At low tide, belonging to Hamburg Neuwerk Cuxhaven-Sahlenburger beach is walking distance, to reach on horseback and with a horse cart. An exciting day trip
„Halt, how are you going to rise because? Without a ladder `s not." The bearded coachman man of few words. First of all, he lights a cigar and puffs a few moves. Then he takes a heavy wooden ladder from the horse and cart down, while the draft horses have strong water. Three times he has to start the ladder, be able to place all passengers.
Endlessly seems to be the Watt. No wonder, that one can be lost and surprised by the flood.
"Na, then kann`s're ready to go. "I can sit in front beside the driver. The horses trot off towards the beach and the mudflats in. Spectators waving after us excited. The pedestrians are on their way, we overtake. Two riders waving and overtake the coach effortlessly.
We drive along stringed birch twigs, look out the broom as from the Wadden. I just want to ask, whether they are a signpost to the island Neuwerk, because the driver has already prepared the answer: "The birch twigs are the way for the male seals, since pee on it. "
The tidal flats, sometimes solid, times muddy, times still in the water, so that the horses almost to the belly wet and passengers make war on powerful splashes, seems endless. No end in sight. As one understands very well, why one should not venture into watts without leadership. Again and again accidents happen, yes deaths. To the left and to the right, the high-water drains. Once you get the feeling, the flow is so strong, that abdrifte. But the effect probably only so. We are on the right path, the broom show. But a sudden jolt runs all in the limbs. "This is a tidal creek, to the left, he runs into the Weser, right into the Elbe. And the darkness behind, these are mussel fields. "
High on the yellow WattwagenSidar and Meike, both ten years old,, Pull obey the coach. The driver survived only in the summer on Neuwerk, in a caravan. For ten years he accompanied the rides Wattwagen. In winter it is in Braunschweig at home.
We pass rescue boats, so tall, Surprised that climb from the flood of emergency and can wait on them, up again low tide occurs. The coachman she explains: "These are prisons for, do not want to pay the carriage. "
Besides numerous seagulls also deep black ravens in the Wadden romp. "The dark gulls just come from a funeral."
And us Wattwagen from the island come to meet, their passengers went by boat to Neuwerk and from there across the mudflats back to Cuxhaven want.
Rescue boat or imprisonment for people, who do not want to pay?
After about 70 we have achieved Neuwerk minutes. Only the lighthouse looks out. "On the island turn right around to the lighthouse and on to the inn Fock, where we get out and eat. From there it is about ten minutes to the ship, and then back to Cuxhaven. And do not forget: Sip a Eiergrog, which is particularly well here. "
The 108 Steps of the lighthouse, oldest building of Hamburg 1310, are easy to climb and get a nice panoramic view
During a tour through the dike is almost to themselves, Just in October, the outgoing season. Even a sleep drunken couple on one of the many benches dike – whether drunk both from excellent Eiergrog or of the one-hour trip around the island or. Now and then one sees, that the dike is paved with red brick stones, but nature prevails, usually they are overgrown by grass. to creeks prefer the dike through the salt marshes. Behind it is grassland, grazed by cows.
The 108 Steps of the lighthouse are easy to climb and get a nice panoramic view. Moreover, he is the oldest building in Hamburg, 1310 built. 36 Population counts the island, but in 150.000 tourists. There is plenty of accommodation.
Photos: Elke Backert
