Day 12 1/7/19 Around Cuxhaven

Edina took us on a cruise out to Helgoland today. This is a resort island about 70Km off the coast, out into the North Sea. It is near the Gulf Stream so experiences a much warmer climate than mainland Germany, and being outside territorial water is also tax free, with certain restrictions, a bottle of Scapa Whisky, which I haven’t been able to find in Australia was 55 Euro, and 1L of Myers Black Rum was 12 Eu.

Evidence exists on the island that it has been inhabited since the stone age. It has a very interesting heritage and has been “owned by many cultures over the years, including the British, German (obviously), Danish and others and also been home to pirates.

There is a wide variety of accommodation on the Island ranging from luxury spa’s to camping (both bring your own or tents provided) and almost everything in between. You can even hire a 2 bed wicker shelter for overnight.

The island has two distinct sections, the Unterland (or low lying section) and the Oberland (clifftops). The adjoining cliff is very steep, there are 180 steps, a lift is available, 0.60 Euro for the trip.

Maritta explored some of the shops whilst Edina and I took the cliff walk, about 3Km. The view is spectacular but the wind was almost strong enough to blow you over and quite changeable in direction. A gannet colony is on top of the cliff’s, along with many other birds, and they draw quite a crowd when it comes time for their first flight with literally a 40M plunge into the North sea. About 400 species of birds visit the island.

Leaving Cuxhaven

The little white building in the centre is the soccer stadium where we were yesterday.

At low tide you can walk to this island just of the coast (water is still knee deep)

No, I'm not sleeping, I'm reading about Holgoland (and slow baking)

Maritta and Edina

The shipping lanes get quite crowded with ships coming out of Hamburg.

Ship convoy.

Coast Guard

Approaching Helgoland

A very good sailing school is on the island

Cat comes from Hamburg

There are no private cars on the island, some electric taxi;s

Along the wharf area

Berlin is 455 Km away it seems

Now on Oberland

View down to the wharf area

sailing school in the bay.

A sea wall goes most of the way around the island to protect it from further erosion, this part is being reclaimed

Red cliffs are quite spectacular

WW2 bunkers riddle the rock and can be toured with a guide.

Church spire has a sloop rather than the more traditional weather cock

Gannet colony

The birds can almost hover in the wind just by changing the angle of their wing tips

Almost looks like the "winglets" on a plane

You can get close enough to almost touch them

Large Anna, a column at the end of the island has been re-inforced with concrete and steel to prevent it collapsing

Look closely in the centre, you can see steps which lead to a viewing platform for "Large Anna" but the birds have reclaimed it

Two Local sheep seeking some shade didn't care about the human using the seat.

Remains of a 500Kg bomb from WW2, the island was used as a naval base from 1908 and suffered badly during the war, the British even tried to sink it into the sea, they didn't succeed obviously