The day before the very day 50 years ago when Olaf Olsen, Ole Crumlin and two local divers began the excavations that uncovered not one but five Viking ships in the sea bed of Roskilde Fjord. It was a magnificent excavation that made headlines all over the world.
It is in all respects a remarkable day. And what would a crew member on board the Sea Stallion think about the day before the day he becomes a tiny bit of a huge experiment that will make its way to books of history?
If you ask me: Food.
I have decided to spoil myself with a luxurious last supper before the trip. With freshly Danish potatoes and plenty of butter, strawberries served with loads of cream and prickling white wine… in amounts that will make me a bit drunk. However, I will behave so I can join my shift tomorrow sober and relaxed.
On the low pressure highway
Yesterday my girlfriend asked if I was longing for the adventure. Well, not actually. But she hit the Bulls eye, when she asked, if I was exited. I must say!
I am excited. With great expectations I look forward to easy summer days ashore with the ship and me in centre of most wonderful nature sceneries. With even more expectations I look forward to meet hardships on board when weather gets tough. I hope to meet hardships that will bring the ship and crew to the test. I look forward to stand face to face with powers of nature much stronger than me and the ship. Powers so magnificent that it takes a smart and experienced crew to reach ones destination safe and sound.
Unfortunately the Sea Stallion has been haunted by bad weather since the ship was launched in September 2004: Too much sun and not enough wind. In other words the kind of high pressure weather enjoyed by folks ashore and usually renowned ‘good weather’. Yet, the kind of weather that is of little or no use on board a sailing ship. To be honest, however, the Sea Stallion has a seldom gift always to get even the slightest wind at its tail enabling us to reach our destination.
And the wind part seem to be right even at this event. The weather report for Sunday promise us wind from southern directions, in the waters of Kattegat with some 5-10 metres per second – enough to bring us well up north the first day of this expedition.
And maybe I will have it my way in regards of tough sailing weather. Low pressures are lined up in the Atlantic just waiting to set their course towards the coast of Ireland, over the North Sea and further on to Denmark. The route meteorologists call ‘the low pressure highway’. Tomorrow we will start our journey in the opposite direction in a sailing ship with no support engine.
Time to pack
Together with my family I spent some hours at the Viking Ship Museum earlier today just to sense the atmosphere at the ship. And I struck me that there was a remarkably relaxed atmosphere there. Some 10-15 crew members were packing the ship. Tomorrow will most likely be chaotic when 65 crew members and their luggage need to find a place on a ship with no place left.
The children, however, soon turned their backs to the ship. In stead they paid attention to the Viking re-enactment group ’Lokes Frimaend’ and their dramatic fights with axes, swords and shields. And no wonder. I could feel tensions in my muscles and my eyes as the warriors ran towards one another yelling and raising their weapons. It was absolutely great entertainment. Afterwards, one of the warriors told me that a ‘frimaend’ – a ‘free man’ that is English – was a Viking age man entitled to bear weapons.
Dear readers; every day during the Sea Stallion expedition I will get back to with stories from the ship and myself in the adventure we share. Yet, for today I will leave the computer behind and pack my things. And enjoy the last 24 hours together with my family.