Of Winds and Whispers.

[drron29]

When we awoke the next morning we were already in the first lock of the Kiel Canal-

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Ships were waiting for us whilst the adjoining lock was filling with small craft.

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[drron29]

The other lock starts to close-

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And we have started to move.

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[drron29]

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The waiting ship heads for the now empty lock and we go under the first of the bridges.Fishing seems very popular here-

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[drron29]

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Lots of traffic on the canal-

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[drron29]

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As well as bridges there are several ferry crossings-

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[drron29]

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The only passenger vessel we passed.The Deutschland.Must have done most of the canal in the dark.An interesting ship because for 6 months of the year she becomes the World Odyssey and a floating University.The largest ship to transit the Kiel was Norwegian Dream carrying~2150 passengers as she had a movable funnel and radar mast.However she is now Superstar Gemini and based in Asia.

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[drron29]

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And a shipyard which at this site specialises in luxury yachts-

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[drron29]

People came out to watch us pass-the numbers were greater after the fog lifted.

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Coming up is the Rendsburg bridge constructed between 1911-13.Overall length 7.5km but the span across the canal is only 317 metres.

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[drron29]

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Now you may wonder what the road to nowhere is doing under the bridge.It is because this bridge is of a rare kind being a "transporter'bridge.A gondola is suspended from the bridge and takes 4 cars and pedestrians across the canal.Unfortunately for us the gondola struck a cargo vessel in January 2016 and was removed for repairs so is not working at the moment.

[drron29]

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We passed a few places involved in manufacturing wind turbines.

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[drron29]

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The level of the swimming pool is below the level of the canal.

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It is a beautiful part of the world.Some impressive housing,nice villages and farmlands.A driving trip in the area with a possible crossing of the canal by gondola has been added to the bucket list.

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[drron29]

We had to change pilots here.

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[drron29]

Every ship transitting the canal is given a rating.On this occasion we had to give way to the coming ship as did the ship in front of us.The Captain and pilot are bringing the Whisper to a stop.The ducks don't have to worry.

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[drron29]

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[spinnaker2]

Drron

Your pictures are a wonderful reminder of the bucolic countryside along the banks of the canal.

We even saw a fox or two!

Thanks for posting!

[drron29]

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[drron29]

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The smallest vessel we passed.

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Poor little swan paddling madly to stay still-

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As we got closer to the end of the canal near Hamburg there was a lot more industry-

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But usually a lot of surrounding green areas-

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[drron29]

Approaching the last lock-

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[drron29]

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Someone lent hotel director,Norman,a hand-

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He put it to good use-

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[drron29]

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While our lock closed the neighbouring one opened-

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[drron29]

Like the Panama age was showing in places.

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A fair bit of work going on to widen the locks.

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