2017 was to be unique. A trip across the Atlantic to the Caribbean was planned for Hoppet in the fall. As early as spring, when the ship came from Tenerife to the Mediterranean for summer, preparations were under way.
Unfortunately, life and business preferences make their adjustments and Hoppet had to get home by October.
In the spring we arrived from Tenerife to La Linea under Gibraltar. From there, I had to take the bus to Malaga airport. Originally, of course, arrive was planned with Tenerife-Malaga, but as usual the weather and Hoppet had own plans :)
When leaving Tenerife, a stop was scheduled for Lanzarote so that the Hoppet could be lifted in the dock for scheduled maintenance.
There was a decent "washing machine" on the way out and between the islands, which also made some cabins a little watery. It should be noted that this situation was not suitable for everyone on board and a few people in Lanzarote left our crew.
We arrived to Lanzarote and some days living in a "sea view cottage", our lifted ship. The dock workers prepared a parade staircase for us, and life looked like we had climbed several stairwells, glanced at the sea and then moved to the lower deck to the cabins.
Unfortunately, life and business preferences make their adjustments and Hoppet had to get home by October.
In the spring we arrived from Tenerife to La Linea under Gibraltar. From there, I had to take the bus to Malaga airport. Originally, of course, arrive was planned with Tenerife-Malaga, but as usual the weather and Hoppet had own plans :)
When leaving Tenerife, a stop was scheduled for Lanzarote so that the Hoppet could be lifted in the dock for scheduled maintenance.
There was a decent "washing machine" on the way out and between the islands, which also made some cabins a little watery. It should be noted that this situation was not suitable for everyone on board and a few people in Lanzarote left our crew.
We arrived to Lanzarote and some days living in a "sea view cottage", our lifted ship. The dock workers prepared a parade staircase for us, and life looked like we had climbed several stairwells, glanced at the sea and then moved to the lower deck to the cabins.
Estonian men are men with golden hands. Most of the necessary maintenance was done by the team, the equipment was borrowed from the workshop and the local welder did some work at the end.
If everything needed is done -then nothing stopped the movement towards the Mediterranean.
The Gibraltar Strait, when you look at some weather forecasts, it looks like a smoky chimney - when you actually enter, it means that you will be hit by a strong airflow (wind) and you may run, but still stay in same place.
If you can't get straight - you can go in a circle, just like that .... as we "creeped along edge" we reached the Mediterranean waters and in the evening a marina.
It was Good Friday Eve, and as we walking through the city, we came across procession that give an idea of the scale of the upcoming events.
The next day we went to the Gibraltar side, borders document checkings itc ... We found that Estonian vodka were fully represented in the trade. When the we returned to ship, a new exchange was already in place.
But I was waiting bus for Malaga early in the morning. Believing in Google, I pulled my bags before dawn at the bus station. It was open, but no service staff moved there until I got there. My point is that Google offered a bus at 6:00 am - but what did't exist is bus. It remains a mystery either that the bus did not come because the celebration or that a Google search found nothing fresh information at all. Then I got somewhere around 9 or 10 with another local line.
Fortunately, Malaga's bus station and train station are side by side. The bags got luggage at the train station and I was able to do a city tour. It was Good Friday, which meant celebrations for the locals, the streets were closed for processions, and spectators came to set up early with their seating and food. Also seats for VIP, or city prepared benches were sold. The processions are impressive. On the one hand, it was to admit that chirch cares about Catholic offspring, on the other hand - to carry and worship dolls in 2017 ..... like this, it creates amazement. But people are different, and as long as it doesn't take human sacrifices, everyone can believe what they want.
After seeing the performances, I moved to the train station and then to the airport by metro.
A few weeks after returning home, I learned that discovering the world project was going away and that Hoppet was moving home.
This meant leaving Sicily as early as the end of July and the beginning of August.
There were a number of reasons I went along with this journey and I have to thank my employers for allowing me to do it.
That's it - I joined Hoppet's to home team. If already - then to end ....
This, however, meant looking for a "babysitter" for the cat at the very wrong time - all qualified person were on vacation or going to. The anguish almost came on, I was ready to let a stranger take care of the cat, luckily there were good people in the wider circle of acquaintances, and "Lord" Smurf moved into the another home to expand his horizons.
So I found myself moving towards Sicily in the last days of July. Siracusa was already quite familiar rout. There the ship's owner picked up the assembled company to car and took us about 100km south to a place called Porto Palo. In this fishing port, Hoppet underwent maintenance and the return beginning.
