Week 7 has passed already … four days ago to be precise. And here I am on my night watch on Thursday morning trying to quickly type in a few words to try to stay on track! Time has passed extremly fast these past days, which means it is good we are busy. I correct: extremly good because we are having fun. Isn’t that right? 🎉 In my last post we were en route to Belfast and since then we have discharged the rapeseed, loaded limestones in Raynes Jetty (Liverpool bay, 🇬🇧), discharged it in Dagenham (London, uk) and headed to King’s Lynn also 🇬🇧 ! And…. Commando Captain still onboard! 🎉 😃
Rayness Jetty das very interesting because we had only maximum 4 hours to load because the jetty is actually just a jetty out of no where and you can only be alongside with high water. Otherwise you are in the rocks… You need to come in with minimum minimum ballast otherwise you do not have tome to pump it out. All hatches open and as it is not a rain sensitive cargo, you just go bam bam bam 💥 : 4 piles or more « rows » of small rocks in the hold and quickly leave.
It goes amazingly fast and the belts can load uo to 1100t per hour…. compared to some other harbours, this was litterally a touch and go. 👌🏻 I am not so sure what Limestone is used for… and didn’t really have time to look it up either. 💁🏻♀️
Dagenham was also a pretty fast touch and go. We had a nice view on the London skyline 😍. I must say the architect in me still feels the rush to go and visit these places we see. Just for a look, just to get a vibe of the architecture, how the buildings look like, old/modern? Cute? Big? Busy or residential areas? And London has always been one of my favorites, just to walk every where and just to be able to say out loud « ohh this is So British! » for everything and anything 😂 (must be my Frenchy side… 🤷♀️ 😉 )
And finally a short sail to King’s Lynn… where? King’s Lynn! Close to Boston. Yeah in the Wash you know? Whhhaaat?!! Never heard about it? Me neither 😜 well a tiny little fishing harbour that was apparently one of England’s biggest ports… in the 12th century! Well….. it has for sure changed since! 😉 And ready to load wheat. Nice… wonder how that tastes! yes indeed I have become almost a cargo taster. Just to check if what we transport is good quality. Or probably just because I am curious of the raw tastes. (Corn, wheat…)(not the limestone though! 🙃)
So far as you can see a busy week, but I am impressed like every week we get something different and I learn something new. Always. I like that. There is no routine. And that is also very good. 👌🏻
The only thing is that you have to anticipate in your routine maintenance jobs to find time for them but, till now, I manage. 🙂 (wait… I think? 🤔)
For those that have been wondering how my Lupine Forrest 🌱 is going (or « our »… I kind of have to include Captain here… although he doesn’t water them he still thinks its « our » garden… don’t want to disappoint him you know 🤪 … men🤦🏻♀️ just joking ) well there are flowers!! 🌸 it worked!! 💪🏻 pretty happy! I still have corn maybe I should also try with the corn grains! What do you think? :))
Well, seems like our little farm is going well for the moment and we could probably perhaps maybe think of some after sailing days in the country side … in my old(er) age 😉. Till then…. I shall enjoy the last few days before a brand new captain joins us and will have to (« pretend ») to know what I am doing! 😂 just kidding! I know where the front of the vessel is… isn’t that bad right?…. right? 😂 😜 🤪
Oh well… see you soon for the following adventures! Big hugs
Sopietje 🚢 ❤️ ✌🏻 ⚓️
S O P H I E. T H E. S A I L O R. 