So, I returned. Still, I couldn't make my way backwards, so I had to turn once again in front of the entrance gate. That's a rather awkward thing with such a big turning radius. It took me six minutes to do so. I was just waiting for a call from the lock keeper. Unfortunately I hit against the wall again. I'm getting sick! I miss the first ladder once again. And there it is. The lock-keepers call, like in a disco voice: "The catamaran is asked to moorage at the wall." In this moment I really would have loved to shoot my whole battery at the lock-keeper. I look above. The sluice is integrated into a beautiful old pedestrian bridge. There are about 100 people watching. I'm really getting sick now! I can reach for the second ladder. The audience is enthusiastic, my hairstyle is ruined.

Friday, 10th June 2011
My Dad and the boys are arriving this evening to visit me for the weekend. Great they do all this for a weekend with me! I'm so looking forward to this weekend. On Thursday I found the best place for this special time. A picturesque small bay on the river with a camping site and several rowing clubs nearby. Today I'm on the road very early to find a place for my dad. My first talk to the juvenile hostel host ends depressing, when I try to explain that it would be very suitable for him to stay there. At least, I argued, his knees are brand new. Well, the host lady can finally recommend a guesthouse that's five kilometers away. I got some time, so I walk to there. I can't remember the last walk I took before that one. I can find the guesthouse and I'm satisfied. The hostess wants me to pay immediately, but we can talk this out.
At 10 pm it's time to arrive for my boys. I'm waiting for them, flash signals on and I can't describe how happy I am to see them. My dad endears himself to me when he hands over a sixpack of Flensburger beer. It was so good to hear the boys' voice and their arguing in the night.
BARBECUE MEAT! I love this expression. A look into the paradise "trunk" and the presence of the three of them was an only highfly for me. I can have breakfast and even shopping the next day. All those things I couldn't do during the last four weeks. My father's money bag suffered a lot during that time.
The three of us had so much to agree on. We even did "sightseeing". We walked along an old castle wall for about 250 meters, then we agreed on having barbecue instead.
I could write much more about this weekend. The moment they took off again on Monday, 11am, was harder than I ever thought. I took me an hour to dry my face again. I love you so much!

Saturday, 18th June 2011
The Dutchman Hans with this 20 tons heavy Marlien is lying in front of me at the Bamberg sluice. He retired, sold his car and his house and wants to travel for two or three years now. What a fine guy! We get together and lock of ships together the next two days through eight sluices with a speed up to 18m/Hub.
We're 80 kilometres in front of Nürnberg this day when we meet the last sluice. There's a cargo ship lowering, as well as three motorboats. Two of them are immediately passing the sluice and I can see Hans shaking his head. We go in one after another. What was that? The third boat is directly behind me, there seems to be a dozen of people cooperating at this maneuver. The water is rising. "Who are you? A group of managers doing a self-awareness trip in a sluice?" I just couldn't deny that one. I didn't count on them to argue that good! They wanted me to explain who I was and then we kept on talking about warm meat loaf, dumpling and stuff like that while we drove up to 18 m slowly. Finally, they offered me to fish the dead eel that was swimming front of us. "You want to have supper?" the skipper asked me, when we left the exit. So we met at the boats' club in Nürnberg with three pounds of salami (leftover of the meal), bread, some money and petrol for me. I met enthusiastic people and had great talks. I spent two nights over here. Wow! Thanks!

It's Sundy, 19th June 2011. It was hard to say goodbye to my boys. There are a hundred kilometers of Main and 2200 kilometres of Donau lying before me. This trip is just to begin. Attack!