Boat motor course

First a correction to yesterdays post, the vaccine is against
TBE (tick-borne-encephalitis) as Anna my doctor friend pointed out. So look into getting that for yourself too.

My motor course was great learning tons of stuff especially the Swedish words for things. We are 5 women participating and Marcus our teacher is very knowledgeable and has all this machinery standing around that we get to tinker with. Awesome to be able to take things apart ask questions and have somebody who is patient and can explain. But now my head is bussing from all I learned!

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Vaccine and sun glasses

Today was the complete opposite weather to yesterday: raining and cold.
At breakfast I learned that the archipelagos are known for ticks accompanied by borreliosis. I guess during last year's two weeks sailing we were lucky not to have an encounter.
Immediately getting a vaccination against borreliosis was at the top of my list for today. This was easily taken care of since near Slussen next door to Nautiska Magasinet is a vaccination center that handled me within 15 minutes.
After that pain I set out to purchase my prepaid Swedish mobile phone number and sailing sun glasses.
All taken care of!
Tomorrow my weekend course on motors start,  yeah!

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Running errands in Stockholm

Even if also in Sweden today is a bank holiday most stores were open.
So I headed out after a late breakfast to tic off my list of 4 things to get done.
Weather was windy, not to cold and a clear blue sky showing off how beautiful summer can be here!
After testing different setups and sizes I got my nice Spinlock lifewest that was partly financed by my Roche colleagues as a farwell present. Awsome fit and very well designed product!
Additionally I picked up sea charts for Åland and looked at sunglasses,  but could not decide.
After that I needed lunch and sought out Wiener Caféet across from where I lived until I was 8 and we moved to south Germany as a family. Using the WiFi at the cafe my sister from Australia called me and we had a great chat.
When I wanted to take care of my last 2 things on my list I found out store close at 16h as on Sundays! Well tomorrow is also time!

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Arrived in Stockholm

Everything went smoothly today until I arrived at Arlanda airport. The fast Arlanda Expressen was not working due to a rail track problem between Uppsala and Stockholm affecting all train traffic going north or south passing through this point. So most Swedes wanting to fly because of the bank holiday tomorrow could not get to the airport by train anymore.
I managed to catch a taxi to get to town and what usually would have taken 45 minutes ended up taking almost 2 hours with traffic going beserc.
So first crisis overcome and very happy to be with my relatives tonight having inspired talks,  catching up and good discussions.
Time to go to bed!

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Heading to airport

Taking the train at 9.01h to Zürich airport will be there with time to spare if bags are to big!

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Packaged 4 bags

At 2 am at night I am finished to leave tomorrow to catch my flight in Zürich at 12.50 for Stockholm.
Good night everybody hope to see you next on the boat!

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Packing, packing, packing

Packing

Still packing all my stuff for the upcoming 13 weeks sailing. Have everything in the flat,  but need to get it into my bags. Tomorrow I fly to Stockholm.

By the way sadly one of my dear friends will not join me the last week in August. So I have a spot to fill again. But by then I can probably handle the boat superbly on my own!

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Dentist appointment and Blogger Email feed

After returning to Solothurn this afternoon I had a quick lunch then off to my dentist for a checkup before I am gone for 3 months. As a daughter of two dentists, I am a bit paranoid about needing that help abroad.

Apparently my email subscription feed on my blog did not work.
I believe I have fixed it now by enabling the function also on Feedburner.
So this post is also to test, if the function works now.
Subscribers will get one mail on days I post, otherwise none. Only one even if I post more than once a day,  which I find smart.

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Leaving Mannheim for good

Last night in Mannheim I slept over at our dear neighbors at Richard-Wagner-Str. Anne and Matthias, who have become friends and even we're my work collegues. After arriving with the Europecar van back from moving all Martins stuff to his parents and his friend Steve, they spoiled me last night. Anne cooked a great evening meal and this morning we had a wonderful breakfast with strawberries, orange juice and melon. I had to return the van before 7.30h so I picked up croissants on my way back from Europecar.

