Thursday 22nd August 2013 KP31 Havel to Burgwall. 6.2 kms 0 locks

Moonlight on river mist. KP31 Havel

Grey overcast start, sunny spells with mackerel skies. First boat past was a yacht at 8.00 am who went by very gently. Set off 9.15 am as another boat went past so we had to wait before winding as the river is only just wide enough. Markon running to do more washing en route. A young couple with a canoe and tent were camped at KP28.5, they waved as we went past. A large Locaboat and a cruiser went past heading upriver, then a Dawncraft cruiser went past with a British couple on board. “Back again!” they said, and went on to say that they live here now. 

An edible green frog KP31 Havel

(We must have seen them before, but couldn’t slow down because the gennie was running and we didn’t get the name of their boat either - if you read this please get in touch!) Three more cruisers went past heading uphill before we arrived at Burgwall an hour after we set off. There were several small boats moored along the section of mooring upriver of the Gästhaus so we went for water first. A cruiser moored right by the Gästhaus was wanting water too, but said he was staying so he had all day, no rush. There was a Colorado beetle on the bench seat so I took photos before Mike despatched it. 

Bush cricket - short-winged conehead. KP31

The washing finished and we refilled the tank, by which time the moorings were empty so we moved to the far upstream end (best place for satellite TV) and tied up. Once we’d set up the TV, etc, we went shopping at Edeka in Fürstenburg again. Bought 15€ top-ups for the phone and Internet from the garage opposite, then headed back home. Moorings were starting to fill up with Free Campers due back at base (Mildenberg, 3kms downriver) next day probably. After lunch we went out in the car to check a mooring on the Ruppinerkanal at Kremmen, it was still there, unaltered and disused, a concrete topped quay with rings along the edge for mooring. Suit us fine. Back via Zehdenick. Saw signs on the road for otter crossing places – maybe it was an otter Mike saw the night before that was swimming across the river? 

Dwarfed by a Bungalow Boat. Burgwall

The moorings were getting well and truly full with three floating bungalows moored behind us and a Free Camper squeezed in front. One of the Bungalow Boats we estimated to be around 12m long by about 4m wide. 

About 12m long by 4m wide. Bungalow Boats

No licence is required to pilot one of these monsters, only a couple of hours tuition. We know they have a restricted area they can navigate, but, it’s not a level playing field is it? We watched Deal then went in the Zur Fähre’s restaurant and had a superb meal. As we went in we noted a police car parked outside the restaurant, then we saw two police officers outside flag down a speeding cruiser and (presumably) tell him to slow down through moorings. Later three officers came back from the far end of the moorings back to their car. We wondered what had happened, but hadn’t enough German to ask the waitress. I had schnitzel mit Jäger mushrooms, chips and salad; Mike had pork medallions with liver, fried potatoes and salad. And a Radebeger beer each to wash it down. We gave in to ice cream; he had his with Advocaat egg liqueur and I had mine with nuts. Surprised that the restaurant wasn’t full with the number of moored boats, we were all alone until about 8 pm when two couples came in. The beer garden was busy. A lovely red sunset as we walked back down the moorings.
Here's alink to see the Free Camper website:-
http://www.freecamper.de/blaues-paradies/
and this is the site for the Bungalow Boat hire
http://www.bunbo.de/home.html