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2014

EAST FRISIAN ISLANDS

After we took aim at the North Frisian Islands in our first SNIFIX season and then made the big rounds to Norway and Bornholm in the following two years, in 2014 it was finally time to take a closer look at our front door. So finally East Frisian Islands.

 

Unfortunately, that turned out to be a bit of a messed up trip, because in the first week it was definitely too cold and too rainy for what you would imagine a summer to be - even on the North Sea coast. We therefore had to give up our goal of exploring the East Frisian Islands as far as Borkum and only made it as far as Greetsiel. We stayed there for two days and even considered interrupting the cruise, taking the train home to Bremen and continuing the journey once the weather improved. But it didn't get that far. Instead, we took the bus to Emden for a day and went to the Nannen Gallery there. That was a great trip - but it's significant for the weather conditions: We really like going to exhibitions, but  When sailing, we only visit museums close to the harbor we can reach on foot or by bike and skip all others until we we are back when traveling on land. This time however we see us "fordec" to a bus trip to Emden, followed by another rainy day to discover Greetsiel (very pretty, but also very touristy, especially when all holiday home holidaymakers have to swap the beach etc. for "then we'll just go to Greetsiel" due to the weather...). Then the wheather cleared up enough for us to continue sailing - however we had to make our way back home now and Borkum had to wait for another cruise.

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On this trip home we also went to Baltrum and Juist, which are harder for us to reach. We liked both, Baltrum with his overall sleepier character, and Juist, who was definitely "chic". Juist is our favorite East Frisian and we like to visit her from time to time travelling in a “normal” way, i.e. by car and ferry boat or tvia the nice (very) short Island flight from Norddeich. For many sailors Juist is difficult by yacht because the harbor dries out completely and there is only a very narrow tidal window for access.

Of course, on this cruise we also went to Spiekeroog, Langeoog and Norderney. We go to Spiekeroog quite often and always enjoy it because with appropriate tides we can reach it on a normal weekend trip . Langeoog is borderline for a weekend trip, Norderney definately too far from Bremerhaven. Regarding Wangerooge we have a somewhat difficult relationship with this Island alone because the harbor is so far away from the town.

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And in the end this cruise too didn't seem so messed up anymore, which is also shown by the fact that two motifs that we chose here as a page background, namely for the chapters "Boat name" and  for "Crew", are photos taken on this trip on Baltrum and Juist.

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