The Final Day in Schleswig-Hostein

Caught in a jump infront of Eutin Castle

We were lucky on the final day to enjoy some sunshine.  After my last 5 months of non-stop heat and sun, I am definitely getting some cooler rainier weather here in Germany.  But such is the weather these days.  Jurgen took me back to Eutin since I really didn’t get to see it the first night.  We wondered around the lovely gardens and parkland and visited the castle which was originally built during medieval times and has since been expanded upon.  It was very beautiful.  We didn’t go inside but I hear that it is quite interesting.  Instead we headed to the water tower to get some pictures of the area.

Hello, anybody home. The inside square of the castle.

Looking across Eutin. A picture for Mum, as I told Jurgen, where I am not making a funny face or being silly

From there we went and saw the most amazing thing that I don’t know why it doesn’t exist in Canada.  A waterskiing park.  This is Wasserski Susel.  It is a private enterprise and basically, the family had been given a somewhat crummy piece of land upon their return.  The land had little agricultural value.  So over time, the family found that there was value in the sand underneath the peat bog.  So they started to sell that sand and started to make some money.  At the end of the day, they were left with a fairly large freshwater lake.  After some thought and contemplation, the family found a business that could thrive on their lake and continue to bring in income to the family – a waterski lift.  And it’s brilliant.

The waterski lift

Basically there is an excavator type of machinery (at least equivalent in energy output) but basically a crane like structure that has cables running through it.  There were three different lifts.  The main one, that I was watching, had the ability to take 9 or 10 people at once and had 4 corners plus various water obstacles for tricks and jumps.  People were either using two waterskis or a mono ski, knee boards, and wakeboards.  The ski line allowed a constant line of skiiers to go around the lake up to three times before they had to let go.  And it was great.  No loud motor boats that can only take one at a time.  An excellent apparatus to keep practicing and improving.  And the place was booming.

The constant line up of skiiers waiting to go on the waterski cable

I think it is brilliant and can’t understand why it doesn’t exist in Canada.  (Actually my brother informed that there is one in Quebec).  I would have totally taken part in such a sport had this sort of facility been available.  I can understand some of the barriers that might exist if you don’t have a private lake upon which to construct this facility, but I am sure there is a way around that.  And it was busy.  I was so grateful to have been able to visit there.  Finally we ended the day with a fire and wine in Jurgen’s backyard and his neighbours Birgit and Oswald visiting.  All in all, a great visit – next Cologne.

Oswald, myself and Birgit deep in conversation.