Dear Readers,

almost three months have passed, I've published the last blog entry. The silence here on this site had a good reason: I was just too embarrassed to write, what all happened in the meantime. You need me but all are crazy … 😉

Since early November, I no longer live in Hamburg-Wandsbek, but in the small village of Oberndorf Oste. What sounds like the deepest Bavaria, however, lies in Lower Saxony. South of the Elbe between Stade and Cuxhaven. In the spring I have portrayed my friends Bert and Marlene fresh for YACHT. Bert's family has been around for about 108 Years subscription of YACHT and the two have with their boats “Homecoming” in recent years made a great trip around the Atlantic. They also maintain an interesting blog. Reason enough for a longer history in book 10/2012 with title “The Chronicles of Oberndorf”.

And it happened during the visit: I'm in love with the area here. My house is right on the dike of Oste, a tributary of the Elbe. Approximately one hour and it is up to the mouth, then about another to Cuxhaven. Only three bascule bridges block the road to freedom - the next is then again in New York ... From the front door there are only a few steps from a low traffic road and over the dike to the web, at the “Homecoming” is. Simply the best. Closer to the water, and practical, terms Seetörns, one can hardly live in Germany. In general the whole area reminds me extremely to South Carolina, I said yes during my journey 2006 traveled extensively and have learned to love. At some point I wanted to go back and live there for a few years. Then I saw the Oste – and felt myself transported back to America.

This in Oberndorf, there is a hospitality and neighborhood, I've never seen anywhere else in the world. Whether it's the mailbox empty during prolonged absences, mowing the lawn and fuel oil tanks, while I'm on a mission - or even a neighbor, who dragged me my sauschwere liferaft over the dike, because I let them lie there. Just amazing. The contrast to the anonymous city of Hamburg, in which I continue to work almost every day, and where the eyes of the people to avoid the subway, is enormous. Here in Oberndorf, there is little human, not the friendly greeting. Whether late at night or in the morning sleepy at the station.

And how have I come here? Shortly after my visit in the spring I have ever looked on the internet for fun, according to real estate prices in the area. “For later times”, I thought, because I was not going in the next 20 Years to buy a house. And then I found it: The Old Forge. Six houses next to the house of Bert and Marlene is also located since they almost 80 Years on Ostedeich, has a private dock behind 600 Square meters of land and dike, the most ingenious: A ten by five meters large hall, in all cars and boats can be repaired - and even in the “Maverick too” theoretically would fit. Only is the door still seven inches too narrow.

In April, I went with my father to the transfer of the boat two weeks schonmal tentatively ones in Oberstdorf. Resourceful readers remember … At that time I did Albertus, of here has a small shop and is something like the heart and soul of the place, given a tip: According sense, translated from the Low German: “If you like the ox, you need to buy it. Too expensive it is only once. But you did not get it, you're angry about your life.” In early May, I then actually (with the support of my family ...) signed the contract and now I moved in early October. More than three weeks was “Maverick too” Here then already on the web. The first day's high and dry at low tide, then with the keel in the soft mud. She is now in Neuhaus in the yard in winter storage. Only 12 Miles away from home. Just perfect.

The only drawback is the commute between Oberndorf and Hamburg. An hour and 15 Minutes, the train to Central Station. But I've known through my commute from Kiel to Hamburg (2008-2010) and also has some nice: Finally you have some time, read a good book. And the feeling in the morning on an empty train station car park to get a parking space right on track, evening to leave the big city, then in an empty grocery shopping - or later, have a beer on the boat at the dock on the doorstep, as many stars as seen in the middle of the Atlantic and getting earache from the silence - all that makes up the commute by train.

However, zu-zweit-auf-see.de will not become zu-zweit-am-fluss.de 😉 The big plan of circumnavigating the world remains in place. “Maverick too” just got a new mast and this spring will also receive an overhaul of the underwater hull. After that we are technically already almost ready.

Whoever therefore wants to learn a little more of the area here, should Watch this video.

Greetings from the land!

John