The Hungarian Danube remained closed downstream today. As a result, we had an enforced rest day which coincided with my birthday. We’ve recharged and are raring to go. Fortunately, good news too: from 0800 on the 19th we are free to continue south!

It was a bit of a slow start today when we thought me might get stopped and/or arrested as the Hungarians had shut the Danube to all but essential traffic. It did allow is to refuel on water and some food though and we set off when part of the river re-opened. The river is obviously high and there are […]

We made excellent progress yesterday and covered approximately 120km. Rowing through Budapest was a real highlight. However, we’ve run into more trouble. We were stopped by the river police here who have advised us that the river downstream is only navigable for some vessels, because of the high water. Ours is not one of them so we have been forced […]

After an early start, we’ve rowed hard to reach Hungary this morning. Now aiming to get through Budapest before nightfall. Refreshing (and much needed) swim in Danube last night.

Another early start this morning to tackle the Gabcikovo canal and lock. It’s a newish canal which runs parallel to the true Danube for ~30 kms. Made it through after a 2 hr wait which was to allow regular shipping through. Great to have got this lock dealt with as the next one is the Iron Gates in about 900km […]

We got off to a good start yesterday, clearing four locks and 133km, well above our 100km a day target. Jockenstein lock was the last calling point in Germany before heading into Austria. The views as we are rowing are incredible. Lots of little picture perfect Austrian villages squeezed onto the mountainside. Today the target is to get to Vienna. […]

We are off! Yesterday we set off from Passau and made it to the Jockenstein lock. Straight out of a James Bond set, the last German lock came complete with henchmen in uniforms riding trollies. Today we crossed the border into Austria passing some amazing scenery.

Today we are finally leaving Ulm after unexpectedly staying here for a week. We didn’t expect to be stranded here due to the flooding but we could not have asked for a better place to be than Ulm. Everyone here has been so welcoming and generous. In the short time we have been here we have learnt about Ulm and […]

‘In Ulm, um Ulm, un Ulm herum’ is a tongue twister meaning ‘in Ulm, around Ulm, all around Ulm’ and that is pretty much what we have been up to. The Danube is still suffering from the worst flooding in 500 years of German records and the worst flooding ever in Hungary so we have been waiting for the water […]

English press release. See the German version here. Two Brits will tomorrow depart on a mission to row the entire length of the Danube for charity as the European river returns to normal levels after the worst flooding for 500 years. Jon Cowie, 31, from London and Mark Hughes, 32 from Edinburgh, are the first rowers ever to attempt the […]