Joe Coons
As some of you know, Judy and I spent three weeks in June and early July on our first trip to Europe, as I got to accompany her as she toured with the Whatcom Chorale. We spent our time in Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic.
One of the things I decided to do was watch for pleasure boats during the trip. How did Europeans enjoy the water. The answer, at least based upon my experience in this mostly inland area, is "Just about the same as we do!"
We took three river trips, the longest of which was along the Rhine to the famous Loreley Rock, a bluff of great height to Germans, although insignificant by our Cascade Range standards. We passed and saw not a single pleasure boat during this all-day-long June weekday trip (a Tuesday). What we did see was nice cruising waters, though moving with surprising current, perhaps a steady three knots or so. The skipper of the large tour boat we were in would make quick "U" turns to head the boat up into the current during the downstream leg of our trip. Then he would deftly sideslip the vessel in for parallel dockingŠ at least this boat used no slips!
Later, on the river through Prague, our skipper there did the same maneuver in heavy traffic, deftly timing the U's so that we weren't rammed by downstream traffic. Too harrowing for meŠ and I think the U.S. Coast Guard would be pressing for new laws about U-turns if it was happening here with the frequency we saw it there.
We were fortunate to spend time with some friends in Munich at the end of our first week, and we drove south into the Austrian Alps for a day high in the hills at one of the spectacular mountain lakes. It was a Sunday, and things were suddenly more familiar. There were trailerable boats everywhere, as Austrians and Germans got out of the offices and factories and headed for the hills. Spectacular!
Next time, I'm going to try to see some of the famous canals and barge boats (Roger Van Dyken can tell us all about these) that criss-cross these lovely countries for business and pleasure. But for this trip, I was reassured that we DO live in a matchless place for cruising! Have a safe month, and give thanks for our wonderful boating blessings here in our corner of the world.
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Last updated 8/6/98 by SCR