In the middle of the summer holidays, it's time for an unusual destination: We are heading for the Ruhr area. An area that has undergone a major structural change for around 30 years: Once dominated by mining and the ‘smoking vents’ of the steel industry, it has transformed into a green settlement area where industrial culture has its place as well as innovative theatre performances such as the ‘Ruhrtriennale’, universities – and not least sport, not only on Schalke. The Ruhr area is still densely populated, but the river has long been clean and Lake Baldeney in Essen is one of the many recreational areas. Time and again, people have immigrated and enriched the Ruhr area – it is clear that there is a lot to talk about, and only exceptionally High German.
Rowing goes naturally also on the sluggish meandering, hardly travelled Ruhr and some reservoirs. Cities are never far away, but many areas are close to nature. Only on the last kilometres does the Ruhr become the federal waterway, before it empties into the Lower Rhine in the area of the port of Duisburg. The slight differences in height are compensated for by a number of traffic jams. We will not always be able to lock comfortably, or as a local athlete has put it: Rowing, carrying, trekking, slipping – that is the Ruhr!
We will take this trip together with rowers from Duisburg-Homberg and can kindly use their boats. The 1st also Chairman of the Homberg rowing clubs ‘Germania’ (external link), Kai-Uwe Holze, will be on board; We are preparing this tour together. It leads us from the rowing club Witten in three stages over 76 kilometers to Duisburg-Homberg. The following day there is a rowing trip through the port of Duisburg (the largest inland port in Europe) and possibly a small exit on the Rhine. And finally, he waits "Classic Boat Club" (external link) in Mülheim on us, which is dedicated to the preservation and maintenance of historic boats. We can see how rowing felt 50 or 100 years ago. (Men changing at our 2nd floor know the calendar of this club hanging by the spiral staircase.)
The stages in detail:
- Wednesday 27 August: How to get to Duisburg-Homberg
- Thursday 28 August: Shared boat transport to Witten, rowing to Hattingen (17 km)
- Friday 29 August: Rowing to Essen-Werden (28 km)
- Saturday, August 30th: Rowing to Duisburg-Homberg (31 km)
- Sunday, August 31st: Rowing in the port of Duisburg and possibly on the Rhine
- Monday 1 September: Visit to the "Classic Boat Club" in Mülheim, at the end of the hiking trip there at about 2 p.m. Possibility to return.
Optional cultural programme:
- Monday 1 September: In the evening visit of Landscape parks Duisburg (external link) around a disused metallurgical plant.
- Tuesday 2nd September: 11.00 am UNESCO World Heritage Site Zeche Zollverein in Essen, Guided tour "About coal and buddy" (external link), registration with me required
Other options: Gasometer in Oberhausen (external link), possibly with an exhibition "Planet Ocean" or Mining museum Bochum (external link) with sighting mine
Overnight stay:
- 28 and 29.8. Hotel Avantgarde in Hattingen: Double room 115 €, Double room 95 €
- 27.8. and 30. and 31.8. Hotel Rheingarten in Duisburg, DZ 122-141, EZ 105-116 €
- each including breakfast. The number of DCs is limited
- Optional overnight stay on 1. 9. also in Duisburg
meals during the day we can get together, water is on board (travel insurance, costs are charged on the way). There are also snack bars.
baggage is brought from the hotel in Hattingen to Duisburg and is therefore always available in the evening. Please pack sparingly! A duffel bag for the needs on the way should change clothes, sun protection, rain jacket, Water shoes, may contain mosquito repellent. One Life jacket is obligatory in boat lanes and partly in the locks!
Round trip are done individually. For arrangements, I set up a signal group in good time. Local transport by public transport.
Costs:
The cost of boat rental and overnight stays from 27. 8. – 1. 9. amount approx 350 € in double room or 550 € in double room (approximate information, as the overnight stay in Duisburg has not yet been determined). After the confirmation of the registration, a deposit of 150 euros is due, at the closing date of the registration the expected balance. After the trip, a billing takes place; A supplementary payment may be required. The costs for the optional program will be charged extra.
Who can join?
All those who are fit enough for the ride, who master rowing commands and can quickly implement them. Prerequisite for participation is at least 400 rowing kilometres in 2024. On this tour, physical fitness is also required for the occasional carrying of the boats! We will not always be able to get in and out of a pier
Due to the cancellation deadlines of the hotels, a refund in case of withdrawal - for whatever reason - is only possible after the registration deadline if another participant moves on. The conclusion of a travel cancellation insurance is guaranteed.
The instructions of the supervisor or the trip leader must be followed. The rides take place in all reasonable weather conditions. In the event of severe weather, floods and other unforeseeable events, individual stages or the entire journey can be cancelled. In these cases, a refund of the costs for the overnight stays will only be made to the extent that it is provided by the hotels.
Closing date: 15 July 2025. Registration only with the form provided for this purpose. For the allocation of places, the order of receipt of the deposit applies. If not all places have been allocated by 24 June, this call for tenders will also go to our neighbouring clubs.
So, now get on the form and sign up!
Many greetings
Hellmuth
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