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Saturday 22 nd
of July 2006
and we were still anchored when I came on watch. The wind was on a force 8 again. During the afternoon the wind had decreased a little and I was hoping for the wind to disappear. We should start heaving our anchor at 0400 and I woke up our 3rd Engineer andChief Engineer at 03:00.
Then I had time for a sandwich before calling Bosun and our French volunteer at 03:30. I had a lot of wake up calls to do and at 03:35 it was time again. Now I called our Chief Mate and at 03:50 I called our Skipper.
We left the anchorage at 04:12 to have ETA at 10:00 in Aliaga for the press conference.
I woke up early and we were waiting for the AVON to return with the Journalists and TV team. The press conference was at 11:00 and the mess room was full, but I managed to get my bucket of tea. I also managed to make my way through all the Journalists out of the mess room with my tea.
We were anchored in the Bay of Aliaga when I came on my watch at 12:00. There is a big refinery in the bay so we were surrounded by tankers waiting for berth. We were anchored next to an LNG jetty in the middle of the bay.
Our Cook busy in the kitchen
Deck full of Journalists
Turkish Coast Guard watching us
Turkish Coast Guard watching us
Our 3rd Engineer/ Electrician keeping me company on the bridge
Journalists leaving escorted by the Turkish Coast Guard
Journalists leaving escorted by the Turkish Coast Guard
The press conference was over just after 12 o'clock and the deck was full of people taking pictures. The Turkish Coast Guard was also busy taking pictures of us. God knows what secret register we are in now. Luckily enough I had my black t-shirt on, I'm looking great (small) in my black t-shirt.
I saw my roommate leave the ship together with the Journalist and I was in an up-beat mood.
- Well, it was a nice guy and I felt sorry for him being sea sick all the time.
- Hmm, did I say that just because I want to feel better about myself?
Greenpeace had been in town before. There is a ship wrecking place just outside the bay where they destroyed the beach and sea with the toxic from the ships. They had had an action against a factory they had to close down as well. So when Rainbow Warrior dropped the anchor in the bay it was red alert.
They called me on the VHF from their inflatable boat. I could hear fåck all off what they said. But I have a small tip for the Turkish Coast Guard:
- Next time running around the steeplechase course train them to put a sock or a plastic bag over the microphone.
I could only hear the wind blowing in the microphone and a conversation that had the potential to be interesting turned to crap. Well, I had to find something else to alleviate my boredom with.
When I got of my watch at 16:00 I went to the mess room. Our Turkish Coordinator was in the mess room.
- Have you met your new roommate?
- What the fåck!!
I just got reed of one and they send a new one. How long will he last?
We got shore permission from the Turkish Immigration and we left the ship with the AVON just after 5 o'clock and pick up time was at 22:00 sharp. I brought my memory stick with the latest up dates for my web page. Our Assistant Cook gave me the empty bottle for lens cleaning liquid.
- I hate to ask you again. But can you please see if you can find a bottle for me?
- Of course, no problem, I said.
I had been running around Istanbul locking for this cleaning liquid and card reader and DVD burner for our Video man.
Our Cook asked me if I could buy some lettuce for him.
- Just bring it on, I said.
We got of the AVON at a jetty just of the city center and we got a ride to the city with some of the Turkish activists from Istanbul. They dropped us next to a park and after some hugging and kissing they left us. I went to look for an Internet cafe and I was lucky enough to see most of the town before finding the place.
I kept myself busy for an hour with uploading my page and listening to the Swedish radio. Outside the internet place was a big market and I spent time there walking around. I was lucky and I found a guy selling socks, and he had all my favourite colours. I bought all his socks ( not the grey, black and white) and I handed him 25 Scooby Dollars and he was happy.
Before continuing I just want to throw in a bonus picture from Istanbul. Our Italian volunteer,Deckhand & Interpreter had bought a camera just before we went to the Grand Bazaar and he took pictures of everything. Among all those things he managed to catch a picture of me trying a new hat. I didn't buy the hat, it will take a lot to beat my souvenir from our Greek Goddess.
