05-Jul-2003 -- After our wonderful visit to 46N 7E in the high Alps we decided not to immediately return to Austria but to make a small deviation via the Lake of Neuchâtel (Lac de Neuchâtel).

In the extreme North of this lake, just offshore of the pleasure craft port of St. Blaise, there is a confluence which could not be more contrary to that one we had visited a three hours ago. It is in an extremely lovely area.

We arrived at St. Blaise at 1 pm and had a "Pizza de Port" in the port's restaurant, "La Buvette". The port is divided into two sections:

Section 1 is the basin for the millionaires' yachts. There are berthed such kind of yachts which cost a 200,000 $ per feet, if you like to purchase one or to have one built. Captain Peter immediately understood it to be wasted time to even ask these people for assistance. They only do sail for fun and due to "prestige" reasons, but certainly they will not be prepared to do a confluence job, and they would anyway not even talk to such proletarian guys as we are.

But fortunately there is still Section 2: A small basin for boat owners from the middle class, simple and friendly folks as we are. They own small boats and on weekend they go out with them for fishing. The owner of the boat was a friendly "Suisse romand", i.e. a French speaking Swiss, being immediately prepared to help us.

Soon we let go the lines and left the port, and Captain Peter felt immediately "back to normal" on the sea level, when heading towards Southeast directly to the confluence.

"Tout à tribord et tres lente avant" (rudder hard starboard and dead slow ahead!), Captain Peter commanded after a 10 minutes of navigation. "Fermez la machine!" (Stop the engine!). The point was reached.

A group photo has been taken rapidly, and a shot towards North, where the closest land is in about 450 metres distance.

The view to the South has been taken as well, and then we were heading back to the port Section 2, accompanied by many ducks.

At 2:30 pm all was done and we finally drove back to Austria.

It has been a beautiful and successful day in Switzerland and thanks to all who did help us!