Yep, we are still in Lowestoft. And it’s become one big holiday. The sun is shining and the wind – still coming from the east – is pleasantly cool.
Everyone's taking advantage of the wait to relax or go for walks, and there's not so much to write about. Unless it’s going to be like a quite ordinary postcard sent home to Mum from just about any summer holiday resort. Like this, for instance:
Dear Mum
I am in Lowestoft and have been here a week. Sorry about not writing before, but there has been such a lot… Or rather, nothing whatsoever has happened worth writing about. I have tried several times to get away from here, because I’d like to get on, but the weather is playing up. Or rather, the weather is fantastic with loads of sun and heat. But the wind keeps on coming from where I want to go, so it’s not easy when you’re sailing a Viking ship with no motor.
I’ve been around a bit to see Suffolk and surroundings and it’s been really nice – fine little villages and beautiful castles. In the evenings we enjoy ourselves in the camp – with films, talks, football, community singing… just like a really nice scout camp. :-)
And if something needs doing on the ship, the skipper decides we should work a little with the mast. So we take it down and raise it, TWICE!! But there is a reason for it, for we must be able to do it easily when we are at sea and need to row against the wind for some distance.
Right now there is a flying display at Lowestoft. They say there are 300,000 people to see it, and I believe them! Such aircraft are certainly impressive. but I can’t help thinking about the many tons of CO2 released. They are probably using just as much fuel in the five-hour display as it would take to fly 60 crew members home to Denmark – plus a bit. But we’d like to do it on our own, so we’ll wait a bit yet…
Best regards to everyone and see you at the museum on 9th August.
Lots of love
Preben
PS. I’m running out of money – for coffee, ice cream, etc. Can you put a few hundred more in my account? ;-)