[Rhodes22-list] Herb's sailing trip
Herb Parsons
hparsons at parsonsys.com
Mon Oct 27 21:36:38 EDT 2008
A friend of mine from NO (Slidell actually), lost his boat that was
slipped across mine during Katrina. He used the insurance money to buy a
39' Allied Princess in Florida, and needed it to be moved to Houston. We
planned on 7 days, but had a little trouble with the diesel and had to
detour to Biloxi.
I had actually sailed my boat down the coast of Texas from Corpus
Christi to Port Isabel (and almost decided to move to Port Isabel in the
process), but that was the first time time to lose sight of land. There
is something almost magical about looking behind you, and suddenly
realizing that even the haze of the hotel buildings is gone, and all you
see is sky and water. I honestly believe that is what I was born for.
The waves glow at night in some areas with the luminance of the marine
life in them. We had flying fish literally fly into the cockpit (we
didn't eat them, though I asked if they were decent food). I was shocked
at the depth, and breadth, of the Gulf waters that turn from blue to
brown from the flow of the Mississippi. And there's something that
almost haunting to hear an oil platform's low moan of a warning siren
when your surrounded by darkness and a light fog. Another memory that
stands out clearly was watching a Carnival Cruise liner pass in the
darkness, lit up like a small city, and thinking to myself "Those people
think THAT'S a cruise...."
I've never been seasick in my life, and thought this would be a good
time to find how much I can take. Though we never had bad weather, the
second night out, it was VERY rough seas. The layout of the Allied
Princess doesn't have as much room as other boats the same size that
I've seen, and the "plan" was for the four of us was to alternate
between the two usable berths (one older guy couldn't stand watch, but
he was a great cook, and wanted to make one last sail, sadly, this was
it, he passed six months later, more on him in a moment). I was so
excited, I stayed awake all of the first night. The second night, the
rough sees night, I told them I was going to make room for myself in the
V-berth, so I wouldn't have to alternate berths. They all laughed and
said I'd last a night at the most.
I remember bedding down after my 10-2 (10pm, 2am) watch in 10' seas,
thinking "OK, this isn't so bad. Sort of like a ride at Six Flags. I'm
not sure I can sleep though...." Next thing I knew, it was 6:30, and the
cook was asking me if I wanted to eat breakfast or sleep all day. They
all laughed about how they could see air underneath me on some of the
waves, but I never stirred.
I had the last laugh, we had blueberry pancakes. ALL of them lost their
breakfast. I did not. I've still never been seasick. I hope for another
opportunity someday soon.
The cook (I'm embarrassed to say I can't remember his name), had major
heart surgery about 6 months prior. He was told that he would probably
not survive. He sold his two boats, and his retirement homes, to provide
for his wife.
Then he survived, and was boatless. He told the owner that he would like
to come with us for one final sail, but couldn't handle the rigors of
standing a regular watch. He would ride along, relieve briefly when
needed, but would cook all of our meals. This guy was amazing at what he
could cook on an alcohol stove, in a pitching boat on 10' seas. We ate
like kings, I kid you not. When we fixed the clogged fuel filters in
Biloxi, he begged off the rest of the trip. It was too hard on him, but
he thanked us profusely for the opportunity to sail again. I was proud
to have been a small part of giving that to another sailor.
On last funny story from the trip. Because I was (believe it or not) the
youngest of the remaining 3 (at 49 years old), I drew cooking duties.
I'm not a cook. My first morning, I said "Well guys, no blueberry
pancakes, but I've done my best. You've got two choices:
You can have scrambled egges
Or you can go hungry"
On the plus side, everyone kept breakfast down on that calm morning.
Anyone (OK, ALMOST anyone) needing help moving a boat across the water,
give me a shout. That was one of the best vacations I've had.
Chris Geankoplis wrote:
> Herb,
> Tell me about the time on the Gulf, business or pleasure? What form
> of transport. Exotic or mundane?
> And yes no one should judge you (or me) till they've introduced themselves
> and gotten to know us, I think.
> Chris G
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Herb Parsons" <hparsons at parsonsys.com>
> To: "The Rhodes 22 Email List" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> Sent: Monday, October 27, 2008 4:02 PM
> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] How much time do you spend on the computer?
