The journey with the AgroFram on the slow-flowing Volga in this seemingly endless landscape is not very spectacular, but it is leisurely and without any incidents. Only when the first high-rise buildings appear on the horizon on the starboard side, and this silhouette accompanies us for dozens of kilometres (!), do I realise that Volgograd must be an extremely elongated metropolis of millions. The marina stretches far out into the Volga; a wide variety of boats and yachts are moored on finger docks, exposed to the constant flow of the Volga’s masses of water (the constructions on the banks suggest that the water level can easily be 20 metres higher, depending on the time of year). We are welcomed by attentive staff who immediately take care of everything, securing the boat and bringing in electricity and water. Andrey and Nicola are two of the team responsible for our jetty. They work here continuously for 48 hours (and have their bunks in the floating boathouse), followed by a 48-hour break.
Now the ArgoFram’s engines have been running at their best for 100 hours without complaint since the start in Tallinn and have travelled 4,000 km – time for an oil change! Lena contacts people who can help us and organises the upcoming oil change with them. We soon find a skilful mechanic and a driver with his powerful towing vehicle and long trailer, and the very next day the ArgoFram can be hauled out of the water and the engines can be checked and the oil and filters replaced. This leaves enough time to visit the city and the impressive memorial to the horrific scenes of the Second World War (Volgograd used to be called Stalingrad …). And to absorb the impressions …
