am not able to send pictures or can I use a grammar correction...this in case my English sucks!

Press and Paddles.

2008-04-01T09:12:00.004+02:00

The last few weeks are hectic. The media is giving the project SMILES FOR MOLDOVA a lot of attention.
We are happy with it. The back-up team did work very hard:
On the website you can see translations in many languages, so people from countries I will pass by are also informed.
The guestbook is having frequent visitors.
And in the media section you will find all articles, interviews etc.

I did give a lot of attention about safety as well, when doing an interview. Seems they always cut it out….a pity because the general public is not well informed about kayaking. Most people only read about tragic accidents. A few days ago a peddler did lost his life on the river Rhine. He was minced beef when they find him in the screw of a vessel.
I repeat all through the interview: Safety first! To make the public aware of Safe Paddling.

Last week we also went to Amsterdam to visit Arend Bloem, he is one on the major material sponsors. At the same day we visit the daily newspaper; de Volkskrant.
The editors did welcome us.
Toine Heijmans, Jady Petovic and Michiel van der Geest are the ones editing the Travel section.
Volkskrantreizen.nl will be keeping the Dutch readers up-to-date about my trip.

Well a few days more…and then I will go off.
So if you want to meet and greet….Saturday april 5.
From 10.30 you are welcome. I will leave 12.00 noon.
Not later, I don't want to miss the boat.

Arend Bloem - kajak.nl

2008-03-26T16:30:00.005+01:00

Yesterday we made a trip to Amsterdam. The weather was just like it was used to be in Ireland. We had sun, rain, snow and some mist in a short period of time.

We did visit Arend Bloem. Also known as "the Kajakcentre from Holland". Dozens of boats are on display and if you want to have a try; Just hop in and do a test on the water. Having a wide range of boats: There is always a model that will suit you.
Seakayaks, WW, playboats, Canadian canoes or for the more advanced: racing and K1 boats.
Together with Arjen and Rob and the other Kayak-holics they have a lot of know-how when it comes to boats, paddles, safety, clothes etc.

Paddle to the metal!
Mister Eagle has been in his younger days a participant of the Olympics. So over speeding in a kayak was a common habit of him. This year he is celebrating his 25 year anniversary in the Kayak business.

A milestone and many more years to come….congratulations! They are situated in an area that is known as the "Zaanstreek". Windmills and irrigation systems from the early days keep this part of Holland dry.

Who will be the Medal-winner?
Arend Bloem and kajak.nl are also sponsoring the project SMILES FOR MOLDOVA.
This is a nice gesture and a great help. We went home with a lot of materials. But also with good advice…useful hints from skilled people.

Invitation to say Farewell.

2008-03-23T10:23:00.004+01:00

Well sometimes you have to say "Bye Bye" in order to make your dreams come true.
Saturday April 5 is another day to part again from family, friends and a lot of other people.

Restaurant "de twee provincien", also known as the Lighthouse, near the "Paterswoldse meer", the lake is having their facility available for the public who wants to say Goodbye and give me their best wishes for the trip I will make for SMILES FOR MOLDOVA.
The kayak trip I will do across Europe to ask attention for "Maxillofacial Prosthetics".

Everybody is welcome at 10:30 in the morning to have a cup of tea, be informed about the trip and give each other the opportunity to wave Farewell.
At 12.00 noon I will part and paddle away….my trip will start!

The last few weeks I did have a lot of heart-warming reactions.
A sailing yacht near Tasmania was sending their moral support through their "Sailmail", somebody did phone me from an oil rig in the North Sea. While another send me a nice poem from Northern Ireland.
And in the UK, kayakers did help me to spread the sponsor mails to a wide audience.
Not only abroad people want to help and support….

This week we also had the good news that a sponsor in Holland, called
NATIONAL ACADEMIC will support us with 20000 Euros.
So this is a good start and a reward for the back-up team as well as for myself. It helps to make SMILES FOR MOLDOVA a big success.
Also a motivation to make it to Moldova and keep the project in the spotlight.

hiking-site.nl

2008-03-21T11:09:00.003+01:00

Since a few years I read and join the Forum from Hiking-site.nl

This site is the number one in Holland when it comes to Outdoor.
Raymond Koome has proven over the years that a high standard website like this is appreciated by the public.
When you are a hiker, mountaineer, kayaker or maybe a backpacker looking for new horizons this is the site to be.
Dutch and Belgium people find quick and easy an answer for all sorts of questions:
Materials, cooking, camping it's all discussed on the Forum.
Or maybe you want to read about people who climbed the mountains and have stunning stories to tell….or have a slideshow from the top of the world while sitting in your armchair.
As you can see, there is something on this website for everybody. Not only far away, but also close to home: Friesland, the Biesbosch or a stroll on the beach of Vlieland.

Hiking site.nl is also supporting SMILES FOR MOLDOVA.
They send me a Katadyn waterfilter Combi.
This piece of equipment will safe a lot of time and will make sure I have reliable drinkingwater along the way.
Thanks for this.

A good start with NATIONAL ACADEMIC

2008-03-20T19:27:00.004+01:00

(note: this newsarticle is in the Dutch language)

Halfjaar de kajak in voor lotgenoten
19-03-2008 10:19 Jasper van den Bovenkamp

Jòrgen van der Pol kajakt van Nederland naar Moldaviè.
EELDERWOLDE - Over enkele jaren kan de 40-jarige Jörgen van der Pol waarschijnlijk niet meer zonder begeleiding in zijn kano stappen. Het zilte zeewater zal hij dan alleen nog ruiken, met zijn vingertoppen voelen of tegen de kade horen klotsen. Maar zien zal hij het niet meer. En daarom stapt hij over ruim twee weken in zijn kajak. Op naar Moldavië voor een 4000 kilometer lange en loodzware eenzame tocht voor het goede doel. Nu het nog kan.
Met de avontuurlijke reis wil Van der Pol aandacht vragen voor een gepensioneerde Nederlandse arts die in Moldavië een kliniek gaat bouwen voor mensen met gezichtsafwijkingen. Zelf is Van der Pol geboren met het EEC-syndroom, waarbij complexe afwijkingen aan haar, huid, ogen en handen optreden. Werken kan hij niet meer en binnen enkele jaren verwacht hij blind te worden. Zijn leven lang is hij in behandeling bij dokter Rob van Oort. Toen Van der Pol hoorde van diens plannen om een afdeling maxillofaciale prothetiek (voor de behandeling van aangeboren defecten aan gebit, kaken en aangezicht) in Moldavië te starten, besloot hij spontaan een kajaktocht voor het goede doel naar het land te maken.
„In Moldavië -een land tussen Roemenië en Oekraïne- is het een schande voor de familie wanneer een gezinslid met die afwijkingen ter wereld komt. Zo iemand durft niet eens de straat op, vanwege de familie-eer. Er zijn echter geen behandelmogelijkheden in het land, maar met het initiatief van dokter Van Oort kan dat probleem worden weggenomen”, aldus Van der Pol. Met zijn reis over het water kan hij het project flink in de schijnwerpers zetten.

