[Rhodes22-list] Herb's sailing trip
Robert Skinner
Robert at SquirrelHaven.com
Tue Oct 28 00:53:46 EDT 2008
Beautiful piece, Herb.
/Robert
Herb Parsons wrote:
> 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
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>> __________________________________________________
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> __________________________________________________
>>>>> To subscribe/unsubscribe or for help with using the mailing list go to
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>> http://www.rhodes22.org/list
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> __________________________________________________
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>> __________________________________________________
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>>>>
>> http://www.rhodes22.org/list
>>
>>>> __________________________________________________
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>> __________________________________________________
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>>>
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>>
>>> __________________________________________________
>>>
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>>
>>
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