Oh, God. I am late again! I think my Mondays only start on Wednesdays…. Or let’s face it. I am either procrastinating or too busy to take 30 minutes before the end of the week to blabber up some lines🤦🏻‍♀️… But I am here! 💪🏻 And time actually does fly! I have the feeling I have just come back on board but I am over 2 weeks now and we have already had quite some miles in, a few cargos and also a crew change already! L., our Engineer flew home and A. came back! I am sure we will soon hear some funny stories from the islands during our meals! #fun

Last week we were sailing to Stockvik 🇸🇪 . We were indeed delayed because of the very strong winds we had to face. We had to slow down to not stop the vessel on every wave.

Upon arrival we were at anchor ⚓️for three days just in the bay it was amazing because very quiet and nice weather too. The wind slowed us down to be able to have a notice to readiness on the expected time. But actually, the harbour said their quay was in maintenance so we couldn’t moor yet. Therefore the anchor days. We haven’t seen any maintenance while we were there. Pity because apparently there are very nice hikes to do around Stockvik 🌳 . Instead, we had the chance to enjoy the fjord and the leaves of the trees starting to turn red 🍂 . It is amazing.

Time at anchor is ideal to do lots of maintenance jobs. I am really up to date which is nice because I can either enjoy the rest of the time or plan what could be improved. I like that. The days were nice and sunny ☀️ and the evenings so cold. We could feel we were up North there. But of course, we couldn’t resist a swim 🏊‍♀️ in the freezing cold water. I guess it was around 6-8 degrees 🥶 ! But it is nice and gives lots of energy. We challenged the trainee and also our Indonesian crew to swim! They all dared. Once. Except for the cook. I went twice 💪🏻👊🏻.

I really enjoy this cold water therapy. To be honest it is way colder than my very cold daily showers 🚿. You should try too! It is very healthy and good for the skin! 😜
After stockvik, I was hoping to go to Sundsval again ( same Fjord) and load wood pulp ( nice clean cargo!) to Spain ( nice sunny warm weather!) but nope. The order first went to Uusikaupunki ( just love these strange Finnish names!) to Sweden. Of course, as a Sophie, I directly made my voyage plans but hey, it would have been too easy: change of plan: we will be loading sugar beet pulp pellets in Liepaja 🇱🇻 . I am sure this was just a sign for me to practice my voyage plannings. But ok. I don’t mind. Just did them again. 🤓
So after tasting the salt, which was really salty; I am curious to taste our next cargo to see if it is very sweet or not. Apparently, it is used for food for animals…. I do not mind being a little crazy about that! 🤪

As I said at anchor, it is always nice to do jobs you do not have the time for. I love launching the MOB boat and going for a short ride. 🚣 I was alone this time but finally could drive at my own pace and sail around the ship for pictures 😉. We also had fun in the engine room 👩🏻‍🔧measuring the valve clearances of the Main Engine. It is always quite some fun. At least for me; and I know for Captain H. as well. Except for this time, our trainee didn’t really like a tiny joke of mine 🤭- wrong jokes happen ha! But when you know me, you know I only like to play around and have fun -so it didn’t end up as nice as I wanted 😂 . I had a nice Sophie moment and just went for another lonely job greasing the anchor winch on the foredeck. 🙄Nice and isolated. If people cannot handle my jokes…even though I wouldn’t kill a fly…. Well then…. I don’t know, they just do not handle them. I think they are funny. 😬I guess we keep on learning always and at all times right? That is my lesson: be aware of my (too) direct teasing. And for the others: just toughen up and do not be so sensitive. 😉 ( mhmm am I sometimes sensitive? 🤔Oh well… life onboard…. It makes us grow faster right? It is all good now.)

Monday is a new day and we will be discharging our 3k ton salt and heading directly to Liepaja. The sun is shining. Be happy. Don’t worry. I am just going for another cold swim. 🥴

Take care all of you!
2 weeks onboard, no symptoms. Corona free. I like that.

See you next week! Xxx Sophie 😘 ♥️
@ Stockvik