Dat de tocht niet geheel zonder gevaren is, beseft de avonturier terdege. Met zijn 5,35 meter lange en 50 centimeter brede kajak komt hij in sluizen te liggen naast reusachtige vrachtschepen. De eerste honderden kilometers vaart hij stroomopwaarts. Zijn peddel kan breken. Het bootje kan omslaan op de Donau. Op de altijd drukke Rijn zijn grote golven. „Ik wil geen overbodige risico’s nemen”, zegt Van der Pol. „Ik ben altijd al een avonturier geweest, maar ik ken de gevaren.”
Voor noodsituaties hebben de achterblijvers een scenario achter de hand. „Maar het komt allemaal wel goed”, verzekert de avonturier. „Het is een geweldige uitdaging en ik ben blij dat ik het nu nog kan.” Bovendien is hij als een ervaren kajakker gewend aan zware inspanningen. Voor eenzaamheid is Van der Pol niet bang. Hoewel hij ruim vijf maanden alleen gaat doorbrengen in zijn drijvende huisje met nog geen vierkante meter vloeroppervlak, verzekert de kajakker geen heimwee te krijgen. „Daar heb ik nog nooit last van gehad”, verduidelijkt Van der Pol, die in zijn leven al heel wat avontuurlijke trips naar het buitenland maakte.
Om onderweg te overleven, neemt hij ongeveer 80 kilo aan materialen mee. Waterdichte kanokleren, zwemvest, kookstel, slaapzak, tent en nog meer attributen moeten ervoor zorgen dat hij de tocht tot een goed einde kan brengen.
Zijn ernstige lichamelijke beperkingen nopen hem wel tot een rustig programma. „Ik heb de hele dag door last van mijn ogen. Soms is dat zo hevig dat ik een paar dagen rust zal moeten nemen”, licht Van der Pol toe. Ook zijn overgevoelige huid en haar spelen hem parten, evenals zijn lip- en verhemeltespleet.
Op 5 april laat hij zijn kajak om 12.00 in het Paterswoldse Meer vlak bij de stad Groningen te water. Na de Waddenzee en de zeearm Dollard passeert hij Eems, Rijn, Main en Donau. Het laatste stukje voert de reis over de Zwarte Zee, om ten slotte via de Moldavische rivier Djnestr bij de kliniek in de hoofdstad van Moldavië, Chisinau, te eindigen.
Het is volgens Van der Pol beslist niet de bedoeling zo veel mogelijk geld binnen te halen. Aandacht voor het project van de werk van arts is prioriteit. Toch kan de kanoër volgens zijn eerste berekeningen wel zo’n 40.000 euro binnen kunnen halen. Kortgeleden zegde verzekeraar National Academic al de helft van dit bedrag toe. In binnen- en buitenland reageren sponsors positief op de plannen. Zo vergoedt een Engelse fabrikant een reservepeddel van 400 euro en zijn er andere geldschieters die „over het algemeen helemaal weg zijn van het idee”, aldus de inwoner van Eelderwolde.
En zelf ziet hij het ook helemaal zitten. „Ik vind het prachtig om op deze manier iets te betekenen voor mijn lotgenoten. Ook voor mezelf is het goed. Ik kan leren mijn beperkingen te accepteren. Dat het met mij na de tocht waarschijnlijk bergafwaarts gaat, vind ik wel erg. Als ik straks niets meer zie, houdt de wereld voor mij wel een beetje op te bestaan. Maar dan ga ik misschien een boek schrijven over mijn avonturen. Zo kan ik me toch nog dienstbaar maken.”

Hot news from Africa.

2008-03-14T10:48:00.005+01:00

some pictures from Kor during other trips overhere in Holland
A few weeks ago I did tell you about my friends, who went to Africa. To paddle in there folding kayaks on the coast and rivers of Senegal and Gambia.

Marlies and Robbert did come back after 4 weeks and Kor did stay longer.
Well last week I had an alarming call from Marlies: Kor was having nothing at all anymore. He only was wearing his brief and a T-shirt. He needed help and money etc…

What was all happening in Africa??
Kor was camping near the beach in Gambia. While preparing some things on his stove, something went wrong!
The stove was not working well and within the blink of an eye all his belongings were gone. Everything was lost in the flames. His tent, clothes, kayak, money, camera, mobile phone, papers etc. and a vast area of land did caught fire easily in this dry part of Africa.

So there he was standing with only two pieces of clothes…..in Africa.
He walked away from the sea with nothing and came into the village with nothing…..Would the locals think he is the new Messiah and offer there daughters to him?? Or offer his the best pig for slaughter? Nothing of it all.
He was offered some clothes from locals and the consul did give him a few Euros to "survive"….enough to buy a cup of tea and a sandwich without viand.
A local police officer bought some cookies for him while going up and down to authorities, banks and police station to have everything solved…..but with no ID, things were not easy. People from this side of the world are fund of stamps, papers and more papers. From one to another and in the end, the office is closed and you have to come back the next day, or they are giving priority to a siesta. And you just have to keep you calm….TIA: THIS IS AFRICA!
Surviving in shabby hotels with prostitutes and out-laws he came back a few days ago in Holland….with nothing but his memories.

Hope to see Kor soon in a new folding-kayak, but first he has to hand over his insurance policy! What policy….?
It's gone and lost forever. Gone with the wind and the flames.

HISWA, promoting Moldova

2008-03-09T15:13:00.008+01:00

For your eyes only

Yesterday I have been to the HISWA, this is the biggest water sport fair from Holland. Sitting in the train before seven, I arrived a few hours later at the RAI in Amsterdam.
I was welcomed by one of the members from the NKB. They had a little promo corner just near the basin, where whole day demo's were taking place. Water-ski, sailing and some play boats and kanopolo.
No sea kayakers around, it was the day for the youngsters. Who could win a camera with their Tricks and Rolls.
And the day of the crowd who want to have a million euro boat but can only afford a dinghy…..Or a kayak like me. I prefer the kayak though.

the Blue banana Boat
Main features were huge boats and new equipment.
Only Bic was having a large area to promote their Kayaks and catamarans. No other kayak dealers around. Although, I am not using the wide sit-on kayak from Bic, they do attract a wide audience.
I bought myself a new handheld VHF radio, a Standard Horizon. At the same time I asked dealers from all kinds of navigation equipment about the SPOT.
Nobody did know about the brand, and one even told me that I am fooling him….well seems they don't like competition. Or do not open themselves for new technologies.
The rest of the day I hand out leaflets and give some info about Kayaking and the trip to Moldova.

Play in the Boat

When I put on the computer this morning there was a news item: somebody was rescued on a river in a kayak overhere on the river Rhine. I don't know the details….according to the item, the current was to strong. Two people had to rescue him…he had some problems with hypothermia afterwards.

Introduction Moldova Sponsortrip

2008-02-26T17:43:00.005+01:00

No escaping anymore...this is KayakCobber; Jörgen

Countdown….
In a little more than six weeks I will leave for a new adventure. This time not with the backpack and far and away. But I will just start here on the lake. No problems with buses, trains or missing a plane.

WHAT?
A kayak journey of 4100 Km to ask attention and raise money to fund a department of Maxillofacial Prosthetics in the University Medical Centre of Chisinau, Moldava.
This department treats patients with facial defects/disorders/injuries.

WHO?
One person, one kayak, one tent.
I will go all by myself.

WHERE?
The trip will start in Holland and will go Eastwards, all through the heart of Europe, to end up in Moldova.
When I will arrive in Chisinau I have been in: Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Ukraine and Moldova.
Apart from the Wadden sea and the Black sea all the paddling will go over rivers.
Ems, Mainz, Donau, Dnjester….

WHY?
Time is ticking for me. Having the EEC syndrome: cleft/palate, skin, nails and eyes etc. problems. My eyes will go worse in future.
I am dreaming my dreams today!

WHEN?
Departure is planned in the beginning of April; this will give me time to travel during spring and summer. The trip is having an open end. Due to limitations of health I can be forced to slow down.
In normal conditions it will take me five months.

Appeltaart on the Rocks!

