Paddling down the Linth Kanal
Today we decided to paddle down the 18 km of the Linth Kanal between the Walensee and the Lake Zurich. It was nice, a bit like a stroll but on water. Helped by the current, it took only 2 ½ hours to get from Weesen downstream to Schmerikon.
Read MoreFamily hike to the Carschina Hut
10 km, 200 m up, 600 m down
Bärgli – Carschinasee – Carschinahütte – Partnunsee – Partnun – St. Antönien
This is an easy 4-hour family hike in the impressive Rätikon mountain area. We did the same hike one month ago and thought that such alpine beauty needed to be shared.
Silvia also joined our scenic bus ride up to 2000 m altitude but then took the bus back down. The rest of the family started to walk. The weather was not as sunny as forecasted, but the clouds and the mist made the scenery look dramatic.
Read MoreNy-Hellesund
In the afternoon, after spending a pleasant morning at the picturesque Stokken island, we sailed for a short distance into the very pretty Norwegian archipelago to reach Ny-Hellesund Bay. Nature here is so stunningly beautiful and seemingly unspoiled. It is like yoga for my mind to sail through this landscape (or what I imagine yoga to be for my mind).
Read MoreStokken Island
In the mid-afternoon, we departed from Thyborøn, setting off on another challenging passage, this time bound for Norway. A strong wind propelled us swiftly toward Kristiansand, our intended destination. The waves once again tested my tolerance for seasickness, pushing me to the edge. By the next morning, the wind died down, pausing briefly for an hour before shifting direction and resuming with the same intensity—up to 6 on the Beaufort scale (22 knots, 40 km/h). Fortunately, we only had about two hours of sailing left.
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Hvide Sande to Thorsminde
Hvide Sande (DNK) to Thorsminde (DNK) / 25 nautical miles / 5 hours
Today, unlike the days before, the sailing was pleasant, short and less wavy – great. We sailed up north the Danish coast to get a bit closer to Norway.
Read MoreBreakfast Unusual
Vlieland (NED) to Hvide Sande (DNK) / 218 nautical miles / 42 hours
The first few hours were easy. We left Vlieland, soon after crossed the rather busy traffic separation scheme – a sort of highway on the water – and prepared the sesame noodle salad for diner.
Read MoreSailing with Marius
Makkum – Harlingen – Vlieland / 24 nautical miles / 6 hours
This year again, Marius gave me the opportunity to join him for a cruise on SY Maranea. This year, too, I was more than happy to answer his call.
The plan is to sail Maranea (live map) from Makkum in the Netherlands to Kristiansand (or Mandal) in Norway. Weather permitting, there will be about 310 nautical miles to sail north, preferably in one stretch to give us some time to sail the southern coast of Norway we heard so many sailers rave about. So the route is set, the “exotic” food items stowed aboard, and the first hearty meal digested. Off we go…
Read MoreMeersburg to Konstanz by Bike (not quite)
Today’s plan was to bike from Meersburg to Konstanz, another part of the Lake Constance (or Bodensee in German) cycle path. We are “en route” to bike around the Bodensee. Slowly but surely, the entire 260 km Bodensee cycle path!
Read MoreAn Alpine Stroll
7 km, 200 m up, 550 m down
Bärgli – Carschinasee – Carschinahütte – Partnun
This is a lazy alpine hike, a stunning alpine experience with little sweat, or a mountain experience for the inexperienced (one still needs basic fitness and appropriate equipment). Just a day before, Yasuko found out that there is a bus leaving Sankt Antönien (1’460 m) to a dwelling called Bärgli (2’140 m). This is a 20-minute bus ride that covers, to my delight, the first 700 meters in altitude. From Bärgli, it’s just a one-hour hike to the famous Carschina hut situated in the Rätikon, right next to the Austrian border and also the trail-head to many great hikes and a couple of via ferratas.
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Fly, Hike & Travel. 