S1.19 - A German Escapade
Aug 24-29: Friendships, Frolics and UPS Surprises
Up at 3:00am on the 24th. It was time to make sure Lucky Enough was all buttoned up so we could be on the road by 4. The thought of leaving Lucky Enough on her own for the first time since we first set sail on May 25th was both daunting and surreal.
Nevertheless, we stepped on land and embarked on our journey to the Naples airport where we returned the car and boarded a Lufthansa flight bound for the impressive Frankfurt airport. Conveniently, the airport was seamlessly connected to the train station, a detail we appreciated. Everywhere we turned, there were bakeries. We even stumbled upon two large grocery stores, all amidst an environment that exuded cleanliness and modernity. After two train rides later, we arrived in beautiful Bielefeld around 2:00pm.
Sparrenberg Castle
also known as the Sparrenburg is a restored fortress and historical landmark in Bielefeld.
Steps to the top of Sparrenberg Castle
View of Bielefeld from the Sparrenberg Castle
View of Bielefeld from the Sparrenberg Castle
Over the next four days, we relished in quality time with dear friends, explored the charms of Bielefeld, forged new friendships, and indulged in delicious meals and specialty coffees, all while sharing hearty laughs.
Hermann Monument
Per Wikipedia, this landmark commemorates a war chief (whose name translates to Hermann in German) and his victory over Rome at the battle of the Teutonicburg Forrest in 9 AD.
Must commemorate our day with good German Beer!
On the fifth and last day in Bielefeld, we found ourselves anxiously awaiting the arrival of the now 'infamous' Navionics Card (remember the trials and tribulations of S1.18). Despite the lack of updates from UPS, we decided to head to the train station without it to avoid missing our first train.
As we made our way down the long driveway, Ryan humorously wished for the UPS truck to appear—and miraculously, it did just as we opened the iron gates at the end of the property. With the package in hand, we made it to the station with 15 minutes to spare. While the first train posed no issues, we missed the second one, setting us back by over an hour until we devised a Plan B. Nonetheless, we arrived at the Frankfurt airport with ample time to spare, spending an hour in the lounge before enduring another flight delay.
Passing the time on a delayed flight.
Upon returning to Lucky Enough after four nights ashore, we planned our final provisioning list which we would complete tomorrow to be ready to depart the marina on the 30th. Our hearts brimmed with anticipation for the adventures that awaited us. We eagerly looked forward to embracing this next solo chapter of our journey together.