Raftsmen breathe a sigh of relief: After years of forced Corona break, it's back to "Minga"
Created: 05/03/2022, 09:00
By: Peter Herrmann
On Saturday morning, for the first time since September 10, 2019, a wooden vehicle left the Weidacher Floßlände.
© Hans Lippert
The compulsory Corona break is over: For the first time since September 2019, a raft from Wolfratshausen went "on Minga".
Wolfratshausen – With a mixture of anticipation, uncertainty and caution, Josef Seitner was looking forward to the first launch of a Wolfratshausen raft in almost three years on Saturday morning.
The managing director of the family business on the Weidacher Flosslände was particularly concerned about the low water levels on the Loisach and Isar: "It hasn't rained much since March, so hopefully we'll make it through."
Raftsmen breathe a sigh of relief: After years of forced Corona break, it's back to "Minga"
60 people are permitted on the raft, which is made of 16 solid wooden trunks - including three raftsmen and a four-piece music group.
While the band arrives at the Weidacher snack bar about an hour before the 10 a.m. start, the tour bus from Schliersee, filled with international participants, is a long time coming on Saturday morning.
When the tour guide announces another delay over the phone, Seitner urges them to hurry.
Because of the low water level, including a break in the Mühltal, a six to seven hour trip "up Minga" can be expected.
Music is only played unplugged on the raft
Meanwhile, helmsman Jason Seitner fastens the oars – and the Lower Bavarian musicians of the Landshut raft combo take their places.
"We were really looking forward to this day," says tuba player Gottfried Empl.
A raft trip with a mask and large hygienic distances is unthinkable for him.
On the other hand, he can live with the rule of playing “unplugged” – that is, without an amplifier.
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After the snack supply consisting of spare ribs, raft bread, alpine cheese, rolled roast and draft beer has been placed on the raft, the coach turns from the serpentines of the Wolfratshauser Berg to the raft landing stage.
"Finally," Seitner breathes a sigh of relief.
But just as he is about to escort the German, Dutch and Portuguese tourists down the stairs on the banks of the Loisach, there is another delay: Almost everyone taking part in the merry raft trip is already dying of breath, so the first step in the Loisachstadt takes the majority to a dixi toilet.
Wolfratshauser raftsman is happy: the forced Corona break is over
All in all, Captain Jason Seitner can only cast off a good half hour later than planned.
Before that, the raftsman from the Caribbean explains the rules of conduct to his international passengers in English.
"Really nice", says Florian March from Freilassing after just a few meters of water travel.
Josef Seitner is also happy.
The two-year Corona compulsory break is finally over.
"We felt like fish out of water," he says in retrospect.
(ph)
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