There were a number of reasons I went along with this journey and I have to thank my employers for allowing me to do it.
That's it - I joined Hoppet's to home team. If already - then to end ....
This, however, meant looking for a "babysitter" for the cat at the very wrong time - all qualified person were on vacation or going to. The anguish almost came on, I was ready to let a stranger take care of the cat, luckily there were good people in the wider circle of acquaintances, and "Lord" Smurf moved into the another home to expand his horizons.
So I found myself moving towards Sicily in the last days of July. Siracusa was already quite familiar rout. There the ship's owner picked up the assembled company to car and took us about 100km south to a place called Porto Palo. In this fishing port, Hoppet underwent maintenance and the return beginning.
Crossing the Mediterranean Sea was an old familiar journey. Ports of Sicily-Malta-Sardinia-Mallorca-Spain. As Hoppet left the warm area, all old and new Hoppet Estonian friends tried to make some part of the journey with she. This part of the trip was crowded enough, for a time it felt like staying in a Mixed-sum summerhouse or gypsy camp.
The night before Cagliari arrived, the weather was not calm and people that was sleep on deck due to the heat of the night, were sent down to the cabins. But some of them quietly reappeared and the stern of Hoppet resembled a little dormitory.
Unfortunately, September approached and children and they pearents were forced to leave because start of school time. There was a larger "family throw-off" in Cartagena, and although smaller groups joined and left, this feeling of summer camp was no longer on board.
This time (when not needed) Hoppet also reached Malaga. Murph's Law is working.
The Gibraltar Strait was windy again and we "flew out as a cap". The mood of the core crew was not particularly inspiring towards the north. Some dreamers dreamed of hijacking and heading for the Caribbean. Also that those come the opposite direction were ask "who's going north in the fall" didn't make it better.
The tanning weather ended with moving "around the corner" of the Portuguese. Faro was the last resort. Next, Atlantic was already breathing in the spirit of the coming autumn.
In Porto, the sunny time was replaced by misty rainy humidity. For a moment, the wind seemed to blow the clouds away and still enjoy the southern climate, but it was a disappointment for a few hours.
In La Coruna, we waited several days for suitable weather to cross Biscay. There was a nice warm autumn under the pier in the marina, as you moved out of the area, you could watch the waves bothered by the wind coming from the bay.
Compared to coming from Tenerife, Biscaya was neither better nor worse. The captain's experience helped us to choose the right moment and we reached Brest without any interruption.
From the French coast to the Kiel Canal, rain was the usual transmitter. In Diepes, we had a longer wait before a window in the windy weather appeared and we had the opportunity to take the English Channel. It was rainingevery other day in France. One day you can move around, the other it rains 24 hours practically incessantly. On such days, all kinds of board games and movie supplies were sought out.
It was much waterier to reach Amsterdam.
Then it was cool enough. I had to stock up on my clothes with some warmer clothes. All the things I had were wet and was not going to dry.
Of course it dried, but it still took several days.
Amsterdam seemed so homely. Ferries are free, fast and regular. The city is historic and partly modern. Everything a bit mixed.
Of course it dried, but it still took several days.
Amsterdam seemed so homely. Ferries are free, fast and regular. The city is historic and partly modern. Everything a bit mixed.
Hoppet needed some repairs there, which gave us a couple of extra days in town.
Next, the Kiel Canal, but it was no longer so wet, it went cooler. The canal wins in time, while the surroundings do not offer anything special.
When I was in Kiel I got a little jealousy worm - there were plenty of Dutch sailboats and more came - why is Estonia not 1% of this..... sea country we want to be ......
Time is passing, deadlines are approaching.
Course to Estonia.
Sailing did not happen very well, more still motor sailing type movement.
Ventspils was the first to have a sauna in the evening. Thereafter, every evening there was a stop and a sauna. If you are out on the deck all day, it will take a while for the toe to warm up in the evening.
Whatever - we arrived to Nasva for inspection. There was a crowded reception in Haapsalu, the party did not stop until morning. Dirham and Tallinn were shining.
01.10.2017 Hoppet arrived at the Tallinn Seaplane Harbor.
Families dragged their members home quietly and smoothly. Finally, for a while, the youngsters who had been home to Hoppet and who had not yet found a new home remained aboard.
I picked up my "household" and left. The Hoppet project was over for me.
"Lord" Smurf came home the next day, happier than I was to get home.
Hoppet got a new shipowner and is now based in Saaremaa, making local fun trips as a floating restaurant.