Green and red

As mentioned before I am this year sharing my boat with two friends. So far we have had I think four sessions and it still doesn't feel safe enough to let them go on their own. And I'm not being overprotecting if that's what you think :).

Anyway, I appreciate the eco-think when they brought new cups (we always have a drink on the lake, whether it's water or wine...) and especially the starboard and larboard (port) colouring.

FYI, right is green, left is red (easy to remember, nobody wants to be a leftie!).

First cruise of the year

First cruise of the year yesterday. It was actually a test-run since I am sharing the boat with two friends this year. It went so-so to be perfectly honest. Ok, I wasn't a star when I first got the boat, but they are total amateurs. Just to open up the boat took them three times as long as it takes for me to do it myself :).

Out on the lake they realized it is not at all like driving a car. Water moves, a road doesn't. And when one of them were trying to park it went...well, not good. I had to take over and make sure we didn't crash into anything.

Ah well, practise makes perfect, right?

Sunshine sunshine

This sun has no spots. Just saying.

Cruise

It is unbelievable to be able to cruise the lake in November, enjoying the sun and not freezing anyones butt off. So we were overlooking the Expovina, that row of ships parked in Zürich where you can try all different kinds of wine, while we ourselves were sipping on my new house wine. A chilled Pinot Grigio from Italy.

Had a couple of new acquaintances with me, who in the beginning disappointed me a bit. First, they turned out to be as untechnical as I usually am. They were trying, I give them that, to help me prepare the boat. It would've been quicker if I had done it myself, but still. They tried.

Then we were cruising slowly, the only speed my boat can muster btw, and I was thrilled, looking at the mountains (some still with snow on them), the city behind and all the people everywhere, and I saw the two of them staring at their so called smartphones. Silly name, since I don't think it's smart. I had to shout to inform them that irl is better!

And they listened. Eventually. And after that we had a nice time with some picnic and a refill of wine.

Living the life

This summer is indeed incredible. Day after day after day with just sunshine. And now the heat is bearable, it's that close to 40°C I cannot take.

Was out on the lake again today with a friend. Swimming, updates on our respective lives and some good food. A Greek salad (one of the few good things coming out of Greece lately), a fabulous fruit dessert and of course some delicious wine (house wine what else?).

Yes, life is very good at the moment.

Cruise on the lake

Was out on the lake today with a friend, it was beautiful out there and perfect temperature. About 30°C in the air and 22° in the water. A bit of wine, a few bites of water melon, radio Zürichsee and some cig. Life cannot possibly be better than that.

So I was swimming. Second time in I kinda kicked off the ladder a bit quick and hurt my toe a little on the engine. Nothing much to worry about.

When I came up I told my friend about an accident I had in school, where I jumped off the rim of a swimmingpool and cut my achilles heel, so much that I had to have it stitched later in the hospital. But the thing was I felt nothing while in the water.

And while I was telling him I was taking a pic of him sitting there enjoying the sun and the company (I presume), when he all of a sudden was telling me: "you're bleeding". And indeed I was.

History repeating itself. I felt nothing in the water. And it wasn't a big injury, it was just I had no plasters in the boat, so I had to sit with my foot up high pressing a napkin for ages!

And in the middle of it all a wasp decided to stop by, and I'm terrified. It's like a real phobia. So there was I on one foot, waving a towel around like a mad woman, and the passing boat thought I was waving at them, so they waved back.

Anyway, finally the bleeding stopped and I decided to have another swim. Not a good idea. Another ten minutes of pressing and holding the foot high. Ah well. All in all it was a good day.

Zürich - my city

Was on the lake today. Fabulous to only travel for a few minutes, be on the lake and swimming. I have the absolutely best anchor place in town. But I gotta get a Zürich flag, the Swiss flag I have is because the boat is of Swiss origin, and until now I'm only accepted by Zürich city.

Sad boat

I was closing up my boat for the season today. Even though people were sitting outdoors, enjoying dinner tonight, it has become a wee bit too cold for cruising the lake.

One problem I had previous years was that water was always forming a small pool on the right (left when looking at pic) side, so today I put a chair under the cover to prevent it. Will it work? I dunno.

Orange just orange

You know what I was thinking? Remember when I had to buy a new cover for my boat, and the selection of colours was very limited. It was blue, "white" and green basically. And if I wanted purple I had to buy like 5,000 meters or something.

The same goes for life jackets. Orange. That's the choice. Unless you wanna splash out and buy black ones that only releases air when it hits water. Or somethine like it. And they cost a fortune.