2008-02-19T09:26:00.006+01:00

(note, this article is part in the Dutch language, and made for our newsletter 'Boegbeeld".

In the weekend we made the Applepie-trip to Louis.
Every year he and Dorien are preparing nice pies, so when the seakayakers arrive, we are treated like Kings. This time they did it for the fifth year in a row.
Also worth visiting is the website from Robbert. They came back from paddling in Senegal and Gambia. See their nice photoimpression.

Appeltaart on the rocks

It giet Oan…t'goat nait deur…It giet Oan. zo verliep de communicatie tussen de coördinator, ijsmeester en de deelnemers van de Louistocht afgelopen zeventiende februari.
Net als met de Elfstedentocht was het nu niet afwegen of het ijs dik genoeg was, maar dun genoeg. konden de deelnemers van de Zeekanogroep het wel aan:
Ploegend en krakend door het ijs.

Onderweg naar de Loods fiets ik langs de meerweg, een deel van het meer ligt er spiegelglad bij, het nadere deel is rimpelig.
Mensen krabben de ramen van hun auto schoon en de hardlopers zijn weer aan hun zondagmorgen loopje begonnen.

Bij de Loods ligt het slootje bedekt onder een laagje ijs.
Een voor een komen ze binnen. "Het gaat door", "De suikerfabriek ligt helemaal dicht"….zomaar een paar kreten. Jan, op de fiets haalt nog even de winter van '56 aan. Toen waren ze wat gewend,,,,dus zullen wij het ook wel weer redden.
We waren met zijn tienen; de eerste peddelslagen zijn gemaakt en na het geweld van krakend ijs bereiken we het kanaal.
Sommigen hebben wijselijk de lichtgewicht peddel ingeruild voor een zwaardere verenigingspeddel. Deze zijn een beetje steviger. Ik houd mijn hart vast…heb het afgelopen jaar twee peddels verspeeld en hoe moet ik dit nu weer uitleggen aan de verzekering? Ja meneer, peddelt door het ijs. Ja meneer, dat doen wij bij de GKV.

Bij het naderen van de stad is het een drukte van belang bij de roeivereniging. Die hebben een wedstrijd en er zijn vele boten op het water. een leuk gezicht; veel verschillende teams met hun eigen oorlogskleuren.
Bij de Eeldersluis dragen we even over. en komen we aan bij de woonbootjes. Hier is het ijs het dikste en vraagt het om wat meer geweld. De bewoners komen uit het raam hangen en vragen zich af wat dat voor een hels kabaal is.
Je verstaanbaar maken lukt niet en nu weet ik hoe het voelt als je een gehoorapparaat draagt en je hebt storing:
Krakend ijs met af en toe een stem erdoor heen.
Zie het al voor me, en de verpleegster maar zeggen; Ja opeten hoor Opa! Terwijl je toch echt naar de wc wilt.

Na de suikerfabriek blijft het maar door ploeteren. De jonge honden geven nog meer gas…ze kunnen niet wachten op de lekkere appeltaart.

De appeltaart van Louis en Dorien word dit jaar al voor de vijfde keer gebakken. Een terugkerende tocht in de winter voor de zeekanogroep. Onder de rook van Lettelbert wachten ze de hardwerkende kayakkers op om die het naar hun zin te maken: Appeltaart, koffie en thee en een aangename houtkachel, zorgen ervoor dat je eigenlijk niet meer weg wil….maar de plicht roept.
Dapper stappen we weer in de kano en gaan richting Leekstermeer. Daar vinden we nog wat ijs op de weg, maar de rest is het heerlijk peddelend weer terug naar de Loods.
We komen in het donker aan, terwijl Taco al een spurt trekt op de fiets…Hij heeft een Blind-date in het donker. maar gelukkig heeft hij licht op zijn fiets.
Hij zet nog even de versnelling een tandje hoger.

Wij bergen de boten op en gaan lekker naar huis.
Een grote groep van de GKV houdt een winterslaap. een ander deel vaart lekker door in de winter. Tja, elk heeft zijn charme. Maar had dit niet willen missen….een vijfjarig lustrum, allemaal te danken aan de lekkere appeltaart van Louis en Dorien.
Bedankt! Leekstermeer

s-Miles for Moldova

2008-02-11T15:40:00.000+01:00

Yesterday I paddled alone on the lake of Paterswolde.
I have been living near the lake for whole my life.. When we were young, we did fall in the mud at the ditches. And going home wet was common, growing up near this fantastic playground did have an extra dimension.
It was the ocean and we sailed across it to find new places and small Islands. In winter we did skate to the other side, while the frost was already gone for two weeks.
What can go wrong?? Nothing! the world is ours…..

Later on I went travelling around the world. My backpack and my tent was all I need.
Guinness in Ireland, Gunfire in Libya, Makan-doeloe in Indonesia, "Hey Mate" in Australia, "Hee Joe" in the Philippines. OiOi in Scotland

Always enjoy and feel free. If I want to sleep I sleep, go walking; I walk, Hangout with the Locals; I drink and enjoy their customs. A fire and somebody is playing his 12 snare guitar.

How different this time??
In april I will leave for a trip to Moldova.
4000 Km: Solo-paddling in my Kayak.
Raising money and get attention for the start of a department for Maxillofacial Prosthetics in Chisinau, Moldova.

This time I will try to give something to others: So they will feel free and enjoy. By giving them a new Face.

….I did my little roundtrip around the lake and saw another Kayaker: Marlies, then another; Lianna and a few meters later Robbert as well.
All people I like and spend a lot of time with on the water.
Marlies and Robert did paddle four weeks in Gambia and Senegal. Nice stories; crocodiles, fruits from the Baobab tree , little secret waters and nice weather…..Perfect Kayaking!

Lianna

German Wadden Islands

2008-01-30T11:38:00.000+01:00

Last year we did join the Saltz Wasser Union. They organized a one-week camp together with the Dutch instructors.
The first week we did spend time inland, the weather was terrible with storms and gales. Our plan to start at the Eemshaven and go East to Spiekeroog did not work. Instead we drove to the Grosses Mer. We spend a few days over here. A nice cottage was offered to us for cooking, while the waters made excellent daytrips.

nueharlingersiel
We all gathered in Nueharlingersiel and soon we were on the way to Spiekeroog. This tiny Island has a superb camping spot. Close to the beach. We were the only group that was not mixed with the Germans. But after the "office hours" at sea, we could practice our German tongue. Big Fun!
everybody happy

German approach
During the week we visited other Islands like; Wangerooge, Langeoog and Baltrum. We have been focusing on trip planning and leadership. And at the same time enjoy the cold, rainy weather. Some groups had to go ashore, while others did have a good time in big waves.
Lianna (my sister)was going home with the diploma Zeevaardigheid(BCU4*). So congratulations.

4 Star of the day
While all the people went home after the Camp, we still had another week of exploring the German waters.
We went as far as Norderney and had a good time. We went home with a nice feeling. Three weeks paddling in Germany.
Spass in Spiekeroog! One day I will return!

Those were the days.

2008-01-11T12:40:00.000+01:00

Senegal photo's from Kor

Last week Kor, Marlies and Robbert left for Africa. They will paddle in Senegal and Gambia for four weeks, while Kor will stay even longer to explore the coastline a little further. They will take there folding kayaks and as always they will have a good time. A good start of 2008!

