Victor, an activist on board the Esperanza, wrote a blog for us yesterday -- while most of us were all feeling too seasick to look at a
computer screen - let alone type.
We left the harbour in London on Thursday at 2:30pm local time. No problems there. I don’t know if it’s normal, but we were escorted by a large inflatable. I’d guess they were the water police checking up on us so we didn’t make any surprise action in their jurisdiction. The mood on board was great, and we were all happy being on our way out at sea. The grand adventure was waiting around the corner.
I'm a Swedish activist for Greenpeace, living in Denmark. The ship we’re on, Esperanza, is the biggest of Greenpeace’s three oceangoing ships. On board we are about 35 people from various parts of the world. English is the official language on board, but you hear Spanish in various places on the ship. A fantastic mix if you ask me.
I’m gonna be on board six weeks (give or take a week). The longest time I’ve ever been on a ship. My thoughts circulate around whether or not I’ll become seasick. And how long I’ll be living with this uncertainty. Will I acquire so called sea legs after some days, or will the seasickness come and go as it likes. All relevant questions now when I’m sitting here in the lounge on board, whilst the waves gently rock me back and forth. Great waking up like this, this morning. Almost like the childhood cradle.
Wake-up call happens at 07:30 every morning for all except those who had night watch then we meet up for breakfast in the mess. It’s important that you follow the routines, since we all live in a somewhat cramped space, and will do so for some time. At 08:00 we start the morning cleaning, and all of us give a hand. Need to clean the toilets, showers, alleyways, lounge, laundry and mess. Remember to store the dishes in a safe way so they don’t fall and break on the floor when we rock in the waves.
After the morning cleaning the daily routines start for the crew. We’ve got fitters, electricians, engineers, medic, mates and of course a captain on board and several deckhands. And the most important of them all.... The cook! What a guy! After this trip I’m sure I’ll have gained a couple of kilos. He’s superb, and I get hungry just thinking about it.
But back to the waves. They rock and I rock with them. So far there’s no sign of seasickness, but best not to become cocky. Who knows what awaits ahead. And I haven’t taken any pills. Stupid perhaps, but I’ll try to cope without them. Some are drinking ginger tea. Evidently that helps. But not for all. Some are laying in their bunks feeling somewhat groggy (to say it mildly). And the sea isn’t even that rough. It can get a whole lot worse where we’re going. My fingers are crossed, hoping for the best. So far I’m cosy.
Well, that’s it for now. Can’t sit inside when the sun’s shining outside and there’s a gentle breeze around us. But I’ll be back again with more words on ship life, adventure and eventually “our mission”.
Love love love
--Victor
