Summer 2004

The summer 2004 was a quite rainy summer, which showed on a decreasing passenger numbers and fewer charter journeys than expected. We hope that the season 2005 will have better weather and more passengers. This summer’s timetable was basically the usual with trips to Birka-Adelsö and Drottningholm-Stockholm. In the spring Ejdern finally got her eagerly awaited new lifeboat delivered. The delivery of the lifeboat has it's own heading at the "slideshow" page.
On this page you can read about, and look at pictures, from some of the journeys.

Spring preparations

At the May Day and the weekend before the spring preparations hat a final spurt. Approximately twenty Ejdern members showed up to help getting the ship in order for the start of the season. A pleasant element this spring was that we could stow onboard the new lifebelts that replaces the old worn-out ones
We had planned to have a test trip on the Sunday but we had to cancel that due to trouble getting the boiler working properly.
The problem was corrected during the following week and May 8 we could, as planned, have our first journey. The first journey had 25 passengers, a good result this early on the season.

Text and pictures Claes H Nygårdh

The Archipelago Boats Day

The Archipelago Boats Day in Stockholm offered mostly sun and waves. But for Ejderns part also some drama when a life buoy fell overboard
Steamers and other passenger ships left the key, Strömkajen, at the same time and started the journey towards Vaxholm at the Wednesday evening. Ejdern, the alderwoman in this context, quickly took head. In fact so quickly that the other steamers fell behind. The more than 120 years old lady kept good speed all the way to the entrance to Vaxholm harbor. And she would probably been first to make land if a life buoy hadn't messed up things for her.
Suddenly one of the life buoys drops in to the water. A seaman grabs hold of a boat hook, but what help does it do when something orange colored bobbed on the waves a good distance astern the ship. Stop in the machine.
The other ships catch in and the little Steam Launch Östa became heroine when she salvage the life buoy and brings it ashore
And what a welcome we get in Vaxholm. The key is full, from one end to the other with expectant people who wants to look at the ships. The ships line up, Ejdern, Östa, Norrskär, Saltsjön, Blidösund and all the rest.
After disembarking the passengers it is "open ships" and you could go round and visit the different ships. In the harbor area it's festive mode with market stalls, tombola, dance floor with accordion music and lots of other things. Many passengers chose to go away a little and picnic among the old cannon shelters. The journey home is calm and pleasant. The sunset colors the skies pink, Ejderns heart pounds rhythmically and I stand a long time looking at Stockholm approaching.

Text and pictures Pernilla Söderquist
(Thank you Pernilla for the article and the pictures! We would be delighted to receive more articles to our homepage and our publications from passengers and members! ///Webmaster)

Steams Day in Mariefred

As usual Ejdern participated Steams Day in Mariefred. Here is a little picture cavalcade from this year’s event.

Pictures: Bengt "Cello" Persson

The final regular journey of the season

The final regular journey went as usual to Birka/Björkö and further to Adelsö. It wasn't many passengers but the braves who attended got themselves a nice journey in the beautiful late summer weather. Here ar some pictures from the trip.


Text and Pictures Claes H Nygårdh