Rainy canals

This morning was devoted to strategic passage planning - where we will go in the 3 weeks before we arrive back in Fehmarn for the lengthy process of putting Sirena IV in her warm shed for the winter.

The main cabin was littered with charts, pilot books, marina guides and notebooks. It was high level stuff.

For the first time since Nic's accident, we talked about next year, and agreed that we would try to complete the aborted Stockholm peninsula (and possibly Helsinki) trip in 2019. That means we would put off the boat's eventual return to the UK until 2020.

For the rest of this season, we hope to go around Sjaelland, the largest Danish island which includes Copenhagen, weather permitting.

And the weather is fluky. When we ventured out on the trusty 9a bus to the picturesque canals of Christianshaven, (see pics) the heavens opened. Stair rods, cats and dogs.

We scuttled into a cafe for hot chocolate and apple tart. And still it rained. Crowds of tourists trotted past clad in floaty red rain ponchos supplied by the canal tour boats. 

When it eased off we walked to the weird enclave of Freetown Christiania. Once a hippy/anarchist paradise started in the 70s, it now seems to be a rather commercial enterprise. Walking past wild murals (see pic), derelict buildings and wacky graffiti, you come to an area where stall holders are openly selling ready made spliffs and chunks of dope. No photos, say warning signs. For those with the post-hash munchies there are various organic food outlets. But we didn't feel like staying.

Back on the 9a to the marina stop. But this time we walked in the opposite direction from the marina, through the detritus of the music festival that finished with Kraftwerk last night, to the Reffen street food market on the waterside, which boasts an old Trabant (see pic) as an unlikely planter, alongside a lovely old Moggy Minor. There we enjoyed a local beer and some sweet potato chips - an unusual tea yet it made a nice change from cake.

At the boat we prepared for actually going somewhere tomorrow - starting early not for tides but to catch the wind before it turns against us.