Notes On A Three Hour Cruise

 

I recently had the good fortune to spent an afternoon sailing on the Columbia River aboard the Hawaiian Chieftain.  The cruise was billed as a three hour family-oriented adventure which demonstrates tall ship handling and life at sea during the turn of the nineteenth century.  I was excited about the opportunity to sail aboard a tall ship but I was a little leery about the tour’s length.  As we approached the sixty-five foot ship, I remembered that Gilligan’s big adventure began as a three hour tour.  I took solace in the fact that Gilligan departed from a tropic port; since we were sailing from Astoria I assumed that we were safe.

The  Hawaiian Chieftain is a replica of a typical European merchant vessel that sailed the coastal waters of California, Oregon, and Washington.  During the late 18th century, this type of ship was frequently used by merchants involved in the Pacific fur trade.   Ships of this type were ideal for navigating the shallow waters of the numerous coastal inlets where native Americans would be found offering furs for barter.

So what did I learn about sailing during this adventure?  Sailing a ship with tall masts is definitely a job for the young.  The Hawaiian Chieftain is not the biggest of sailing ships but it main mast still towers over seventy feet above the deck.  The only way to raise or lower the sails is from working aloft in the rigging; a dangerous task under the best of conditions.

 

Climbing the rigging

 

“Holding fast” while preparing to lower the sails

 

 

Aboard a sailing ship, the captain is the closest to God this side of heaven.  He is constantly barking orders at the crew to adjust the sails in order to keep the ship moving.

 

The captain keeps a watchful eye at all times

 

Preparing to fire the carronade which was used for defense and as a signaling device

 

It was an interesting juxtaposition as we sailed past the container ship Hanjin Washington as she was fully loaded and outboard for Asian ports of call.  Just two of her forty foot containers hold more cargo than the entire Hawaiian Chieftain.  In the late 18th century, a voyage across the Pacific to China in a vessel such as the Hawaiian Chieftain would take about two months.  Today, the Hanjin Washington makes the same journey in about ten days.  There is definitely something to be said for size and massive engines.

 

The Hanjin Washington outbound on the Columbia River as seen from the deck of the Hawaiian Chieftain

 

I am happy to report that following our three hour tour, unlike Gilligan, we returned safely to our original port in Astoria.

Views From My Garden

 

"A weed is just a flower in the wrong place" George Washington Carver

The Signs Are Everywhere

Signs, signs everywhere, there's signs
Blocking up the scenery, breaking my mind
Do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign? 

Five Man Electrical Band

 

Yesterday we were greeted  with what has been a very rare treat this spring; sunshine.  After doing a little painting on the front porch, I consider my options for the remainder of the morning.  I could either choose between working in the yard and garden or take a walk and enjoy the sunshine.  It didn’t take long to arrive at the decision that a walk would definitely be more fun and exercise is always a good thing.

I decided that a walk through some of the roads less taken in my neighborhood might be in order.  With camera in hand, I set out to see what I might have other wise missed while driving in my truck.  What I found amazed me; ever where I looked there were signs of beauty and sign of confusion.

 

No dumping of what?

 

No wonder it’s a road less traveled

Views From My Garden

Spring has finally sprung and one sure sign of this is the appearance of the first poppy.  Like most good things in life, you have to enjoy them while they are here because they do not last long!

Memorial Day 2012

 

Let us not forget those who have served and especially those who sacrificed their life.

The Ship That Couldn’t Sink

 

When the Titanic set out on it’s maiden voyage from Southampton, England on April 10th, 1912 she was the largest passenger ship afloat.  Words such as unrivalled, magnificent, and unsinkable were often spoken when describing her.  No one expected that just a mere five day later she would end up the the bottom of the icy waters of the north Atlantic.  In just two hours and forty minutes after striking an iceberg, the lives of 1,514 passengers and crew were lost making Titanic one of the worst peace time maritime disasters.

Over the past one hundred years, much has been written about the disaster.  I believe that Filson Young said it best in his book Titanic:  “There is nothing that man can build that nature cannot destroy and far as he may advance in might and knowledge and cunning, her blind strength will always be more than his match. But men easily forget this, they wish to forget it; and the beautiful and comfortable and agreeable equipment of this ship helped them to forget it.”

Philadelphia

This past week I had the pleasure to experience the sights and sounds of Philadelphia, the birth place of American democracy.  Six months ago visiting Philadelphia was not on my” bucket list” of places to see but some opportunities are too good to pass up.  My lovey wife was making the trip to attend a conference and invited me to tag along.  Besides, after twenty-five years of marriage, if nothing else, I have become a skilled baggage handler.

Things I learned while wandering the streets of the city:

• If you have an interest in history, Philadelphia is the place to visit.  The city is the home of Independence Hall where representatives from twelve of the thirteen original colonies met to debate, draft, and sign the Constitution.  The interior of the hall is rather small but given that there was no central heating in the 1700s it should come as no surprise.

 

• The Liberty Bell was originally known as the State House bell when the Pennsylvania Assembly ordered it in 1751 to commemorate the 50-year anniversary of  Pennsylvania's original Constitution.  The Liberty Bell gained iconic importance in 1851 when abolitionists, in their efforts to end slavery, adopted it as a symbol of their fight.  Today it is a favorite photo op for tourists; it was very entertaining watching visitors compose and shoot their Facebook moments!

 

• The city’s  buildings represent just about every major architectural style known from the 1700s to the present.  The best part is that you can see it all and not walk more than a mile in any direction.

 

• The Philadelphia Museum of Art houses one of the finest collections of medieval arms and armor in the United States.  Even if art is not your thing, making a visit to see the interior of the building is well worth the price of admission.

 

• Look before you cross the street because the drivers tend to be very aggressive and they make liberal use of their horns.

 

• The one down side is that the noise level can be a bit overwhelming at times.  From our hotel I noticed that people were moving about the sidewalks and streets at all hours of the day and night.

 

If you one day get the chance to visit Philadelphia don’t pass one it, just be sure to get a map and a comfortable pair of walking shoes.