Matthias and Anne even had another farewell present to me and Martin so sweet, really expressing how they cherish our friendship and how Martins red Vespa lead to Matthias getting his black one.

It was strange sleeping in another flat than the one that was our home for almost 2 years and now is empty. 

At 8h I turned over my keys and the flat to Sysmovement that have rented it for me on Roches behalf over the last years. 

Now both my and Martins Mannheim era is ending his after 6 years and mine after 2. We both will miss all the good times we had here, but are excited to see what is up next. We defiantly will return to enjoy friendships as well as the great food of the region again. 

Roche farwell party

More colleagues

Colleagues

Presents

IPad

Yesterday I had invited all my colleges from over the last 2 years in Mannheim, over 80 invited, about 30 came. We had a great time at Speicher 7 a bar located next to the Rhein. The closest I could find to SolHeure here in Mannheim.
I was overwhelmed by the cool presents I received the speech my boss Sebastian held and everybody turning up. I was surprised to receive a coupon to pick up the life west I already ordered in Stockholm at Nautiska or a water case for my IPad. Just to name a few.

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Starting sending packages

KD farwell present

This morning I sent the first packages with heavy stuff directly to the Marina Bullandö so that I do not need to carry everything.

Additionally at the end of my 3 day workshop moderating, Craig the boss of KD, the Bristol design agency that I have been working with for about 7 years, handed me this:

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Nynäshamn one of our June harbors

So today I started writing and asking some of the first harbours we will make our crew changes at for reservartion for our stay, usually from friday to possibly sunday.

Nynäshamn was trmendously quick to respond, see the attached correspondance. 

Here also a link to their harbor webpage: http://intranet.nynashamn.se/4.787ba9a21361e2e3bfa80006689.html

Swiss crew preparation meeting

Yesterday I had my last crew preparation meeting here in Solothurn with Katja, Lukas, Nadine, Daniel and Thanya. 

Thanya arrived early to help me prepare the Quiche in two flavors and in her charming way took over the kitchen reign. It was great fun being her helper.
In the very precise Swiss manner Katja and Lukas arrived exactly 19.30h on the dot. But after 20 minutes when the Quiche was already on the table Daniel and Nadine were still missing so I gave them a call and only got their service. Minutes later the misshap was revealed, they had completely forgotten about the event and called back from just having ordered at the restaurant next door to their house. They apologized profusely and arrived 40 minutes later just when we finished our last bites.
After dinner we dove into the details of the packing list and sailing charts as well as Daniel's fear of a longer set over on open water from Sweden to Åland. It was a great evening tightly packed around my dining table that only barely holds 6 seats with numerous exchanges and stories and laughs. I completely forgot to take pictures so these are only the remnants.

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Âland more info

Just purchased a tourist information book for Åland to find out more of the place.

In this context the ferry going from island to island is here :
http://www.alandstrafiken.ax/

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Flight booked to and from

So finally I booked my flight, I decided to fly back over Copenhagen to see my sister and mum beginning of September south of Sweden after my long sailing adventure in the archipelago. 

Arriving Wednesday end of May with a few days to spare for preparations and to attend my sail boat motor course for women in Stockholm before I get the boat handed over Sunday evening the 1st June. So exciting!

 

A crew for every sailing week

This 4 day weekend with a bank holiday here in Germany on Thursday 1. May was filled with packing all my stuff here in Mannheim to return it back to Solothurn. So a lot traveling happened. 

This marks the final countdown of the 3 last weeks here at Roche Mannheim.

Additionally I can confirm that my 13 weeks sailing this summer all now have at least one crew accompanying me on the boat which was the minimum to do what I wanted. About 3-4 weeks the boat is full and the other weeks is mixed with one or 2 more than me on the boat.

I have instructed at least 8 people coming along so far and next Saturday in Solothurn additionally 5 will be briefed.

I am so happy this is falling into place and surprised who is joining me and who is excited to come along, very inspiring. Strangely very good friends ended up not being able to join, but others are filling in. I feel very fortunate to have friends and family participating.    

THANKs for building and contributing to my dream coming true!