Two years ago I paddled with Kor in ten days from the Belgian border (Eijsden) to the north of Holland (Groningen).
We were talking about it one day…. and the other day we went off.
486 km and although the days were short in November we did make it. We passed by the Maas, IJssel and the IJsselmeer. And at the end we were stinking like…..I don't know, but we drive home with all the windows open.

old and new

Last year I had to replace some gear. My old anorak was more white than red from the seasalt. Now I bought myself a heavy duty model.
My tent, a Vango MicroOdessey had to retire. He survived 15 years of hard work. Now I have a TNF Tadpole…wonder if he will also last that long. Latest thing to renew was a new bag for the towing line…. In 2007 I also lost two paddles in the surf: they had fractures and could not be used anymore. My compass and my knife did disappear in the waves....
So 2008 here I come!

camping in the house

Daytrips in December

2007-12-27T12:20:00.000+01:00

November was all about rain and wind, while December did give us some nice sunny days and later on some temperatures, which made Holland shiver; would it be possible to skate on the lakes and canals?
Well it did last only a few days. Temperatures did not drop enough to skate on the lake, but some other parts of the country were luckier…

Over here we just continue with kayaking. Most were daytrips in and around Groningen: Foxholstermeer, Zuidlaardermeer, Paterswoldsemeer or just a little paddle on the canals in Groningen city itself.
Sometimes with Kor and/or Lianna, sometimes all by myself.

Dutch weather in Denmark

2007-12-21T13:45:00.000+01:00

In June I went with Lianna, my sister -and paddling partner to Denmark.
We had three weeks of full time paddling ahead of us. We decide to start at the Flensborger Fjord, just after de border with Germany and Denmark.

Camping in Denmark is nice; they have a lot of remote "official" camping spots. And we were always the only one, maybe because of the "Dutch weather", or it was still off-season.

Mommark
In Mommark we cross the small Belt and head for the most northern point of Aero. We have a break at the lighthouse for some tea and continue to Avernako, we round it SE and go further N. Next stop is Lyö. It's over here the weather gets worse and we have to stay a day. We camp in the Marina, and Lianna is acting as a tug with her kayak; a sailing boat was aground in the little harbor. Above us a helicopter is searching for a kite surfer.… they find a kite board but not the one on it.
We head N and are planning to go around the Funen. Passing by little Islands, while in Assens the thunder and lighting forces us to find shelter in a public toilet. It’s still early afternoon, so we decide to go on but stay close ashore.

We paddle under the bridges that connect Funen and mainland Denmark. In the morning we cross the Bay of Vig, there is no wind and we make a lot of progress.
Near Lindö and Ejllinge we are very surprised to see a dog far away from shore. The water is very shallow. I use me whistle to attract him, but he is only going further offshore.
a real Seal! (in Holland we say "zeehond", lit. sea dog)

We are now on the most N point of the Funen. Tomorrow we cross to Hindsholm. The wind blows hard and we have to work hard for several hours. The rain is pouring over us and will not stop. We have to set up our tents and life is wet.
Another Dirty Nelly's in Denmark
In Lundeberg we stop for two days. They will burn down the Witch tonight: the midsummerfest. A lot of people gather on the beach. We eat out and the fish on the quay is superb.

On the other side is Langeland, we will follow the E side of the Island
In Spotsjberg I can no longer paddle, my back is giving me problems and a physiotherapist in Odense is not giving me relief.

The paddling days are over. When we want to go home the ferries are not operated due to heavy storms. We cross the big bridges in walking pace and the kayaks stay on the roof of the car. Lucky us!

Denmark is okay, but the weather was just like at home; Rain, rain and more rain.

E.R. met "dokter Bob".

2007-12-17T11:43:00.000+01:00

(note: this article is in the Dutch language)
Onder de gewelven van het AZG, het huidige UMCG heb je een mortuarium. Dit heb ik in een ver verleden nog betegeld met collega's. Na een paar donkere gangen kwamen we bij een wat beter verlichte ruimte…..

….Hier moest ik aan denken toen ik op een grauwe dag de Loods inliep. Eerst donker totdat ik licht zag bij de werkplaats.
De E.R. van onze club. Waar "dokter Bob" zijn domein heeft.
Bij de receptie lag het patientenboek: De een heeft een voetsteun nodig. De volgende een beschadiging aan zijn neus. een peddelbreuk, een haarscheurtje..geschaafde plekken.
sommige hebben al baat bij een steuntje in de rug.

docter Bob
Het licht gaat aan, de operatielamp wordt in stelling gebracht.
Volgende patient is een K1, die niet op koers te houden is. Na een paar draden doorgetrokken te hebben, is hij weer bij de les.
Een poloboot heeft onenigheid met een andere boot gehad. En de jeugdige overmoed moesten ze bekopen met wat blauwe plekken,
een dikke pleister erop en ze zijn weer de dikste vrienden.
Een zeekano is de draad kwijt, maar na een bypass en dotteren is hij weer helemaal opgelapt. hij begint aan een tweede jeugd en kan weer normaal functioneren.
Een Canadees denkt dat hij een Amerikaan is en word door "dokter Bob" doorverwezen naar de Afdeling Mentaal.
Moeilijke gevallen waar collega Speedboot zijn hard mee kan ophalen.

Sommige zijn er nog erger aan toe "dokter Bob"past narcotica toe. Epoxy wordt opengemaakt en vermengt met andere verdovende en misschien wel verboden middelen. Snel vult de ruimte zich met walmen van beneveling en enigszins o.i.(onder invloed) begint hij toegewijd aan zijn taak. Wat maakt het allemaal uit, ze zijn verdoofd en "dokter Bob"die in het verleden zelfs nog medicijnen heeft gestudeerd kan zijn hart ophalen.

Niemand weet van zijn verleden en hier kan hij zijn hart ophalen.
Een klein lampje, scherpe instrumenten en ver weg van het daglicht onderin de Loods. Kon hij een nieuw leven beginnen. Niemand weet immers van zijn verleden en zijn echte naam;dokter Death.
Nee, hij is nu een echte dokter, "Docter Bob". Gerespecteerd door de hele GKV, onmisbaar till death do us part…..

….Ik loop met mijn gereedschap het mortuarium uit en groet Professor Smalhout in het voorbijgaan. Fijne man heeft vele levens gered.
dit artikel heb ik gemaakt voor Boegbeeld, ons clubblad (oktober 2007)

Shipboys from Skipper Bontekoe

2007-12-05T12:02:00.000+01:00

De Scheepsjongens van Bontekoe.
In 1924 Johan Fabricius did write the book about -the shipboys from Skipper Bontekoe- on the Nieuw-Hoorn. a sailing vessel from the VOC.Based on true journals from the VOC (Dutch East India Company) three boys (Hajo, Padde and Rolf) are sailing to the East and learning to stand up for themselves on board. As youngsters the crew is trying them out, but they learn quick. After an explosion on board they had to survive on a raft and have to find their own way from Sumatra to Batavia. Meeting tribes, unknown dangerous animals and a lovely native Oriental girl.

coconuts and a nipa hut
This week the film was first showed in theaters nationwide. When I was young I have been reading this book dozens of times. And again and again I was part of the crew and experienced scurvy, storms and had to survive the humidity of the tropics.

Oriental Flower, ByebyeButterfly
The VOC was the first multinational in the world. More than 10000 journeys were made to the East to load profitable spices and pepper.
The Batavia replica in Lelystad was used to make the recordings for the movie.. Also recordings were made in Australia and Litouwen.
The real Batavia did shipwreck in Western Australia. And years ago when I was in Fremantle I saw the remains of it in the Maritime Museum.