>
>
>
>> Chris,
>>
>> I really DON'T mean to just be argumentative on this one, but I DON'T
>> see Metaphor's point. I've come home (after sailing across the gulf for
>> 10 days) to over 3000 emails in my in box. I dare say I didn't miss any
>> important ones. The little red X in Thunderbird is pretty easy to use.
>> It only takes me a line or two to see if an email is something I really
>> need, or just chatter. Most are chatter.
>>
>>
>> Chris Geankoplis wrote:
>>
>>> Brad,
>>> Thanks for that well reasoned, and humorous response; like Ben
>>>
> C. I
>
>>> never quite dispair, and then you come through with such a great
>>>
> response.
>
>>> I see Metaphor's point but if he just stays around till after the
>>>
> election
>
>>> he can bennifite from all the Fasciests, Commies, Sheep, and wolves on
>>>
> this
>
>>> list because after all we are all boating lambs...well except when it
>>>
> comes
>
>>> to which type of motor to use, or anchor or.......
>>>
>>> Chris G
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Brad Haslett" <flybrad at gmail.com>
>>> To: "The Rhodes 22 Email List" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>>> Sent: Sunday, October 26, 2008 6:53 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] How much time do you spend on the computer?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>> Dear Mr. Wager/Crabber?
>>>>
>>>> Are you a gambler? Perhaps a crabber?
>>>>
>>>> Rude? Self impressed? No sir, I'm a pilot. Think about it and
>>>> figure it out for yourself. Little man - aggrandized view of your own
>>>> importance? What part of pilot don't you get? I'm not a aggrandized
>>>>
>
>
>>>> little man, I am a god!
>>>>
>>>> Listen. My adventures have been "bigger-than-life" for a kid of a
>>>> construction worker from a town of 650 people. The amazing thing is,
>>>> they are not bullshit and if you envy them then you have a problem.
>>>>
>>>> Again, many of us on this board have dined and stayed at each other's
>>>> house, sailed on each other's boats, and come to each other's rescue
>>>> in private. You might want to lurk a bit longer before you become so
>>>> judgmental.
>>>>
>>>> To answer your question about boats and boat names - I once owned a
>>>> Rhodes22 and I regret the day I sold it. I now own a 30' S2 named the
>>>> "CoraShen" after my daughter Cora and her grandfather Mr. Shen. Mr.
>>>> Shen died recently. He was a "little man" who was "aggrandized" by
>>>> his thousands of employees and one of the kindest and gentlest men I
>>>> ever met. His story is buried in the archives of this list. There's
>>>> a lot of interesting history there, and as Ed would say, "search the
>>>> archives".
>>>>
>>>> Perhaps you should consider barking for awhile on this list before you
>>>> default to biting.
>>>>
>>>> Brad
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Sun, Oct 26, 2008 at 9:28 PM, Metaphor <mwager at bluecrab.org> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Mr. Haslitt,
>>>>> Sorry, but I get the impression that you are a rude, self impressed
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>> little
>>>
>>>
>>>>> man with an aggrandized view of your own importance. You copy a lot
>>>>>
> of
>
>>>>> posts from other sources, and tell grand stories about yourself and
>>>>>
> your
>
>>>>> bigger-than-life adventures, but otherwise offer little of substance.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>> When
>>>
>>>
>>>>> people don't agree with you, you belittle them.
>>>>>
>>>>> Do you own or sail a Rhodes? If not, why are you even on this forum?
>>>>>
>>>>> I have had many questions answered by sailors, but none by you I learn
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>> most
>>>
>>>
>>>>> by simply listening to what they have to say. You just seem to blow
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>> your
>>>
>>>
>>>>> own horn so loudly that only you can hear the sound of your own
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>> pomposity.
>>>
>>>
>>>>> There are forums out there that are in the big leagues. You might find
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>> the
>>>
>>>
>>>>> challenges in one of those more demanding than pandering to your two
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>> friends
>>>
>>>
>>>>> on this one. Other forums that I participate in have an PM (private
>>>>> mnessage) option that allows for personal conversation between
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>> individuals.
