Treibgut

Apatin 1402 to somewhere in Serbia 1380

Our two illegal Serbia hoppers have an early start. Well-equipped with nevessary and important stuff (identity card, cell phone, daypack, water) they wander downstream in the morning light. While the rest of the crew has an audience at the police station once again (hirarchy rules!) and get back their passports, our semi-legal friends spend an exciting day getting an impression of what it means to hide from the authoritiesand cross borders without valid papers. Swimming from the Serbian to the Croatian side of the river, suffering heat and mosquito attacks, fighting their way through djungly swmp lands, they are quite down when we gice them a hand to get on bord again.

We had no idea what it would expect us when we found perfect looking sany beach where we wanted to stay for the night. It started during sunset: Millions of mosquitos were buzzing around us, they attacked aggressively every inch of skin they could reach (covered or uncovered). Human blood must taste delicious! Although our defense strategies were various – from insect repellant to spastic movements and invese sticks – the swarm still felt attracted by the human mini-bar. While they had a great night with having one bloody shot after another, we woke up with itchy red spots all over. Well, some woke up, some were still being awake because of those beasts…

Mohacs 1446 to Apatin 1402

Rise in the middle of swampland we start the with a delicious pancake breakfast. brunching down the Danube for several hours we enjoy the marvellous southern Hungarian landscape with long sandy beaches, blue sky, green wild forests and lots of animals.. Anchoring at one of the atlantic ocean like islands right in the middle of the river we paint figures in the sand and feel like kids discovering a new playground. Unbelievable that this is the same stream that flows through Kelheim and Regensburg! Checking into brand new port in Apatin Serbia – border police oh oh.. We all end up with no passports, some passports locked in the police office, some were never there.

In a kind of fancy fish restaurant we treat ourselves with a big dinner – not quite sure if we are to spend the next night in Serbian jail..? At least some of us..

Baja 1480 to Mohacs Backwater

Starting the day with open air showering, perfectly temperated, fantastic view on the Danube and a great audience. We float along chilling on deck until a little white & blue boat approached us and told us to land at the border police*s platform.

Suddenly, Mercury started to sound funny like it was choking. No more petrol! 5 m to the landing but we made it. Accidently, we took the platform of the police*s boat which was about to arrice. Having rapidly fed Mercury Baby we tried hard to cast off. But it was not the right platform. Now it was paperwok – passports, ship papers …

Even though we were not allowed we stayed the night in some muddy Hungarian backwater..

Paks 1530 to Baja 1480

Team 3 on the run – big challenge to keep up with the other two. It was hot, it was red. Chilis as a *souvenir*, a comfi chair and – to keep the crew sane – a bag full of garlic.

Barbecue session with some Hungarian party animals, lots of meat, couple of drinks – some of them speak more or less German

Egesegedre.

Dunafoeldvar 1561 to Paks 1530

Sleep, sleep, sleep, eat, drink, sleep.

Night falls.

Backwater 1633 to Dunafoeldvar 1561

Early enemy attacks forced us to cast off as fast as we could – kiss kiss bang bang – burn those fucking mosquitos!

For we felt like spicing up the whole keks trip we dropped team nO 1 – Mo and Rene – at the first sight of civilisation. With a mission – Get whatever you can and catch up with the speed-keks. 3 hours later we saw 1 case of beer, 1 bunch of sunflowers and the two heroes swimming in the middle of the Danube.

In the ecstasy of that great success team 2 gets dropped off at another promising spot. Stalin city. In the evening towards sunset the keks crew is complete again. The second team brought lots of quarry like a big Hungarian flag. August 20 is National holiday and we definately take the chance to celebrate with them. Besides awesome fireworks, fish, hotdogs and local drinks our personal highlight – meeting the #Dude# who seemed to come straight from the movie *Big Lebowski*.

Budapest 1648 to Backwater 1633

While we were having breakfast in the sun, the last preparations for the red bull air race were done. The pilons of the air race looked quite weird right in front of the parliament. We all want to be pilots as well – steering those fucking fast little planes.. SMOKE ON they said – and the spectacular flights started with a nose-dive under the brigde.

Filled up with langos we were crawling down the Danube for the rest of the day, ending up in another nice backwater. Feed the animals… Pasta cooked on the bonfire!

Budapest 1651,5 to 1648

Wake up, shower 4 six, breakfast, laundry resp. shopping action for the boys.

Then around 6 pm we start off to the most central landing ever directly in front of the beautiful parliament building.

Tahitótfalu 20 via Leanyfalu 16 to Budapest 1651.5

After a shopping trip in the beautiful village at the nice guy from the verggie shop, the slow bank staff and a woman behind the salami counter who anderstood all our pointing and other sign language we were off to Leanyfalu. Just 3 km later we stopped there to get Mercury some breakfast and supplies for the next few days.. We stay on the Szentrendre creek – fishing, wimming being happy – until just before Budapest we were floating on the “big Danube” again.

We arrived at the Wiking Yacht Club on the outskirts of Budapest. Secretary and other discriminating staff did not really wecome us at the port. Nevertheless we had a great night partying downtown and just returned from Balkan Beats (Club Gődőr) in the morning under bright blue sky – 2 live bands heated it all up before a dj (in some songs accompanied by a trumpet) got the night going.. Everyone was jumping around – dancing, meeting new people.. Just an awesome night!

Island nearby Esztergom 1716 to Tahitótfalu 20 (Szentendre creek)

Refreshing bath before breakfast. For the first tim efor weeks we had fresh coffee with a delicious milk froth!

Swimming, laughing, cutting hair, letting th esun carress our skin, we had stunning views: The Szentendre creek is a lovely part of the trip! Bays, beaches and all those bushy trees which seem to be so fluffy that you wanna curl up in their leaves…

Sunday evening we had a little excursion (petrol, food and curiosity of course): elderly people with scarves and flower-peppered dresses were selling flowers, apples and pears – and huge water- melons on the side of the road.. We collected some nice ripe fruitsfrom the edge of the street, the trees were full of them..

No petrol, so we will go and get it a bit further downstream tomorrow. Tahitótfalu is a beautiful small village, remote and nice, we were close to even buy 2 vietnamese pigs!