Danube from Bavaria to the Black Sea

[2BonC]

The following I have posted in the European Group. I repeat it here because it might be of interest to the others as well at least as far as the final question is concerned.

We (a former kolleg and me , both retired) are planning in 2009 a trip down the Danube from GE/Bavaria/Kehlheim to the Black Sea . I´m living about 30km apart from the planned start point Kehlheim.
The total distance will be 2440km (about 1300 NM). We estimate that the reqired time for traveling and sightseeing will be somewhat between two and three month (about 30 days for motoring/sailing).
Beside Germany we will touch the following countries: Austria, Hungaria, Slowenia, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Rumania, all except Serbia and Croatia are now members of the EU. We are planning to start in early May 2009.

If there is somebody who would like to join us on his own Mac for this trip I would be glad to share my preparations with him and give him any assistance required to launch his boat and leave his car and trailer on a secured place for the period of time required for this trip.

This was initially posted in the European Group because I cannot imagine how an Australian or an American can come to Kehlheim with his MG .

By the way does anybody know from a MG crossing the Atlantic in either direction ?

Rainer

[puggsy]

Sounds like a wonderful trip...hope it eventuates...
If you could do the same in Western Australia...if we had those sorts of rivers...you would hardly have left the suburbs...
My sister once lived only two thirds up the state from me...a distance equal to the total length of Britain...Land's End to John 'o Groats..[1500miles].p.s. never been to England. Enjoy your trip...Puggsy

[2BonC]

Hi Puggsy,
can it be that You overdraw a little bit as far as the distances in Australia are concerned ?
Have You visited Your sister with Your Mac? If You went downstream it would have taken You 40 days ! ... and 80 days back!!!
We are bound and determined to do our trip, preparations are allready in progress, e.g. installation of a warm water system for the shower.
We have the idea to lead the cooling water from the outboard engine through a heat exchanger to warm up the water for the shower. Do You think this will work? I´m going to post this idea in the mod forum.

Greatings to Your sister-so far away , mary Christmast to You and Your family, for my knowledge You will have nice warm weather during the Christmast days. In Germany it´s snowing (I´m not from England but have been there sometimes!!)

Rainer

[J.Teixeira]

Hi Rainier.

I would be more than happy to go along with you but trailering "half Europe" is not in mi plans... For now...

About the water system it seems interesting...

But I suggest you to try if before drilling anything.

There is another more simple way of getting warm water...

I installed a longer pipe in the water exit of the engine.

I put the black plastic bag that puggsy is talking about in the swim platform and fill it with the engine water directly.

If the motor is in good condition the water is perfectly clean.

And warm. It's fast and useful when there is no sun...

(I am not sure but I think that your device is for large internal diesel sailboat engines, that produce a lot more heat than our outboards...).

Test it before drilling...

Best regards

JT

[Milos]

Hi Rainer!
Nice plan of such a big trip! As I am still not retired, I have unfortunatelly no time for this, yet.
Last summer I was make one short motoring trip from Bratislava across Hungaria to Croatian border and back with MacGregor26M and my family on board.
About sailing - on Danube river sailing are mostly forbiden due to fast stream and high traffic!
In Your list of countries You have some mistake;
The Danube river flows through — or forms a part of the borders of — ten countries: Germany (7.5%), Austria (10.3%), Slovakia (5.8%), Hungary (11.7%), Croatia (4.5%), Serbia (10.3%), Romania (28.9%), Bulgaria (5.2%), Moldova (1.7%), and Ukraine (3.8%).
If You need some informations about some good refueling and anchoring places, tell me.
Best wishes, Milos

[2BonC]

Hallo Milos,
thank You for Your input. You are right I mixed up Slovenia and Slovakia, I hope the people there don´t run mad because of that . But I can assure You even I mixed up this countries I wouldn´t have missed the correct way down the Danube . I intentionally missed Moldavia and Ukraine because we don´t plan to take the route through the northern parts of the Danube delta. We would need visas for this countries, this would have made it more complicated .

Meenwhile I have very good contact to Hungarian people who supply me with information about the Hungarian part of the river but I know only very little about the other easterly parts of the Danube. Therefore I´m appreciating very much to get any information about good refueling facilities and anchoring places. In addition I have many questions concerning the Danube e.g.
At which time of the Year have You done Your trip? How about high waters in May/June in Slovakia? What is the streeming velocity of the Danube in the part You have bin? Which engine do You have in Your ? What was the everage speed downstreem at which RPM? What was the fuelconsumption than? Do You have special Danube papermaps of any part of the Danube, are certain maps required to go by a or ? Which maps did You use?
thanks again
Rainer

[tangentair]

!	tangentair:
	Moved to the more appropriate board.

[2BonC]

..where has it gone ?

[J.Teixeira]

Just a personal opinion...

At the beginning i did think that an European group would be interesting...

Now I believe that it is not working simply because we are here so we can connect and share ideas and info with our many American friends...

A "Destinations" board would be much more interesting so we all could talk about ramps, lakes, bays, and tell others about our trips and experiences anywere in the world...

It's just an opinion...

JT