Such

We have had many boat yards, and lost them in various ways.

Two were smoked overboard, one was left in a foreign port, one was stolen and the last one we had broken.

A boat hook is almost indispensable during locking. During the preparation of the trip, we bought two for safety's sake, which we found on a really good offer at Hellers in Kastrup

They are made of aluminum, white and like all our other boat yards with telescopes. It has the advantage that the length can be adjusted by sliding the upper part into or out of the base.

When we had to leave the quay at the lock in Münster, Pia could not get the hook of the boat hook out of the bollard on the quay. Suddenly she was standing with only the lower part, while the upper part dangled provocatively for herself on the bollard on land.

The light for the lock was a long time ago changed from red to green and the other Sportboot we had to lock was already on its way into the lock chamber.

We gave up further attempts to salvage the stubborn upper part and sailed one boat hook poorer into the lock.

Fortunately, we had been foreseen and bought two.

But the last one suffered a sick fate when, during the lock, I miraculously put it in a jam between the bollard and the boat. As the boat moved in the lock, it bent as if it were made of butter.

Beautiful.

In less than 20 minutes, we had reduced our lavish stock of boat hooks to zero.

And where do you find a shop in Germany that sells boat gardens?

Well moored, I looked closer at the bent boat hook. Experience has taught me that it cracks like a match if you try to straighten it out by knocking on it. Instead, I effortlessly pushed the top into the bottom and pulled it out again with a little less effort. The next time I pushed it in it went a little easier. Once I had shot it in and out a few times, it worked completely as before.

Then I put our bikes ashore.

Found Google Map on the iPhone and made a driving directions to the mooring place where we had lost the first boatyard.

After 1/2 hour bike ride, I found the place.

No boat hook on the first bollard. Second bollard just as empty, but on the third there was bite. Here the boat hook hung completely as when it had been stern sailed 1 1/2 hours earlier.

I lay on my stomach on the dock and crawled as far out towards the edge as I dared. Still, I could only reach the boat hook with my fingertips. I took courage and moved a little further towards the edge. Then I grabbed the hook on the boat hook with my right hand, gently pulled it free from the bollard and lifted it up on the quay.

Well up on land I took a selfie of myself with the boat hook and sent it triumphantly to Pia. In the comments field, I typed

Such