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125th anniversary journey 2005:
To Gothenburg through the Göta and Trollhätte canals
Since Ejdern celebrated her 125th anniversary year 2005 she made a journey to Gothenburg at the end of June and the beginning of July. The journey went through Göta and the Trollhätte canal.
On this page we have collected pictures and comments about the journey.
Monday June 13, Södertälje to Brickworks before Söderköping
The first day of the journey went well. At 7 sharp Ejdern left her home port in Södertälje and turned the stem to the south. The journey down to the Göta canal went the inner way through the Stendörren (Stone door). We had nice, but not so warm, weather all day.
We reached the canal at 5:15 pm and passed through the first lock in Mem. Then we continued up to our port for the night below the lock at the Brickworks some two or three kilometers east of Söderköping.
Tuesday June 14, Brickworks to the Berg’s locks
We started the stage of the day as soon as the canal opened at 9 am. Today we had a lot of locks to pass through. The brilliant weather continued, a little warmer today.
After lunch we came to Ejdern's old home waters, the lake Roxen. The lake took about 2 hours to pass. Then it was time for the big lift of the day, the chain of locks in Berg.
We moored for the night in the dock in the middle of the lock chain.
Wednesday June 15, Berg’s locks to Forsvik
The third day of the journey also offered a brilliant weather. We started as soon as the canal opened and continued our climb up in the canal.
During the day we passed the lake Boren. After Boren we climbed up to Motala and further on to the lake Vättern that was as smooth as a millpond. Our aim for the day was Forsvik. We arrived at about 6:30 pm. During the evening we had a Calliope concert, visited a steam engine workshop and furthermore we looked at the building of the paddle steamer Erik Nordewall 2, a replica of an old Vättern boat.
Thursday June 16, Forsvik to Sjötorp
As usual we were at the lock gate just when it opened. This days planned stage was the west part of the Göta canal. Right beside our port of the night the first lock of the day was situated, the last lock on our way up. After that lock we were at the highest point in the canal system, the beautiful lake Viken, 91,7 m (308,2 Swedish feet) above sea-level.
The weather was great in the morning but later in the day clouds begun to gather and finally there came some showers of rain. In the little town Töreboda we came to a dead stop, there was some problem with the railroad bridge. We got held up for about 1,5 hours. We started to worry about not reaching Sjötorp before the canal closed for the night. Finally the bridge could be opened and we could continue.
A nice lock-keeper worked overtime to help us down to Sjötorp after the official closing time of the canal. In the upper dock in Sjötorp it was crowded but we could make fast, outside a sailing-vessel, for the night.
Friday June 17, Sjötorp to Vänersborg
This day's stage was a long run at a stretch over the big lake Vänern (Sweden's inland ocean). The weather continued to be dull with moist air and some showers, even some fog.
In the evening we approached Vänersborg and moored in the guest harbor.
Saturday June 18, Vänersborg to Gothenburg (Trollhätte Canal and river Göta)
The Saturday was an exciting day with the chain of gigantic locks in Trollhätte canal. The passage through the locks went well an then we had a long journey down the river Göta.
When we arrived at Gothenburg we were met and welcomed by the steamferry, Färjan 4, that escorted us down to the stonepier where s/s Bohuslän also welcomed us with the whistle.
In the evening we were invited to Färjan 4 for a meal and to get to know eachother, a very pleasant evening
Sunday June 19, A day trip with s/s Bohuslän
And on the seventh day the crew rested... Today we had a pleasant day trip with s/s Bohuslän. We went on the trip to the little archipelago town Skärhamn. The weather was brilliant, warm and sunny. A visit in the engine room and on the ship's bridge was of course included in the trip.
Some of us choose to disembark at Marstrand and have a look at the beautiful island while other went on to Skärhamn. An extremely nice and restful day, after the quite tough week on the canal
Monday June 20, diverse holiday activities
Today it was free activities. The day was spent with diverse museum visits, amusement park Liseberg, shopping, etc. The weather was still brilliant.
Tuesday June 21, diverse holiday activities
The first really rainy and thunderstormy day of the trip. This day was also used for free activities and to clean the ship in preparation for tomorrows journeys. The day was wound up with barbecue on the afterdeck.
 Wednesday June 22, Journeys in Gothenburg's southern archipelago
At the Wednesday it finally was time for Ejdern's 125th anniversary celebration! We were chartered by Styrsöbolaget/Väst-trafik to make two trips on Ejdern's old routes in Gothenburg's southern archipelago.
The weather was brilliant when we hoisted Västtrafiks flag. The trips started at Saltholmen. The journeys went well and it was an enjoyment to follow Ejdern to her old jettys. At each jetty a we held a little Calliope concert before we went on.
It was quite windy, round 13 m/s, but our old lady behaved herself exemplary in the waves; a perfect coast steamer!
Text: Claes H Nygårdh, Pictures: Claes H Nygårdh, Cello Persson and Isak Almerud
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