Dramas on the High Seas

As we sailed on Sunday afternoon for our long ferry crossing to Norway arriving on Tuwsday night, thoughts of the sub arctic conditions, icebergs etc came to mind. We were further north than the tip of Greenland and i was reading a book set on its icecap. it was so cold it could "freeze a 1 inch pork chop like a plank of wood in 30 seconds".

The seas were calm and the sun was shining! The dramas came on our circuitous route. Smyril Lines had cancelled the direct ferry from lerwick in Shetland to begen in Norway. We found out about it a week before we left Sydney. So we sailed from lerwick to Torshavn (Faroe Islands). We had a stop in the world's smallest capital city (town). It was a lovely port with a great harbour full of Viking style fishing boats and buildings with grass covered roofs. Some had tv antennas sticking out of them. Then we sailed to Srabster (Orkneys). We were almost back to mainland Scotland! This was the first time that such a large ferry had docked at Scrabster. The "Norrona" is a large ship. it has restaurants (you need an overdraft), cafeterias and even a swimming pool and sauna (free). This we located down in the bilges and the water slopped around with the motion of the ship so it is like being in a spa.

The drama came as we were to depart for Norway. They had obviously made a new loading ramp complete with fancy hydraulics. Something went wrong. It did not fit! We ended up with the ship's captain and officers down with a dozen crew on the ship's aft and the 20 wharf staff a few metres away on dry land and with the ramp between them. An hour passed, then another. Eventually they had one end on the ferry and the other on the wharf. The cars started to inch across. I applauded and the small crowd joined in. The captain snarled. Finally a car with a caravan . They stopped. The crew measured. They looked under the ramp. A decision was made. They uncoupled the car and van. The car crossed. The crew - some in front and some at the back, manhandled the van across and then recoupled it on the wharf. Again we applauded. Fortunately there were no semitrailors. Eventually the unloading was completed and the loading commenced. We departed rather late!

Some engineer will have his bum kicked. A lot of work will be done before they return in a week. perhaps they will recommend the direct line to Norway from Shetland will be restored. Maybe not drama on the high seas but it was certainly drama at the wharf.

We sailed to Norway in a ship with just a few passengers. More crew than passengers. Was it to be a ghost ship? We sat at our picture window watching the glimmering sea - just the odd oil platform and boats. We finally arrived in picturesque Bergen.