My father was also a Skipper/ Captain most of his life. Starting as the early age of twelve, he first went to sea. Later on he became a master and did sail all around the Globe for over forty years.
Just like Bontkoe he did took many nice and sometimes strange things home: Parrots, a monkey, Molders of an elephant, spears and a club from Africa, boomerangs, turbans, snakeskin, ivory statues, opals, gold, tiger-eyes, paintings, clock's etc.

souvenir Gerrit, over 40 years part of the family
Those little things I love the most. It reminds me of him and of the nice time when I was still small and we went almost every holiday to the ship and discover new worlds.
Later on I did travel myself with my backpack all over the world: Ireland, Indonesia, a year Down Under, a few years in the Philippines, etc.

Cooking the cook
I don't know what did influence me the most: the situation at home or the skipper from the Bontekoe. COBBER is my Batavia and I am the main character in my own book named "Once upon a time in a Kayak".

Add salt to the Sea.

2007-11-26T09:41:00.000+01:00

Petkum
This morning there was a news report on the local radio about storing gas under the ground.
This will happen in Germany near Jengum, this is upstream the river Ems and close to the border with Holland. We, the kayakers from Groningen are regular visitors overhere.
The plan is to remove big salt pans under the surface and replace it by gas. They are not talking about cubic meters, but cubic kilometers.
Termunterzijl
They will pump in plain water and the salt will be turned into liquid, then they pump it up and let it all flow into the Ems.
An increase of 20 % more salt in the sea. The stretch of period would be 30 years. These projects cost billions of Euros and have no effect on the German habitat.
Well they are right; the pipe will be very close to the border of Holland. And as everybody can notice, we will be the one having environmental damage.
The area Dollard/Ems is already suffering from growth from industrial development and adding projects like this will increase the number of casualties under "dwellers of the Dollard/Ems region". Borkum line
In Holland we have the expression "carrying water to the sea", in Germany they "carry salt to the sea". Who is cleverer???
Well, will this region turn into the Death Sea? With so much salt. The advantage is that we do not have to wear PFD's anymore….we will float anyway.
SaltSmurf

Philippines: As long as it will float

2007-11-16T15:05:00.000+01:00

BananaBoat

Island of Siquijor

The Philippines is a archipelago with over 7000 Islands in Southeast Asia. Famous are the Badjao people, the tribes who live on the sea and from the sea.
Nowadays there habitat is badly effected because of (over) fishing.
And the beautiful corals are destroyed by using explosives to make catching fish easier.

With so many Islands there is always water around. Beautiful beaches and not yet discovered bays for the Kayak. Little villages where fishing man are going out with their Banca to provide the family with a decent meal.
I have been living for a few years over here. The first few months I traveled around Mindanao and the Visayas, before I did stay for a long time in Negros. The Sugarcane Island of the Philippines.
In between the Islands are many forms of transport; the big passengers' ship, fast ferry (catamaran) , outrigger boats or a Banca.

pumpboat
Outrigger boats or Pumpboats are the cheapest means of transport in between Islands. Made of plywood, bamboo and a old car engine. This all hold together with nails, rope and nylon wire.
Bancas are most of the time used by fishermen who go out and you can see along the coast. Sometimes near the beach but more often far out of sight. Often they use a paddle or a little triangle sail.
banca
Last September I went back for 5 months to Negros. We did take a fast ferry from Cebu to Dumaguete. A heavy wind and storm did appear. People around me were vomiting and crying. A passenger beside me was sometimes one meter above her chair. And her thighs were all black and blue from bumping up and down.
Oh, I wish I was in my kayak. For me the most seaworthy boat there is. A lot of accidents take place in these waters. Heavy seas can occur in narrow passages and overloading of ships is a common problem.
We were the last boat that departed from the port of Cebu.
Airplanes did not fly and a Typhoon (Bagyo) did strike.
After the Storm
Sitting in my kayak I feel always comfortable. My PFD and everything I need is close at hand. For me it's the most trustworthy boat there is.
The fisherman in the Philippines do not all have access to internet and see the weather forecast, neither do they use PFD's or carry flares with them. They are just happy to catch some fish again for dinner.
They say; Bahala na…..it's up to God!
Silliman beach, Negros

Fortnight in Friesland

2007-11-14T11:15:00.000+01:00

Starting that Wednesday early in the morning made me feel comfortable, the air was clear and the only thing that was missing was the cord for my glasses. But lucky me, I had a spare one in my buoyancy kit.

After leaving Groningen the lock of Dorkwerd comes in sight. The lockmaster is friendly and opens the lock. The Reitdiep is now in front of me and will bring me to Zoutkamp. Near Winsum there is the first yacht, for the rest it's quiet. A cow is eating his lunch and some seagulls are flying above me.
Zoutkamp will be the first stop. The fish-and-chips van on the dike has no customers and the landscape in fading away in a grey coat.

Zoutkamp
Next morning there was some sun and upon reaching the Lauwersmeer it's all cloudy. At DokkumerNieuweZijlen the boat has to be carried steep up hill, the lock is not operated.
It goes okay; it's not slippery and there is some grass in between the pebbles. Perfect.
After Dokkum my headache is getting worse and the bowls are not cooperating as well. Time to stop and pitch my tent. Eat a little and go to sleep.

Next day I camp at the "Hydronauten", the kayak club from Leeuwarden. The area is deserted and it's raining. So I go into town for some groceries. Later in the afternoon Andre is giving permission to sleep in their clubhouse. I am happy with it….warm and cosy.
Franeker is not that far away and in a few hours I am sitting again in a comfortable clubhouse, this time "Onder de Wadden". Klaas the caretaker is welcoming me, and later that afternoon I met Willem Wiebel (Wobbly Willem). We were in the same group in the Vlielandkamp in September.
The town is small and has a lot of little stores where tourist are the main consumers.
Harlingen
Sunday morning Harlingen is still in a deep sleep when I paddle in the little canals.. Exiting the town I find myself in a nice surrounding. A few houseboats on the left and open fields on the right
In the afternoon it's hard to find a nice camping spot. A few sidelines/death ends of the Wormenertrekvaart do not give comfort.
A girl is just leaving from a farm and she gives permission to sleep beside the farm. Well, problem solved. Haha.
In the morning it's raining. Have to do some shopping in Workum and the rest of the day its paddling. On the Luts the canal is full with leaves all covering the water. It's shallow and makes paddling tiresome.

Luts

In Sloten I set up camp in the Marina. It’s raining whole day and the poles from the tent are just swimming in the mud.

Lemmer
Gush of wind are my part just before Lemmer. I am able to take a picture of a rainbow and sudden there is the wind and heavy rain. Yachts are smashed against the jetty and my paddle wants to be a kite.
In Lemmer three locks, to make it more easily I walk for a while with COBBER to put the boat in the Lemstervaart, the Noordoostpolder and continue my trip to Urk.
It's in the afternoon that I decide to put some "Paddle on the Metal" and make it to Urk.
Arriving in front of the lock, have to lift my boat 3 meters above the water. And it's a miracle my back is not complaining.
I walk to the marina and fishermen are busy with preparing their nets. No way there is a possibility to camp here. Just go to the camping outside Urk…….well after an hour walk I arrive at dark on the "Hazenvreugd". In the middle of the Urkerbos (forest)
The owner refers to me as "Dik Trom", He offers me a little caravan and do not allow me to sleep in my tent; to cold.
Well it's the fist time they saw somebody who is walking the kayak instead of the dog in the woods.
Next morning we have a nice chat, he was a fisherman for thirty years and tries out his luck with this new project. Urk

old and the new
The weather forecast is giving no hope for the coming week.. Wind force 8, so no way I can pass by the IJsselmeer and around Flevoland. Thinking about other options, but this trip is too nice to adjust, no compromise.
I go back into Friesland and enjoy the vast open areas.
First go back to Emmeloord and pass by Marknesse where the Voorster Bos will be my place for the night. It's called Kraggenburg, a little yacht club in the middle of the green.

