European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 03, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse Mountainous vineyards and Scenic villages line the Rhine As the River winds through the German slate of Hessen. Continued from Page 15 90 Miles of liver thai slices sleep mountainous Banks. The last of the Rhine Hessen vineyards defy Gravity on either Side of us. Impossible patches of Green clinging to Gray Stone bulls. Eventually we enter the treacherous stretch of River at Lorelei and de Korte turns Down a radioed Oiler Lor a Pilot to come aboard and steer us through the Tricky Waters ahead. If i were too dumb to Captain a ship he says alter clicking Oil the microphone. I could still become a Pilot at de Korte does gets help irom coloured buoys red ones to the right marking the Channel Edge Green buoys to the left marking the Channel in Midstream. Some stretches have two channels marked out. Essentially though River barges Are left to lend Lor themselves with Only a Lew simple rules of traffic. Boots going downstream have the right of Way de Korv says but boats lighting the current can decide o i which Side they will pass. Hoisting a Blue shield Rienner an upstream travelling ship will pass to the right. K o shield Means they will pass As in Street traffic. Windmills Greet the Rhine ships passing Xin Derijk Holland on the final stretch to Rotterdam. Page 16 the stars and stripes tuesday september 3. 1985 almost 6 . And sandwiches and More Collee Are sent up. Albert joins us he will take Over the steering sometime during the night. Life on the is Good he says but Busy. When not steering he has a Host of other chores Chipping paint or adding new Coats engine maintenance. And in bad weather there is always work inside to he says. Like cleaning my darkness has turned the River into a Ballet of moving shadows and de Korte switches on the radar transforming the Sayonara into a single Blip on the Green screen. The weather is changing and lightning illuminates the cargo in Short flashes. Our Speed has picked up to about 15 Mph the River is narrower now and the current rushes More. We pass the american embassy in Bonn then the German capital s downtown lights. Later Cologne the Rhine s largest City lights the night As we steer slowly northward. Sleep on a Barge we find comes easy. There is a gentle rocking a steady hum from the motor that is Felt not heard. Five . And the Inland Harbor at Duisburg is not yet bustling. A Crew arrives an hour later unloads 20 of our containers and we Are under Way again by 7 30, Back on the main spar of the River and at tempt As de Korte Calls it. The Harbor master chugging about in a tin boat named the Eagle offers us a wave. De Korte is still at the controls and though he has steered All night is still bustling and Good natured. Coffee and thick slabs of Gingerbread to tide us Over until breakfast. We charge North the Banks closer the current quicker the steering House raising and lowering to pass a new series of Bridges. The weather has changed Swift sheets of water Are banging against the Glass of Ihu steering House and pelting the containers Belore us. Albert takes Over the steering and to join the de Korles Loi break Asl in their Largo All Cabin. Cabin make that nearly 1.500 Square Luet. With Large living room dining Alcove modern Kitchen bedrooms Lull Bath and Ollice. The amenities include a lire place color television stereo. Alt cart has similar in smaller quarters at the front of the ship Complete with living room Bath and Kitchen Xci t for a few weeks of vacation each year usually taken in conjunction with a by incur trip Ilin cams