I'm thinking neon colours. I'm thinking pink, green, yellow, really bright neon colours. Why wouldn't that work as well as the bloody ugly orange?

Lake police

So today it was time to get my boat checked on and hopefully approved for another three years.

I was not exactly nervous, but tense and woke up before the alarm at 5.20 this morning. Took a friend with me for moral support. Early in the morning we cruised out on the lake, and it was absolutely beautiful weather, sunny and warm.

Unlike other times the police guy was quite friendly, but I was still tense, 'cause they are very meticulous and when he asked me to show him my lifejackets, I pointed to the floating cushions I have as a substitute. "No", he said, quite agitated, "that changed years ago, now you need lifejackets". What? Was I supposed to know that? Told him that three years ago they didn't have a problem with it.

I then asked how many I needed. I am allowed to have six people in the boat, did I need to buy six? "No", he responded, "if you are two people in the boat you need two jackets, if you are ten people in the boat you need ten jackets, but then you'd have four too many". Lake police sense of humour.

So I was told I had to get straight back to my anchor place, and that I couldn't go on the lake before I had bought those jackets.

I only cheated a bit, went to the shipyard which did the service on the boat a few weeks ago to pick up a fender I lost there, and since they had given away mine, I got a new one. A better one!

Anyway, the lake police also remarked on the cover on my boat, which I fold on the top when I cruise. Not good I was informed, since the front lamp (which I've never used, since I'm always only out in sunshine) needs to be the highest point on the boat. You judge by looking at the pic. It's that little thingie in front on the roof.

 

So today I placed an order for four life jackets. Never f... with the lake police is my motto!

Speed

I went to pick up my beloved boat today, and I'm pleased to say that I can now (almost) waterski! Wow, was it a big difference in speed after getting rid of all those mussels.

Less impressive it was when I was picking the boat up. There was nobody around, and I didn't want to feel like a wuss asking for help, so I jumped bravely into the boat with the attitude of "I can do this myself, I don't need any help".

It was parked in the harbour area, and really, it was just turning it a bit and then gently cruise away. Only they had tied it. Not in the two places I noticed and untied, but in a third place in the front, so when I did the first try, I didn't get very far since the front was still attached to the bridge.

Then I don't know what happened, but I ended up going forth, then back, then forth, then just avoiding backing into another boat, then forward again slightly denting a sign at the bridge and then finally, I was out on free water. Far away from that professional parking I did just a few days ago.

I could really use a few more sessions with a teacher. Or maybe just have a moral support with me in the boat, that seems to calm me down every time.

But as in all good movies, all is well that ends well. Haha, well, funny me! An unintentional joke. Like the time I was trying to sell blow-jobs. Not in the way you think though.

70 liters of mussels

Last Friday I cruised over to the shipyard. It is time to do the inspection again, which the authorities demand every three years. And before you do, you have to prove that the engine is checked upon. Why? Your guess is as good as mine. And never ever forget to have them stamp the documents! Last time I could prove with an invoice that I had the work done, but the authorities wouldn't accept it. In Switzerland, if you don't have ze stamp, it's not valid.

Anyway, the people at the shipyard are very nice and helpful, and we decided that it was time again to scrape some mussels off the bottom as well as check on the engine.

And I was told that they had never seen as many mussels on a boat that size ever. 70 liters of them, hanging off the bottom of my boat (you little fuckers, find a new home!). And I'm thinking, first of all they're gonna charge me an arm and a leg for removing them, second, are they selling them at a profit to restaurants? Should I demand them to prove it and give them to me?

But on second thought, maybe not. I'm not that fond of mussels anyway, and what would I do with 70 liters of them?

On the plus side, I managed to park very gently and professionally at their bridge (am always a bit nervous when I have to park somewhere I'm not used to), and to my delight they had clips to tie it to the bridge. These friggin knots I still haven't learned. And the boat is gonna go a lot faster! Yeah ok, it's not yet time to hook up the waterskis behind, but still.

On the minus side, it's gonna rain tomorrow when I'm gonna pick it up. A bit like life really, sometimes up, sometimes down.

But I'm happy. And very proud of being a boat owner.

I'm in love with Bella

Another fantastic day today together with a friend and Bella. Bella is a beauty, and above all, she's fast! When sliding on top of the waves today I felt like my face was hanging a meter behind me, like G forces the astronauts feel I'm sure. 145 horse powers, as supposed to my very humble 8.

Then dinner with fresh fish from the lake (I think they were swimming still this morning) and a view that (other:) people pay for.