It's getting colder and wind is always around. The lockmaster from the Voorst does not answer the phone number he put outside his office. A struggle to get the boat out of the water and uphill, it’s all slippery and swearing is the only option at the moment. It helps!
National Park "the Weerribben" is deserted. Brrr.. wind is chilling. Another lock and no luck. Need the wheels again. I am getting colder.
At a windmill on the Hemolavaart are big signs: Private, keep out, no trespassing.So no campsite for me. A little further I find a better spot, a pumping station to keep the polder dry. It's getting colder and more wind. The hatches are difficult to open. I make some food and go into my sleeping back, but not much comfort.

When I leave there is a strong headwind, not much progress.
Heerenveen is far enough today. The marina 'de Welle' is welcoming me with open arms. The men are sipping coffee in the office. All boats have to go out of the water; it's the end of the season. And a kayak passing by in this weather is odd.

In two days it can be possible to be home. So today's goal is Bergumermeer. Again it's paddle to the Metal. But no problem, it keeps you warm. Even a break for a few minutes to drink some tea makes me cold.
When I arrive it's dry and a little jetty make me feel comfortable here. chicken with rice are a welcoming meal.
Next morning is the last lap; whole day there are ships around, maybe they take this route in order to avoid the bad weather along the coast. in Gaarkeuken the lockmaster does not give permission to join with a big ship. so again the cart has to be used. Dorkwerd is the last obstacle.
One and a half hour later the club is in sight. Some paddlers did a few hours work out and they were wearing woollen headgear. So I was not the only one who was cold.
the last day
Well it was a nice little trip. The wind and the cold weather did make it special. The nice thing is that in this time of year you are all by yourself, nobody around. I paddled 412 Km in 12 days. With an easy pace.

Black November rain

2007-11-12T14:33:00.000+01:00

End of October I left for a few weeks of paddling and camping. The weather was not that bad yet, only the days were getting shorter; meaning paddling time would be limited to 6 or 7 hours a day.
The original plan was going into the province of Friesland, then over the IJsselmeer circumnavigate Flevoland, go upstream the river Vecht and downstream the Ems, a river in NW Germany and end up near Emden where I had to cross the Dollard and come back to Groningen.
prinses Margrietkanaal
But due to weather conditions I decided to cut off the trip in an "early" stage. Friesland was windy and in Lemmer I did give it a last try and went to Urk passing inland by the canals. Hoping a day would give me some relief concerning the forecast; Windforce 8 to 9.
It was a week of storm and the famous "Dutch water works"; StormFlood Barriers were closed (for the first time in twenty years) to prevent the Lowlands Of Holland to have wet feet.
A cold and wet week and the trip I planned have to be postponed. I will make a little trip report about my two weeks paddling in Friesland. It was a harsh and cold trip but being all alone in these waters is rewarding.

Message in a bottle...

2007-10-30T14:20:00.000+01:00

Three weeks ago I was planning to go away for a trip around the province of Friesland and maybe some further away as well.
The boat was prepared with a new keel strip and a new compass. And my broken paddle was replaced by a new one.
So ready to go off and enjoy the falling leaves in autumn. During summer Friesland is a water sport haven with lots of boats but these days the water is all for myself.
Bad luck did strike while taking my last shower and was not able to walk properly anymore: back problems.
So tomorrow I'll give it another try. If there will be news I will send you a letter…..

D-day; Dollard day

2007-10-29T09:03:00.000+01:00

Termunterzijl

surfsmurf doing the planning

It was on a evening in May when I received a call to go to the Dollard.
A nice daytrip where Germany and Holland meet, South of the river Ems.
We left from Termunterzijl, a nice little village with a very old pumping-engine. We go Eastwards where the Ems and the Dollard will split. We go into the Mouth of the Dollard, while on the Ems you can see the big vessels going to Emden, or maybe further upstream to Papenburg to be rebuild at the famous Mayerwerff.

On the way to NieuwStatenzijl we decide to pass by the pole that is standing in the water and marks the border of Holland and Germany. We are the only one on the water, it's not very deep and little boats can only come here with HW.

We are now heading for Noordpolderzijl, but we had to "Wadlopen", Meaning that we had to walk in the mud for a while, we don't have enough water under the boat. So we are knee-deep in the silt and slime.
We will have a break in the lookout of the bird's sanctuary. People from the land can only come here by a very long jetty in this swamp area and they will be rewarded with lots of flying obstacles…..and some down to earth kayakers.

beside the lookout

Wind whistles around Vlieland

2007-10-26T11:10:00.000+02:00

This year we decided to start from Lauwersoog and paddle in a few days to Vlieland, where the annual Seakayak camp from the NKB took place. 15-22 September.
Lianna, Teun and I met at Lauwersoog and after packing we did go to the NE side of Ameland. The weather was good and a moderate wind was around.
We had to struggle in the sand and walk quite far to pitch our tents…but were rewarded with a nice spot surrounded by Dunes.

Next day we continue west along the North side of Ameland towards Terschelling. But due to weather conditions we had to stop and take the Ferry to the mainland. Prediction was NW 7 and passing the straits in between the Islands was not safe. Later that day we heard a Sailing boat did collapse and had to be rescued.
So it was all a hassle to organize some transport to pick us up, but calling the home front did get us away from Holwerd.

Next day we all met in Harlingen and took the Ferry to Vlieland.
The whole week wind was blowing hard, this mend surfing conditions were perfect to upgrade our skills: Rescue, rolling, towing etc.
I broke my paddle while my compass did vanish in the waves.
Lianna did break her tent poles. Bad luck for both of us.

On the land we had lectures about first aid, navigation, paddles etc. This week Axel and Patrick were our mentors, the main theme was leadership. During the week we experienced that communication is the key to success.

The whole week the wind was whistling in our ears and the last day there was no wind at all. So we could all paddle back to Harlingen in the presence of sailing ships. And on a rare occasion a seal is appearing on the surface to say hello.

Savage Scotland:Seasick, saltwater and seakayakking

2007-10-25T09:15:00.000+02:00

(note: this article is in the Dutch language)

Twee volle vaarweken hadden we om in West-Scotland het eiland Mull en omliggende eilanden te bekijken.
Drie kayakk/sters en een Novice gingen 26 mei richting Ijmuiden om daar op de Ferry naar New Castle te stappen. Allemaal bepakt en bezakt, en op het laatste moment nog even langs Arend Bloem kwamen we aan. De vakantie kon van start gaan.

Gerard, Theun , Marieke en ikzelf, Jörgen waren al een paar keer bij elkaar gekomen om de vakantie door te nemen. De voorbereiding is immers het halve werk: paklijsten, kleding, eten, papieren, kaarten alles kwam aan de orde. Dit later door Gerard mooi verwerkt in een echte SCOTLAND VAKANTIE ALMANAK.

Zaterdag zitten we de hele dag in de auto om op de plaats van bestemming te komen. Maar in de avond komt Arduaine, onze beginpunt in zicht.
De volgende dag kunnen we van start. Boten gepakt en op weg. We varen langs indrukwekkende bergen, en de wind is redelijk goed te doen. Korte tijd later staan we tot onze knieen in het zeewier aan onze boten te sjorren. We hebben een passage gekozen waar we net doorheen kunnen .
Na weer een tijdje in de boot gezeten te hebben, komen nu ten noorden van Luing, daar staan mooie hoge golven, die zich door de nauwe gang proberen te persen met het tegenover gelegen eiland Seil.
Op de eerste dag doen we het rustig aan, en varen richting Easdale. Daar lunchen we. De wind zit ons een beetje in de weg om de oversteek naar Mull te maken. Toch zetten we onderweg door en laten het geplande eiland Karrera liggen….