Of course, as I uploaded new pictures in 2014 this is no longer a BONUS picture, you already seen the picture in a bigger size from the page about the adventure at Grand Bazaar in Istanbul.
I bought the lettuce and I had been in every optician's shop in the town. No luck, but I bought her some n utella
® and I hope that she will be happy.
- I don't like going shopping for people and return with fåck all.
It's embarrassing not to be able to come up with anything. Well, the n utella
® is better than nothing. She willhopefully be able to eat herself happy after the disappointment with the liquid for her contact lenses.
Leaving Rainbow Warrior
Leaving Rainbow Warrior
Our Turkish Campaigner coming ashore
Our Australian Deckhand in the van that's going to take us to town
I ended up at a market and I found colourful socks
I have my dinner overlooking the bay and Rainbow Warrior
We were back on Rainbow Warrior around 2230 and I had just entered my cabin when my new roommate entered. A dream comes true!
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Sunday 23 rd
of July 2006
and I had been on my watch doing passage planning for some 30 minutes when my Italian body guards arrived. They had not been on the bridge very long until they left for the galley. Spaghetti Carbonara and Spaghetti Capronara was on the menu. Well, two good friends on the bridge and the times turned very quick. Our Chief Mate was happy, I forgot to call him at 0335 and he got almost an extra hour in bed.
We continue with the pasta nights on board Rainbow Warrior
We continue with the pasta nights on board Rainbow Warrior
02:53 in the kitchen
Bringing food to the bridge
Bringing food to the bridge
Bringing food to the bridge
There is plenty of Spaghetti
This can't be good for my diet
This can't be good for my diet
This can't be good for my diet
She is eating a vegetarian alternative
Suddenly, totally unexpected, our Bosun comes up on the bridge
Suddenly, totally unexpected, our Bosun comes up on the bridge
04:40 cleaning the dishes
When I came on my watch at 12:00 we had left the anchorage and the mammal survey was in full swing while we passed North of Nísis Khisos. Our Turkish and Israeli Scientist took turn with a big binocular on the Fo’c’s’le and we had two Turkish volunteers on the bridge deck.
We were zig zagging our way forward while they kept a look out. They told me that this kind of survey had never been done in the Eastern Mediterranean. We are making history, but, even the fact that we are making history doesn't make it more exciting. I can just imagine sitting staring at the horizonfor hours.
Well, they managed to catch sight of 12 flippers, and that's good according to our Scientists. He looked happy when he said:
- 12 flippers are very good for a few hours!
We had to stop the survey in the afternoon due to increasing wind, the sea got rough and it would have been hard to see any flippers.
It was Sunday and the rest of the crew had the day off. People were on deck reading books and catching sun, our 3rd Engineer/ Electrician was on deck practicing playing the violin.
Sunday and the crew relaxing on deck - Chief Mate reading a book
Journalist interviews one of the Turkish volunteers
Turkish Journalist interview our British Cook and Turkish volunteer help with translation
Of course, no relaxing for the Flipper watches
Of course, no relaxing for the Flipper watches
Of course, no relaxing for the Flipper watches
Of course, no relaxing for the Flipper watches
Engineer/ Electrician playing the violin outside the bridge
Engineer/ Electrician playing the violin outside the bridge
Engineer/ Electrician playing the violin outside the bridge
I had to be on the bridge takingcare of the navigation, but it’s nice with all the people around. I wonder how I will manage when coming back on the tankers.Hmm, we all remembered Tärnsjö and the Captain entertaining me non-stop on all my watches. Well, let's hope I can get some more of that.
- Blah blah..... 25 years at sea..... blah blah blah in Mexico.... ..salary... when I was a AB...the good times....blah blah...this ship and that ship.....blah blah...I remember.....
