There is always light at the end of the tunnel!

Ludvig has told me for two months now that he would like me to do a post on his blog so here it goes...

This is me. I look like this. Normally my feet are actually this wet. weirdly enough since I joined Colon...

My Journey started 23 of December 2019. I quit my job as a chef on a Cruise ship, i rented out my apartment, packed my bags and flew to Barra de Navidad in Mexico. I've got a position as chef/deckhand on a 40fot Pacific Seacraft together with Captain Bryon and first mate Krystian. The plan was to sail 6 months down to Panama but i left the boat and that Captain within 2.5 weeks. Turns out he was not as he seem to be via phone. Zero respect and no social skills (could write a whole page just about him and those first weeks of my journey but no, I will not spend more time on him!) I rented an hotel room in Huatulco for 3 days, trying to figure out my next move. I wasn't done, not by a long shot. I still wanted to sail and I had all my sail gear with me so i couldn't go backpacking without sending shit loads of gear and cloths back to Sweden. Then the second day, drunk and sunbathing on the balcony i was checking through facebook and all of a sudden i saw Captain Ludvig Grip's name in an old post he done about him being all alone in Uruguay and i wrote as fast as possible. Told him a little bit about myself, where i was and that i really wanted to sail. "Come down here lets have a beer and talk about it" Ludvig replied. I booked a flight the very next day to Montevideo and after 11 hours flight and 300km cab ride i was at the marina in La Paloma 23 of January 2020. As i was walking down the dock i could see the blue sailboat i had see on some pictures and with a Norwegian flag at the stern. This must be it! -LUDVIG? -YEEEAH? -HEY MAN! Out from the boat comes Captain black beard himself with oily hands and cloths and the cap "på sniskan". We greeted, carried my bags on board and sat down in the cockpit. Ludvig was tinkering with the engine and drinking a cold beer in the warm sunny weather. "Beer?" Ludvig asks "i would love one" i replied and felt right at home... I was thinking at last! A Captain who is chill, friendly, layed back and funny. After a week of eating, drinking and having a great time we sailed south towards Mar Del Plata. The first sail was awesome and I couldn't stop smiling, I was sooo happy to be able to continue my dream, my adventure and I thanked Ludvig from the bottom of my heart more then once.

So funny how things turns out sometime.

First night watch on Colon - And what a sight!?

In Mar del Plata a British guy named Mike joined the boat. Awesome guy and we had a great time sailing south... haha what a guy! The sail down to Ushuaia was funny, warm, cold, dry, wet, damp, calm, rough, boring, exciting, smooth and crazy! Sailing in 45kn of wind full butterfly through the passage between tierra de la fuego and isla de los estados... Was a bit rough but still i couldn't stop smiling! Even when we were 50nm from cape horn in 45kn of wind, waves that broke into the boat and 7°C i couldn't stop smiling.

Ushuaia - Finally time to head north again... or?

Been smiling ever since i left my destructive life back home. To get away from work, my hometown, drugs, anxiety, stress, pressure, problems was one of the best choices I've made in life. To be able to find myself, learn, grow, get experience, met people, see the world is something that i still some nights cry about. That I'm still alive and able to be here is a god sent and I'm happy and sooo grateful to all beautiful people that have helped me along the way, without you all i would not have been here today. Life is a roller coaster with hills, valleys and long dark tunnels but remember - there is always light at the end. In my life I'e walked through countless dark, cold and lonely tunnels but in the end I've always found the light again! Now i am so happy, more happier then I've been for many years!

... Or well, I could have been a little more happy if we were not stuck outside Puerto Williams in quarantine for 14 days, but hey, still I can't stop smiling! One love!

//Anton Eriksson Firstmate on S/Y Colon