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| We arrived as the first
passengers, because we didn't purchase tickets in advance, but about 15
minutes later around 80 passengers were ready to board the Ejder!
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A placemark at Google Earth for S/S Ejdern's dock, and another placemark for the Södertälje Lock that she will pass through to get into the lake Mälaren. Previous meetings with S/S Ejdern!
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It was strange to see the ship
M/S Sunnanvik
moored in the canal like this, since she has passed the
lock and only has the passage out to sea ahead. Now I get it, it's Saturday and no need to hurry to Slite, Gotland for another load of cement, as she has been transporting to the Mälar valley since 1978. :-)
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| We have left the dock and rounded the pilot cape finding the first bridge already opened for us... |
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...and the lock gate as well. | |
It is a fantastic feeling to be able to talk to the engineer, from main deck, through the open door way, without raising your voice, at full speed in around eight knots, and the engine running in about 120-140 revolutions per minute, with only a guiet Hiss-hiss-hiss-hiss,_Hiss-hiss-hiss-hiss... |
The engine was made in 1880, as the ship itself.
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The boiler is almost brand new, from 1946, of a Scottish type, but made in Sweden. |
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| These are views from starboard
main deck, down through the machine room bay which get daylight from the
skylight on second deck right behind the chimney
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| These views are across the machine... | ...room bay towards the
galley on the port side
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The Chef in her galley seen from the forward saloon. | |
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| Heading for the first port of call at Mälarhamnen. Three more passengers are ready to embark. | Watch this short movie (1
min) when we pass under the bridge! A previous captain on S/S Ejdern had a daughter living in a house on the eastern shore right behind the bridge. She had difficulties to get up in early mornings, so the captain gave her a helping hand by blowing the whistle right under the bridge on his morning journeys. This custom has become a tradition! Officially the whistle is to prepare the awaiting passengers, in case they still are sitting in their cars. :-) Do listen, it's a wonderful sound!
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Mälarhamnen (The Mälar
Harbour), just below the head office of the Astra-Zeneca corporation. The deckhand Maria did much of the hard work onboard as it seemed, not only did she sell the tickets and counting us, she also handled both moorings and gangway. |
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Rune Carving: Södertälje 22:1. |
Henrik went up to the bridge to ask Captain Hans if he could blow the
whistle again on the way back home under the bridge.
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The wind increased in the mouth of Södra Björkfjärden (Southern Birch Bay) but Ejdern took a coarse leeward of Slandö to reduce the spray at the foredeck passengers. |
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Passing leeward of Högholmen (High Islet). |
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| S/S Ejdern has got a "K-Märkt"
plaque by The Swedish State Maritime Museums. She belongs to our culture heritage!
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Just in case! | |
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| Great Cormorants seems to have
begun occupying the islet Pingst (Whitsun). If they nest here next year they will probably kill all vegetation with its excrement. The result will be a guano islet!
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We had four different ship dogs with us on this journey. They were happy and gentle all the time, despite the crowds that occurred now and then. :-) | |
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| Captain Hans at the helm.
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Listening to what the Machine
Engineer has to say.
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| Disembarking at the steamboat dock at the Björkö island (Birch Island). | S/S Ejdern continues to
Hovgården for a couple of hours, so other sightseeing boats can use the
dock. Hovgården on Wikipedia.
Birka and Hovgården were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993.
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Here we started the guided
tour of Birka, the first known trading town in Sweden. Birka on Wikipedia. Svarta Jorden (Black Earth) is the most recent excavation made on the island. |
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The town wall followed the forest line and down to where we stand. |
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If Birka was attacked, as it was many times, the defence took place on this hillock instead. Then it had higher stone walls for protection than the town itself. |
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| Our guide was an excellent
speaker, even the kids were listening with both ears! Ok, One of them
anyway! I almost got him to hold the Ansgar Monument in his hand! But only almost.
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The guest harbour at Steam Islet seen from The Ansgar Monument on top
of the hillock. |
This longboat was a real beauty! |
The Ansgar Monument! M/S Eskil on the bay, waiting to pick up their passengers after M/S Vilhelm Tham. |
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Longboats moored by the village.
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This was new to me, the walls! I have always thought that Viking longhouses had the roof almost down to the ground. This is only true on Iceland! Excavations here have shown, by the traces of rain water dripping from roofs, which only occurs if the wall or roof is high enough above the ground, that the Swedish Vikings did have walls, and even doorways exceeding 2 metres!?
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The Blacksmith. Note the woven clay wall to the right
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| We are getting a little tired,
waiting for a second lunch, we had only a quick one when we arrived to
the island. ;-)
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A wonderful steam whistle on
the bay made all passengers gather at the dock. Except three that
visited the ladies room a little too long. They came running just as
Ejdern did cast off the painter, and the captain ordered reverse. She
had to make a large turn out on the bay to be able to come back in the
right position to get the passengers aboard. I'm sure the operation took
at least seven minutes. Think about that before entering the ladies room, prior to a ship departure! ;-))
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| Captain Hans thanked us at
arrival back home in Södetälje with the words: It's necessary with at least one trip a year with S/S Ejdern! After six years you will be able to start all over again, enjoying her six different journeys again! We will remember those words! And thank you very much for a day to treasure!
PS. We have already reserved the first Saturday in June next year. |
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