I tried to sleep after my watch, but without success so I went to the mess room for dinner. Hey! It's strange, you're bored to death, but anyway the 8 hours between your watches disappears like 38 minutes. Especially when I try to remember what I did during the 8 hours, and this was yesterday. I can imagine how it will be next week trying to remember.
Maybe I was busy pestering our Israeli Scientist. I love our discussions. He keeps me going forhours about Scooby Doo country. It's easy to get him going. I just say Scooby this and that and we are off for a funny discussion.
It's possible to exchange point of views with him, of course, he is a Scientist and he has his own point of view. Those “ I'm grooving long hair and hate America ” kind of people are neither very impressive nor fun to discuss with. They have never been in the USA or meet any American, but they have been told that America is bad and that's it.
Our Cook making pizza for dinner
Our Italian volunteer making dinner
Our Italian volunteer making dinner
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Monday 24 th
of July 2006
and we were steaming South when I came on my watch at midnight. We passed Nísos Scooby Doo and some other islands in the Greek archipelago during my watch. When I came on my watch at 12:00 we were sailing towards East and our destination Dalaman. Dalaman is a bay Northeast of Rhodos. They will dive and take pictures before continue to Kas.
The mammal survey was in full swing during the afternoon. But they did not see anything during my watch and I heard that they saw one flipper at 6 o'clock. So I guess that they day was a bit of a disappointment. But I'm only a layman when it comes to mammal surveys.
Our Turkish volunteer and Scientist on Flipper watch
Our Turkish volunteer and Scientist on Flipper watch
Turkish volunteer - New Doctor and my lookout on Flipper watch
He was a very nice guy - But imagine my first watch with him, I was missing my beautiful Lebanese Princess
Yeah, I don't think he enjoyed the first watch we had together
Turkish volunteer - New Doctor and my lookout on Flipper watch
He was a very nice guy - But imagine my first watch with him, I was missing my beautiful Lebanese Princess
Yeah, I don't think he enjoyed the first watch we had together
Obviously our Turkish Scientist grew tired of seeing nothing and he moves over to our Italian volunteer
Now both the Turkish and Israeli Scientist had moved over to our Italian volunteer
Turkish volunteer outside the bridge
She never finds the peace to read her book
Photographer and beautiful Turkish volunteer
Our beautiful French volunteer
Our beautiful Turkish Campaigner and volunteer on Flipper watch
I called our Lebanese Doctor for the third time since we left Istanbul. A few days ago when I spoke with our Turkish Coordinator about our Lebanese Princesses he told me that they lived in his house in Istanbul.
- They live in my house and I can give you the number if you want to call them, he said.
We tried to call first thing 01:30 in the morning. But no reply and the next day I managed to get through and now we have been talking three times and I was happy to hear that they were OK.
Well, before continuing with all the boring facts (Good ol' Ballong says that he is about to commit suicide every time I mention that I had a shower) I will throw in a new BONUS PICTURE. I was on the bridge when our world famous Photographer Dr. Roger Grace passed with his camera.
I could not help myself, but I had to stick my nose to the window. And IPSI WIPSI WU we had a classical picture, well, at least in class with the Rainbow Warrior in full sail.
Yet another classic picture by Roger Grace
We arrived to the Dalaman Bay just before 10 o'clock in the evening and a few minutes after 10 o'clock our divers left with the AVON. They are going to make a night dive and one dive tomorrow morning. After that I hope we leave for the next place. Party? Maybe
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Tuesday 25 th
of July 2006
and we were steaming off the Bay of Dalaman when I came on my watch at midnight. Our divers returned a little after midnight and when we had recovered the boat I wasgoing around with a pitch 0.5 - 1. I had to make a little speed to get the wind from the right direction, otherwise our exhausts would have been blowing all over the accommodation.
We were waiting for our divers in the Bay of Dalaman when I came on mywatch at 12:00. They had left during the morning and they will do two dives before returning. They are diving with a diving club and when they are ready we will pick them up with the AVON.
While waiting I was on the bridge listening to music, andas on all the other days our 2nd Engineer came to listen to some FUNKY music.