Al in het kleine haventje voel ik wat. Beroerd, en niet optimaal. en ja hoor na een paar mijl varen, vraag ik assistentie aan Theun om even over de boot te mogen hangen. Overgeven, voer voor de vissen, of hoe je het ook wilt noemen…..ik word doodziek, en na heel veel keren overgeven word het niet beter. Heb bij iedereen even over de boot mogen hangen. En nu volgt de lange weg naar de campeerplek. Heb zelf niet door dat het allemaal langzamer en langzamer gaat.
De volgende dag voel ik me nog erg ziek, en er word die dag niet gevaren, deels door de wind deels door mij. Een samenzwering van zeeziekte en oververmoeidheid….. I AM DOOMED.
De andere drie maken de dag vol met een lange wandeling naar Duart Castle, deze ligt strategisch op de Noord-Oost punt van Mull.
De wind blijft tekeer gaan, en nu en dan komt er een regenbui over. De kou houden we buiten door ons warm te kleden. Het kampvuur word met een brander aan de gang geholpen. De weergoden zijn niet met ons…maar iedereen heeft het naar zijn zin.

De volgende dag waait het hard, en de koppen staan op de golven….de radio geeft weinig hoop op verbetering. Nog een dag binnen blijven is ook niks, we gaan ervoor en gaan de Sound Of Mull in. We varen richting het Noorden, waar we na veel buiswater op hoger wal aankomen. Blij dat we het gedaan hebben. Ik heb veel vertrouwen in mijn boot, eindelijk omstandigheden waar hij voor gemaakt is. Onderweg komen we een paar andere Schotse Kayakkers tegen. Na de gebruikelijke vragen van: waar ga je heen en waar kom je vandaan vervolgen we onze weg richting Loch Aline.
Een Idyllisch meer, waar we een mooi plekje vinden voor de nacht. een beekje kabbelt een paar meter van onze tenten. Kleren worden uitgespoeld en uitgehangen om te drogen. En we maken lekker eten in de buitenlucht.

Nog een paar mijl en we zijn in Tobermory, we hebben al weer meer dan tien mijl eropzitten die dag. De wind blijft volhouden, en wij ook. Onze conditie gaat met de dag omhoog. We komen de baai invaren en de gekleurde huisjes passen in het geheel: De bootjes aan de ankerboeien, een ferry die passagiers afzet op de pier, een Fish-and-Chips Van op de kade.
We kleden ons om, en gaan aan de wal. We verliezen veel tijd doordat we geen goede campeerplaats kunnen vinden. Maar zoals altijd worden we beloond met de mooiste plekjes, en komen zodoende aan de andere kant van de baai terecht: waar een kleine pier, een viskwekerij, regen en veel groen het een onbetaalbaar plaatje maken. Wat is het hier mooi.
Tobermory
We gaan nu richting Calgary Bay vanwaar we de oversteek willen maken naar Coll. Schaapjes komen door het kamp gemarcheerd, en zullen in hun beleving wel hun bedenkingen hebben over dit zootje ongeregeld.
Coll wacht op ons, en het is een mooie dag. De wind is goed te doen, en het kwik word ook milder…..maar de wind wakkert aan, de stroming gaat de verkeerde kant op, en wij zitten er middenin. We moeten ons beste beentje voorzetten, het eiland komt niet dichterbij. We peddelen als gekken: minuten worden uren, we maken vooruitgang: drie kilometer per uur: 250 meter peddelen in vijf minuten. Geen doen….
Nog een schepje erbovenop, en komen aan in Coll. Gerard heeft me een eindje gesleept, en heeft de tong op de knieen hangen. We belanden in het Grand-Cafe van Coll. Een uit de kluiten gegroeide huiskamer waar we hartelijk worden ontvangen, en een warme lunch krijgen voorgeschoteld met vis.
Marieke en Theun hebben onderweg bezoek gekregen van een paar dolfijnen. THEY WERE THE CHOSEN TWO.
Op Coll is niet veel te doen, de enige winkel is klein. En voor brandstof ben je afhankelijk van de twee middagen dat de benzinepomp open is. Wij hebben pech, en zijn er op de verkeerde dag. Onze branders worden niet voorzien van de Coll-gasoline. Na een tijd zijn we weer opgeladen en varen nog een eind langs de kust en camperen onder de rook van een Kasteel.
Onder Coll ligt Tiree, daar wonen aanzienlijk meer mensen. De eenbaanweg is gelijk snelweg, en de winkel heeft aardig meer te bieden dan Coll. Schapen overal om je heen. We nemen weer genoeg voedsel in voor de komende dagen………

Vier verschillende CHARACTERS, samen op vakantie: de een introvert de andere extrovert; de een snel ingepakt de andere komt altijd laat op gang. De een vaart snel, de andere langzaam. Iemand weet het beter, de andere nog beter De een boert, de ander laat winden. De een gaat links om het eiland de ander rechts. De een speelt fluit, de andere komt er boven uit.
Iemand die afwasmiddel ipv. olie op de vis doet. De een kookt lekker, de andere nog lekkerder. De een verzameld midgets de ander teken.
Kortom een verscheidenheid aan Characters: We had it all!
Toch zijn er RITUELEN die je allemaal moet doen: iedere avond was er de Chef de Cuisine van de dag. De een kookte nog lekkerder dan de andere. En iedereen was het erover eens dat eten een belangrijke plaats inneemt. Goed en vers eten houd de motivatie hoog.
En ja sorry Theun volgende keer zou ik labeltjes op de olie/afwasmiddel doen, dan verwissel je ze niet. Want vis met afwasmiddel…….
Verder tentje opzetten, sjouwen met de boten, water halen, kleren uitspoelen, overleggen waar/hoe we heen gaan. allemaal dingen die elke dag weer terugkomen. Verder werd elke dag de Clyde Coastguard geinformeerd over onze plannen. De eerste week was het altijd zoeken naar onze gegevens, maar na een week werden we zelfs bekend, en verliep de communicatie met de kustwacht wat gemakkelijker.

…….We vertrokken naar de Treshinish eilanden, een dikke twaalf mijl ten oosten van Tiree. De mist werd al dikker en dan word je stil. Het enige wat je hoort zijn je peddelslagen. In de verte hoor je een misthoorn. Na nog een uur varen, zijn we bijna op onze bestemming: De Dutchman's Cap. We luisteren goed, en horen ergens stuurboord voor ons de deining tegen de Boulders slaan. We varen verder en dan rijst er uit de dikke mist die enorme blok op. DUTCHMAN'CAP.
Hier doe je het voor, voor mij het hoogtepunt van de reis. En een dikke pluim voor Gerard, navigatie op zijn best.

Dutchman's Cap
We varen om het eiland heen, en pauzeren in het gezelschap van zeehonden. Volgens de boeken zijn er geen aanlegmogelijkheden, maar GKV heeft met de voeten het eiland betreden. We varen naar de noordelijkste Treshinish en onderweg varen we langs de mooie kust, en varen diep kloven/grotten binnen. Vogels verwelkomen ons. Caves
Na wat gezoek vinden we een mooie campeerplek en laten de boten een eindje beneden ons liggen. Overal waar we komen is het mooi. De ene plek nog beter dan de andere.