>>>
>>>
>>>>> If it is not available on this thread, you might try regular emails
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>> between
>>>
>>>
>>>>> you and your two other friends.
>>>>>
>>>>> I probably could figure out how to use the filters here, but too often
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>> on
>>>
>>>
>>>>> these threads, posts are not properly (should I say honestly) labeled,
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>> so
>>>
>>>
>>>>> filters don't work.
>>>>>
>>>>> By the way, Metaphor is the name of my boat. What is the name of
>>>>>
> yours?
>
>>>>> Brad Haslett-2 wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> Met, uh, Phor?
>>>>>> You're smart enough to bitch, you're probably smart enough to filter
>>>>>> your e-mail.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Brad
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Sun, Oct 26, 2008 at 8:31 PM, Metaphor <mwager at bluecrab.org>
>>>>>>
> wrote:
>
>>>>>>> I've got a simple question, but mostly applied to Herb and Brad, and
>>>>>>> somewhat
>>>>>>> to Tootle:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Do you guys have jobs or real lives, or do you spend all day on the
>>>>>>> internet
>>>>>>> and then posting to this forum? There are a couple of other volume
>>>>>>> posters,
>>>>>>> but none so prolific as you are. I get the sense that the sailors
>>>>>>>
> are
>
>>>>>>> pretty
>>>>>>> much giving up getting airtime in competition with the political
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>> nature
>>>
>>>
>>>>>>> of
>>>>>>> this forum.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I try to follow the various threads, but have lost interest in this
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>> forum
>>>
>>>
>>>>>>> because it has so little to do with sailing, Rhodes 22's or nautical
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>> life
>>>
>>>
>>>>>>> in
>>>>>>> general. Reading the same paranoid information from the three of
>>>>>>>
> you
>
>>>>>>> over
>>>>>>> and over again is tiresome, so much so that I've begun to applaud
>>>>>>>
> your
>
>>>>>>> challengers -- Ben C, petelargo, etc., simply because they are
>>>>>>> challenging
>>>>>>> you, and I have (but not always) voted Republican.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Your time would be better spent arguing on a political forum rather
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>> that
>>>
>>>
>>>>>>> a
>>>>>>> sailing one, and leaving this forum to talk about the boring details
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>> of
>>>
>>>
>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>> Rhodes 22 -- you know, technical issues, innovative re-designs or
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>> fixes,
>>>
>>>
>>>>>>> sailing techniques, great sailing adventures, that kind of stuff of
>>>>>>> interest
>>>>>>> to Rhodes 22 owners and sailors... certainly there would be fewer
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>> posts,
>>>
>>>
>>>>>>> but
>>>>>>> the Rhodes 22 boat issues would not be so buried under the volume of
>>>>>>> political posts found here. A search of the internet would probably
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>> find
>>>
>>>
>>>>>>> a
>>>>>>> few sites that you might find more of a political nature. Thanks...
>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>> View this message in context:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
> http://www.nabble.com/How-much-time-do-you-spend-on-the-computer--tp20180185p20180185.html
>
>>>>>>> Sent from the Rhodes 22 mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> __________________________________________________
>>>>>>> To subscribe/unsubscribe or for help with using the mailing list go
>>>>>>>
> to
>
>>>>>>> http://www.rhodes22.org/list
>>>>>>> __________________________________________________
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> __________________________________________________
>>>>>> To subscribe/unsubscribe or for help with using the mailing list go
>>>>>>
> to
>
>>>>>> http://www.rhodes22.org/list
>>>>>> __________________________________________________
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> View this message in context:
>>>>>
>>>>>
> http://www.nabble.com/How-much-time-do-you-spend-on-the-computer--tp20180185p20180851.html
>
>>>>> Sent from the Rhodes 22 mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>>>>>
>>>>> __________________________________________________
>>>>> To subscribe/unsubscribe or for help with using the mailing list go to
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>> http://www.rhodes22.org/list
>>>
>>>
>>>>> __________________________________________________
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
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>>>>
>>>>
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>>>
>>>
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>>>>
>>>>
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>>>
>>>
>>>
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