- It's always good music between 12 and 4, she said.
2nd Engineer on the bridge listening to music
When our 2nd Engineer signed off she sent me a CD with various Rap from Senegal, Mali and Gambia. You can click the PLAY button below for a sample from her CD.
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Just hit the play button for a taste ofthe CD our 2nd Engineer sent to me in Bangkok
Just click the PLAY button above and you will have some FUNKY music to enjoy.
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Italian volunteer painting on deck
Looking for Flippers
Our 3rd Engineer enjoying the afternoon behind the bridge
Our Outboard Mechanic join 3rd Engineer enjoying the afternoon behind the bridge
Our Radio Operator join 3rd Engineer enjoying the afternoon behind the bridge
Bosun and Chief Mate on the bridge
Our divers were back onboard at 14:30 and we could leave Gulf of Dalaman. We had been on the way for 20 minutes when the boat training started. We launched all the inflatable boats, 5 total including the AVON. We spent a few hours with the boat training and my battery in the camera was running flat and I quickly had a sandwich while I recharged the battery for my camera.
Boat Training with the Turkish Volunteers
Our Outboard Mechanic explains how the engine works
Looks like our French and Italian volunteers will start
Our French and Italian volunteers in the boat
Our French and Italian volunteers in the boat
Our French and Italian volunteers in the boat
Here they come
Our Brazilian Deckhand with Turkish Volunteers
Our Brazilian Deckhand with Turkish Volunteers
Our Australian Deckhand with Turkish Volunteers
Our Australian Deckhand with Turkish Volunteers
Coming alongside Rainbow Warrior
Coming alongside Rainbow Warrior
Our Brazilian Deckhand with Turkish Volunteers
Our Brazilian Deckhand with Turkish Volunteers
4 attack boats
Our Radio Operator with 2 beautiful girls
Our Radio Operator with 2 beautiful girls
Our Radio Operator with 2 beautiful girls
Our Radio Operator with 2 beautiful girls
Our Radio Operator with 2 beautiful girls
Our Radio Operator with 2 beautiful girls
Our Radio Operator with 2 beautiful girls
She drives like a professional
She drives like a professional
And on top of that all the pressure from having PORKY hanging from the rail taking pictures and giving stupid pointers
She drives like a professional
Chief Mate and Italian volunteer
I had to take some picture of the boys as well.
People easily jump in to conclusion if I only take pictures of the girls (Eller hur Ballong?)
Chief Mate and Italian volunteer
That's the spirit! A hug!
Our Brazilian Deckhand with Turkish Volunteers
Our Brazilian Deckhand with Turkish Volunteers
Our Brazilian Deckhand with Turkish Volunteers
Our Brazilian Deckhand with Turkish Volunteers
Our Israeli Scientist told me that I had to try his chicken soup for dinner. Said and done. It was an excellent soup and when he came to the mess room I told him that it was an excellent soup.
- That's not my soup, he said.
- Well, then I have to take a second bowl, and this time I will make sure it's yours.
When I was finished with my supper I told him that it was a nice soup and I asked him what he called his soup.
- It's chicken soup!
- Where is the chicken? I asked and I started to look around.
- You have to take from the bottom, he explained.
- Hmm, the “lost chicken” soup would be a better name, I suggested.
I tried to sleep after the dinner, but no success and I could as well stay up. I spent the evening going between my cabin, the mess room and deck ( for a coffin nail)
They had a video running in the mess room, but I could not find the peace to sit down. So I was walking around impatiently looking for something to alleviate my boredom with.
When the video was over I spend time in the mess room with our Italian friends. They told me that there will be a snorkelling and BBQ trip ashore tomorrow afternoon.
He is up to something in the kitchen
Night time snack
He is obviously enjoying his night time snack
We dropped anchor in Kas during the late and this is a totally different adventure, so click HERE
to read all about it. It is time for me to have a few drinks ashore so this will be fun.