Treshnish
We schieten Lough Tuath in, en ronden Ulva waar we in The Boathouse onszelf verwennen met een kop thee en wat lekkers. We varen nu ten zuiden van het eiland en de bergen en de wolken liggen laag voor laag op elkaar gestapeld. Het weer is de laatste paar dagen opgeknapt, en de wereld heeft een heel ander gezicht.

The Boathouse
We gaan naar de Standing Stones, we willen er ook kamperen maar dode schapen en veel keutels doen ons verder peddelen. Ook de volgende plek wordt niks, maar zoals altijd worden we weer beloond met de mooiste plekjes als het even tegenzit. Voor ons een strandje van fijn koraal en uitzicht over talloze kleine eilandjes. Die in de zon, en het ondiepe groene water de Bahamas doet verbleken. En achter ons uitzicht op water en de groene bergen.

Blaren, rugpijn, schouders, lippen, tenen iedereen had wel wat op de reis. De nodige offers werden gebracht En het moet niet altijd makkelijk gaan. Een beetje afzien moet erbij.

Volgende etappe is Staffa, een eiland waar de bootjes met toeristen af en aan varen, om het eiland te verkennen en de grotten te zien. Hartstikke mooi…..als je tenminste in een kayak zit. De grotten zijn heel indrukwekkend en een enorme kalmte en rust stralen deze blokken uit.
Overheersend, niet met zich laten spottend. staan ze daar al eeuwen lang. Iona
Daarna komt Iona in zicht, waar we de plaatselijke dame van de supermarkt kunnen overtuigen dat alles echt wel in de kano past. Iona is een heilige plek waar het Christendom Engeland binnenkwam. En dus hebben de eilanders niks te klagen wat betreft commercie. Net buiten de drukte van het dorpje vinden we een plekje op het strand voor de nacht.
De volgende mijlen peddelen we langs de Ross of Mull, met naast ons een drie honderd meter hoge berg. Gigantisch. We vinden weer een plaatsje voor de nacht, dit keer een mindere. Veel aangespoeld touw, afval en wrakhout. De midgets weten ons te vinden, maar Theun kookt onverstoorbaar door. We besluiten toch vlak bij het water te gaan eten, maar er is geen ontkomen aan. Een groot vuur moet ze weghouden, maar het helpt weinig….ik zit zo naar de hoge berg naast ons te kijken, en kan me voorstellen dat mensen gek van die Midgets worden, en zich van de berg storten.
Na de Gravellachs gaan we richting Scarba, het is spiegelglad en de vaart zit er goed in. We komen bij de beroemde Corryvreckan, waar het kan spoken. Hier komt de zee met zo'n kracht binnen dat je Tidalraces krijgt, en waar je kan surfen. Daarnaast zijn er Eddy's, zogenaamde draaikolken die je bootje alle kanten opslingeren. Maar vandaag is er rust, en kunnen we ongestoord erdoor varen. We zoeken een eind verder een campeerplekje, en zullen hier twee dagen ons kamp opslaan. Morgen staat de Grey Dogs op het programma. Dit is aan de noord kant van Scarba, waar de zee ook op een rots onder water stort,en met een zeer grote stroomversnelling er een goede surf ontstaat.
Marieke kan de volgende dag niet wachten, en op tijd zitten we in de boot.
Als we aankomen zijn we aan de vroege kant, en kunnen nog rustig kijken hoe het geweld groter wordt.
Nadat het een beetje op gang komt, kijk ik de kat uit de boom. Probeer maar wat, en zit aldoor in de draaikolken, en word twee keer ondersteboven gezet. Het kost me moeite om weer overeind te komen in het geweld.
Anderen gaat het beter af, en het blijkt dat ik aan de verkeerde kant zat. Als volleerd surfer laten Marieke en Gerard zich aan de hoge kant in de surf glijden, en dan maar peddelen op die ene golf. Mooi om te zien.
Na een paar uur is iedereen uitgespeeld en gaan we nog een rondje om Lunga, om vervolgens kamp te kiezen. En ons klaar te maken voor de volgende dag:de laatste vaardag alweer.
We vertrekken op tijd, en hebben zodoende tijd om Oban te verkennen. Een leuk plaatsje waar iedereen de nodige Whisky en Souvenirs koopt voor het thuisfront. De volgende dag rijden we rustig en langs pittoreske dorpjes naar New Castle terug. Op de veerboot hebben we een uitgebreid diner, en zitten uren te tafelen. Daarna heb ik nog een groep Schotse kinderen kunnen vermaken in de disco. En Marieke met de TinWhistle, gaf nog een spetterend gastoptreden in de Pub van de Ferry.

En toen gingen de oogjes toe, en waren we weer in the Lowlands of Holland.
Oban
(dit verhaal heb ik gemaakt voor ons clubblad "Boegbeeld", de tocht vond plaats mei/juni 2006)

Spending the night on Simonszand?

2007-10-24T17:02:00.000+02:00

It was this April and according to the weatherforecast, it should be warm. Very warm.

So with four people (Lianna, Kor and Jan) we planned a two-day trip to Simonszand. We left from Lauwersoog and did have a break on "het Rif", a little sand-bank in between the islands Ameland and Schiermonnikoog.

Lianna had a Cup of Coffee on "Het Rif"

After some eating and drinking we did continue our trip. Passing by the North side of Schiermonnikoog it would only take a few hours to come to Simonszand. Wind was coming from NE and we had to work hard. Too hard....after a while some mist did appear as well.

the great outdoors

So we decide to stop on the NEpoint of Schiermonnikoog where we set camp for the night.

Kayaking is not only about making miles on the sea: Camping and preparing food is part of it as well. "Haute Cuisine" on the Primus is possible and good food will keep you motivated. Same with a nice warm sleepingbag when you go to rest, so you can dream and dream........

kitchen stuff

As you can see we did not make it to Simonszand but we were rewarded with another stunning spot. In de surf I did have a little accident: My paddle was in two parts and the shoulder was not cooperating anymore.

Next day Lianna and I did have to walk for 18 km to come to the Ferry with the Kayaks, while Kor and Jan did paddle back to Lauwersoog.

To walk in the sand for many hours made us warm...

Even if it was cold, very cold: the weatherforecast did have a off-day.

waiting for the Tide

2007-10-19T17:52:00.000+02:00

Try out page:

A Fisherman is preparing himself for another day as we arrived in the little harbour of Noordpolderzijl. Dawn was breaking and a cool breeze was around. Another day in Paddle Paradise

Noordpolderzijl, a small harbour at the Wadden sea.

COBBER is meaning mate/friend, somebody who wil not let you down and you can trust.
It's an (archaic) word, but nowadays they don't use it anymore, except in Australia.
According to the Australian-dictionary it also means an unwanted person, an alien, a tourist.....or maybe a kayakker passing by.

A lot of times people are curious about kayakkers:

Where do you go

Is it not to cold

Are you sure you will go

Are you having food with you

You have a map with you

Can you take a tent

COBBER thinks he is an alien.

Regards Jörgen

Langeland, Denmark

Try out page

First you have to learn to swim

2007-10-19T14:38:00.000+02:00

Before you head into the water: Learn to swim.
Spiekeroog(Germany) do not use to much shampoo

Because we don't want the Coastguard to get you out of trouble. This week the KNRM did do their 75000 rescue operation overhere in Holland. They do very good work and deserve a lot of respect. Don't let them make overtime, because you are not prepared.

Baltrum(Germany) SARvessel

These two pictures I took on the Spiekeroog gathering earlier this year. Dutch and German seakayakkers work together to upgrade their skills. Spiekeroog has suberb camping close at the beach, this makes it very popular with a lot of kayakkers.