Friday, May 19
Left Rotterdam at 4:00 PM. My cabin mates are Koster, 70 years old, very nice, but then there are two boys, Kees and Erik. Also two great guys, very suitable. My table companions, three Germans, seem very friendly, but I can’t understand them. Very difficult.
At 5:30 PM at the Hook of Holland, the sea is calm; still with Danny, so you need to pull together, guys. At 9:00 PM dayclosing time with 19 men, sad. Went to bed at 10 PM. Slept poorly, every wave shaking in bed, maybe I’ll get used to it.
Saturday, May 20.
Woke up at 7:00 AM, had breakfast at 8:00, coffee at 10:00, and at 11:00 enjoyed a beautiful view at the English coast with all those little boats. We lay still for two hours because passengers had to embark. They were brought in with a boat. Gorgeous weather, sitting on deck in the sunshine.
Sunday, May 21.
Woke up at 7:30, had breakfast at 8:00, at 10 AM , church service for 90 people, at 11:00 coffee, at noon dinner, went to bed for an hour, tea at 3:30, five o’clock near the Irish coast, beautiful weather, calm sea.
Sunday, May 21
First Pentecost Sunday at 10:00 AM service was a beautiful day. This afternoon at 5:00 PM we were at the Irish coast, and another 50 passengers joined us, brought over on a small boat. All young people saying heartfelt goodbyes. I stood right near the boat so I could see everything. Ireland is indeed vast. We sailed for two hours along those rocky cliffs, it was gorgeous weather and the sea was like glass. That boat trip is enjoyable, truly beautiful, but should have been two of us.
Tuesday, May 23rd.
beautiful weather calm sea is being talked with mr van der Goot about from America. He knows Anita Bouwman’s dad, he is their pastor. Everything is well on board, also spoke people from Appingedam visiting their children.
Wednesday, May 24.
Nothing special today, at 10 AM the wind picks up, the sea roars with its fullness, the world and those who dwell in it.
Thursday, May 25
Much swell, foggy, without appetite, in aone word: seasick