Swept downriver!

In the early morning light, before most people were about, Juli walked into the village. There were a couple of barges tied up on the quay in Wacht, but they were fully loaded so there was little hope of stowing away on board, Juli worked her way northwards along the riverbank looking for any other boats. Looking over a wall she spotted the rear of a small boat peaking out from a boatshed. Checking carefully for anyone, she scaled the wall and crept over to the boathouse door. Locked, but Juli had kept her lock-picks and the door was soon open.

The boat was only tied up and there were a pair of oars resting on the wall, so in a matter of minutes Juli manoeuvred the boat was out on the Rhine and was heading north. On the opposite shore she could see barges working their way south against the current, but otherwise nothing to worry her.

With just the gentle sweep of the oars to keep her close to the centre stream the journey down river seemed too easy. Suddenly Juli recognised the spithead where the Farret fed into the Rhine, so she tried to steer towards Burndorf, the first town in friendly territory, but to no avail, the current swept her on northward.

Realising her problem Juli spent the next hour trying to draw close to the east bank, it was slow, but gradually she made progress and gradually she noticed a reduction in the speed she was travelling downstream.

Thankfully the bank was now a lot closer and she continued her efforts and came ashore at the fringes of a small town. Tying up the boat Juli disembarked and as soon as she moved, realised that her balance was unstable, but she was desperate to find food. The scent of some fresh bread led her into a room where freshly made rolls were cooling. No one was present so she grabbed one and started eating.