A swim of course, I would guess 22°C in the water.

I just love summer.

Life sucks for some people but not for me

Took a walk today to the city, well to the boat actually, but on the way I passed a really relaxed man. Me, with a severe case of height anxiety, would never in my life do that.

And the lake was gorgeous as usual. A bit of picnic, nice company and a swim. And yes of course, a drop of wine.

The steamer "Stadt Zürich", a beautiful sight.

Fabulous weather

Today was boat-opening for the first time this season. A bit of cleaning, testing of engine (hurray, started at first try) and a picnic in the sun.

While in the city, I  decided to go shopping, triggered by that I need new shorts plus the fact that I had a voucher from last year and I wasn't sure when it expired.

Surprised myself by buying not only shorts, but also a top and a belt! I haven't had a belt since forever, I mean a belt that accentuates my newly discovered waist. How cool is that?

While on the go I also passed Dosenbach. I gotta say, lately I've been looking for some sort of power-walking shoes, since I just have winter and summer shoes, and found only ridiculously expensive footwear. No way am I paying between 100 and 200 francs for a pair of shoes!

But Dosenbach delivered again. A pair of perfectly normal walking shoes for the very moderate price of 17.90!

Oh captain my captain

I dunno what made me think of Dead poets society, but I did, and I still think it's one of the best movies I've seen. So I played the fav moment in that movie again. Thank you youtube for almost always delivering.

Oh, and next time you come with me on the boat, feel free to call me, oh captain my captain :).

Battery switch

Hurray, it turned out to be the battery after all. Ok, so I had to buy a new battery, and they are not exactly for free, but at least I don't have to tow the boat.

The engine was running as before, and I am happy. So was my helper, who felt...well helpful.

Had I known, of course I would've waited until spring, since there won't be anymore cruises this year, but I feel relieved that it's ready to go again in hopefully March.

Cannot wait.

The helper comes in handy

So today the guy who always wants to help came in handy. We had decided to take the boat out for a last cruise this year, weather was great, and I was in bikini ready to go. The boat was ready, and then...absolutely nothing. The engine didn't give so much as a sigh. There was nothing.

There is a battery switch which I thought I had forgotten to open or close (can never remember which is which), but either way the engine was dead. Dead as a I-dunno-what, but stone dead. I guess as dead as the parrot in the Monty Python-sketch.

First I had to convince the helper that I wasn't kidding (he had been reading the blog), and then he looked. And looked. Finally he extracted the battery from the cabling going on down there, and will take it with him to have it checked. Mind you, it's 14 years old and may need replacing. The battery that is.

However, I'm not entirely sure that it is the battery. I think it would've given at least a wee sign of life since it worked fine last week. Then I was thinking it was a cable that somehow got disconnected, but I'm not gonna go there. I have no idea where to start.

No, I think I'm looking at a call to the boat people, hoping they can fix it without having to tow the boat all the way to their place. Better start saving up!

You're too young!

These are words I don't hear that often anymore, so I gotta say it was genious of me to find an older friend. Older than me that is.

We spent four hours on the lake today talking about everything and anything, like hospitals and operations we had, to food we like (I'm gonna cook wienerschnitzel and he's countering with chateau-briand), like politics in Switzerland to places we've visited, to dogs and cats vs strange pets like reptiles and fish to history to Obama to building construction to neighbours to...

Actually the weirdest thing was a story about somebody who died in the flat-building he lives in. He didn't live there then, but he heard. Somebody died and nobody knew, until the neighbours started to smell something fishy. Yeah a dead body. And the owner who lived elsewhere didn't wanna pay for renovation (apparently a body stinks so much you have to rip the whole apartment apart and redo it in order to get rid of the smell). But the rest of the flat-owners took a vote and made her renovate. And right they were if you ask me!

Most flat-buildings where I come from prefer that the owner her or himself actually live in the flat they own, 'cause they tend to care more. Something to think about re the owners of the flat underneath me!

Anyway, we rounded the evening off with an introduction for new friend incl dog at my fav bar. Not a bad day at all!

Dog aboard

There is a first time for everything, but this particular dog didn't seem to mind a cruise at the lake at all.

But it was funny, later when back on dry land, I was taking a walk alone with the dog and even though she walked with me, she kept on looking for her owner. When we got back to the parting point, she didn't wanna go any further. She's a polite dog, and listens even to me, but she really is a one-man-dog.

When we met up again with the owner, she was so, so happy. There is something very endearing with such devotion.