Posted by Francis Kent on November 1, 2014, 1:20 pm
And time to muster on the fantail. I'm still here, still grousing about what the politicians are doing, and wondering how much longer I'll be privileged to watch it all unfold. It's been a good trip and my guardian angel has charted a rewarding course for me. I hope all you old sailors are in good health and feeling no pain. Be well, all of you. -- Fran
Re: It's November -- and I went sailing
Posted by Ron Carlson on November 4, 2014, 8:52 am, in reply to "It's November"
Reporting in, on watch at my usual station.
On November 1, my wife and I were part of the crew that sailed Liberty ship John W. Brown from her home port of Baltimore down the Chesapeake Bay to Norfolk for a visit to dry dock, about a 20-hour voyage. We sailed through a ferocious storm, rain and spray, winds from the north at a steady 40 knots, gusts to 60 knots, rocking 20 degrees left and right. While on wheel watch, I had to maintain 15 degrees left rudder just to keep course. I know that's nothing for those of you who sailed the seas but it's unusual for the Chesapeake and certainly far out of the ordinary for me as an occasional mariner.
We were scheduled to go directly into the dry dock upon reaching Norfolk Sunday morning. But with the storm continuing, the tugs didn't want to try to manuever us through a narrow drawbridge and into a berth in those winds. They would take us only in winds of 20 knots or less, which weren't forecast to abate until Monday morning. So we went to a vacant berth at a cargo terminal for the rest of the day and night. A large part of the crew had to depart by chartered bus back to Baltimore, as originally planned, leaving us short-handed to move the ship Monday morning. Monday was sunny and chilly but calm. We pressed electricians and steward department personnel into working on deck and we were able to complete the move.
Our 20-year-old daughter attends college in Norfolk and she arranged to get a pass to enter the shipyard. She had asked my wife and me to bring her some winter clothing. So, we used a Liberty ship to deliver her warm clothes. And as the ship eased into the dry dock, there our daughter was on the pier, wearing a hard hat and safety glasses and chatting up the roughnecks who work in the yard. Our daughter is at ease in any setting.
A few hours later and the remainder of the crew departed in several 12-passenger vans for the 250-mile return trip to Baltimore. In four weeks we'll be back in Norfolk to bring our ship home. We'll hope for better weather for that trip.
So what did YOU do on the weekend?
Ron Carlson, Webmaster Armed Guard / Merchant Marine website www.armed-guard.com
I was in Pigeon Forge Tn. at a ships reunion. I was on the USS Corry DDR 817 from Dec. 23 1957 to Jan. 6 1960. Had a great time visiting with some OLD shipmates. Snowed sat. about 22 inches in the higher elevations but did not stick in Pigeon Forge. This is off subject has anyone heard from Mr. Roy Brown ? He has not made muster since june.
Re: It's November
Posted by Gerald Burr on November 1, 2014, 5:22 pm, in reply to "It's November"
Happy first of the month to all my old buddies. Its been a rough month with me because of having Back surgery but it will be 3 weeks next Wednesday and I am startin to feel better. Thank you Fran and John for remembering me and sending me that special note. The family is all well and that is what counts. Winter is fast approaching and the cold is reminding me of those trips in the North Atlantic in the winter. Hope you are all enjoying these elder years.I thank God for giving me all these years. your Sea pal, Gerald Burr.
Re: It's November
Posted by Bob Higgins on November 2, 2014, 2:32 pm, in reply to "Re: It's November"
reporting aboard My best to all of you
Re: It's November
Posted by John Haynes on November 2, 2014, 5:55 pm, in reply to "Re: It's November"
Great to see you guys check in. I don't look forward to the cold weather coming on. Like Gerry, I remember the cold we endured on the Murmansk run. Even though living in Alaska we had very cold winters, but it didn't seem to hurt or penetrate like the damp cold did here last winter. I sure hope a lot of our old AG and MM friends will check in this month and assure us that they are still present and accounted for. God bless you all. John