Follow the route of the rafters with the small raft – from the Enz all the way to the Netherlands!
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03.
Timber Rafting
Wood from the Black Forest
Parts of the wood are used locally; the rest is transported over rivers to other places, and sold as far afield as the Netherlands. The new profession of timber rafting emerges for this transport.
Men with Tall Boots
The Black Forest-rafters work on the rivers Enz, Würm, Kinzig, Nagold and Murg. Timber rafting is regarded as a “gentlemanly craft” because it is lucrative and done by experienced, brave men. But this romantic depiction does not portray the everyday life of the rafters. Work is hard and life-threatening. The rafters are gone for weeks or months while their wives look after the house, family and small farms. Rafters and their menials are only employed seasonally, while the substantial money is made by the timber dealers.
Long Timber Rafting
Whole trunks are transported via slides or by horse to the rivers in the valleys. There, they are tied together to form long, narrow rafts. An elaborate system of ponds and weirs provide the necessary amount of water for transport. Through opening the weirs, the rafters essentially ride the Black Forest rafts on a flush of water to the bigger raft harbors.
Floating City
At so called “Umbindeplätzen”, rafts are retied, and smaller rafts are transformed into bigger units. On the Rhine, huge principal rafts – up to 400 meters long and 80 meters wide – are assembled. Those rafts are made of several thousand logs. On a principal raft, copious amounts of groceries and commodities, as well as accommodations for the rafters and cattle, are brought along. It takes more than 500 people to steer such a beast! The wood is sold in every major city along the Rhine. The coveted Dutch-Firs, which have especially thick and long trunks, are rafted to the Netherlands where they are used as building material for ships and cities.
The Encounter with the Forest Spirits
Peter walked alone through the woods towards the fir hill. Once he reached the top, it became eerily quiet. Not even the birds were making a sound. Should he turn around? Where would he find the little spirit anyway? Then, suddenly, Peter was standing before a fir so tall and mighty that he could not help but marvel at it. “This tree has to be at least a thousand years old. Yes, I am sure this is where the Little Glass Man is dwelling!”
Excited, Peter pulled off his hat, cleared his throat and swept down into a deep bow: “A fine evening, Mister Glass Man.” There was no answer. Peter scratched his head: “Maybe I do have to say the verse after all.” As soon as he said the first few words, he saw a small, peculiar figure. He wore red stockings and a pointy hat and was gone as soon as he appeared. And what was that? A small, husky giggle!
Startled, Peter ran away back down the hill.
“Peter Munk, what are you doing on the fir hill?” a deep voice suddenly roared. Peter almost fell. On the other side of the forest he saw a giant of a man, as tall as a mast, in rafter clothes with a stick in his hand. “Dutch-Mike.” Peter bit his lip.
“Are you afraid of me?” The giant laughed a terrible laugh and flashed his enormous teeth. “I can help you out of your misery if you want.” Peter started running. His heart beat so loudly he was afraid it would burst. Dutch-Mike walked next to him with long strides. “You will regret this boy, you will not get away from me!” he threatened. “Listen to me and do not run away”, he urged the next moment. Peter ran out of breath. When he looked over his shoulder, he saw the giant reach back and throw his stick towards him. Instantly, the stick transformed into a snake. Peter screamed. A mountain rooster appeared from thin air, grabbed the snake with his beak, and had vanished just as quickly. Dutch-Mike seemed as surprised as Peter, but Peter gained his composure before him. He ran cross-country through scrubs and underwood until he could not hear the giant’s threats anymore.
The route
Bad Wildbad
The rafts on the Enz are up to 200 meters long and 4 meters wide.
Heilbronn
A wider valley raft is created out of three Enz rafts.
Mannheim
The rafts are now up to 23 meters wide.
Bingen
Start of the Rhine Gorge
Andernach
Capital rafts that are about 400 meters long and 80 m wide are being formed here.
Dordrecht
Destination port of the Dutch-rafts