Elbe paddle (day 8): Coswig (Anhalt) – Dessau – Barby

Today: 53km | Total: 334km

What a stormy night. Seems like it rained all night and the wind bent the tent properly. I woke up a few times. Going to toilet from your sleeping bag into the nightly rain is not the nicest thing, but heh. At least I had a pretty early start in the morning and got onto paddling 8.15am and managed to break through the 300km mark.

I made mileage quickly, enjoyed many animals on the way including a herd of donkeys and another beaver (sadly he escaped my camera… Yet again) and even comorans.

By lunchtime i reached Dessau. Sadly no Klaus-in-town. On weekend holidays. Such is life. Last time we met in berlin (Berlin: A concert, a wall & an old friend). I had a look around anyway. The city was a lot bigger than i expected. Partly because i parked my boat in the yacht club… A good walk from the center. I saw the Bauhaus building (🤔), but liked most the town hall. The city was empty though. Hardly any places opened (Sunday as well). But overall, not bad. I enjoyed lunch and a beer before making my way back to the boat. Also saw one of the old east german mopeds that i used to ride.

By 2pm i was back on  the river. After 22km in the morning, it was another 31km in less than 5h. It was beautiful and included a stop for laundry and a swim. Music dictated the pace. Böhse Onkelz, Romeo Santos and Irish music. Loved it.

At Barby campsite i saw the Dresden paddler couple again. Not a lot of love to be frank. Instead i met Stefan and his son. Stefan works at commerzbank and knows quite a few people there that i know as well as an old commerzbanker. Great chat. Small world.

Buena