After the basics we went on a searide from Stockholm to Luleå…., it was late autumn and ice was comin in the north between Sweden and Finland. But, before the northern waters, there was open sea…, and storm on some level…, icebreakers were not perfectly built for that. The whole ship was like an icecastle when we came to our destination, Luleå harbour. (On another picture on this blog, it´s possible to see how high up the life-boats were, the picture is not taken on the “first floor” outdoors.)
At least half of the crew had been seasick,.... and before that,… and after that.... I´ve never done any wilder seajourney. My cabin was in the lower front. They most “safe” way to move, ...was likely to crawl on the floor. But we still did some duty during halfway the trip, I had to do some washing (laundry)… , it was even lower down in the front of the ship. It was like the wildest attraction in an amusementpark (tivoli), from time to time the stomach was were my head was, only seconds later my head was were I had my feet. The only “acceptable” cure, was to lay in bed, and wonder……about the experience. But there was no panic and fear (we were sailors…), I´m not sure how many hours that trip took, but it was too many…
On this ship I had one of my guitars (swedish Bjaerton model by the way...), - later I discovered that the only way to hear what I play, was when I put my ear to the guitarbody, that´s how loud the CRUNCHY noice was when we did go in ice. We did that many times, for months, the whole winter…., but no one really complained for that. The swedish icebreakers were under military navy command, but the job was the help the civilian seatrade.
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