All the skippers are anxious to pull the hook and get under way. You've got to be lucky and smart, constantly prowling the cove for ships that look to be in transit. Bringing a girlfriend will help matters as these guys are about the lustiest pirates in the Pacific having been away from compassionate people for some time. A female will enhance your chances, even if she doesn't make the trip at the last minute for whatever reason. This is what happened to Gb as he signed on with Brian the Canadian.
Brian is an alcoholic. You find these things out after you've committed yourself. Gb had been through all that in his youth. Twas the drink that nearly killed him. Twas the drink that killed his kin. I was not going to kill him, no matter what else happened. When Brian got ripped he was continually abusive, obnoxious and the most mentally disabled idiot of the Ocean. However, he knew how to sail and navigate the briny.
Brian is an alcoholic. You find these things out after you've committed yourself. Gb had been through all that in his youth. Twas the drink that nearly killed him. Twas the drink that killed his kin. I was not going to kill him, no matter what else happened. When Brian got ripped he was continually abusive, obnoxious and the most mentally disabled idiot of the Ocean. However, he knew how to sail and navigate the briny.
On shopping for provisions Brian was untrustworthy. I gave him cash to buy the food. Instead of buying provisions he bought 20 gallons of Vodka which he stowed in his cabin under the floorboards he nailed down. He had the only tools to get at the liquor. Paranoia strikes deep, into your life it will creep.
It was no surprise when Lori joined the ship. Soon after that, I found out she was an equally disturbing alcoholic. Gb was determined to see the South Pacific even if it took putting up with these dysfunctional types.
It was no surprise when Lori joined the ship. Soon after that, I found out she was an equally disturbing alcoholic. Gb was determined to see the South Pacific even if it took putting up with these dysfunctional types.
They set sail on April 1st. Immediately Gb got sick. The ocean was very tumultuous and the huge waves had no consistency of motion. One way to deal with it is stare at the horizon to stabilize the cochlear tubes in your ears.
We were due south of Pearl Harbor or 180 degrees on the compass rose. As I lay upon the deck puking up the remaining mucous in the stomach, I noticed a black shape on the horizon gradually getting bigger and bigger. It was like a dream. This could not be happening. We were being overtaken by a U.S. nuclear submarine that was on the same due South 180 heading.
Sail has the right of way over power. Yeah, right. Except where the US Navy is operating and owning the ocean. Brian was coming off a hangover and was not thinking clearly. As this sub overtook us it became apparent we were in harms' way. Suddenly, Brian got the message. He finally put the helm over. He decided to start the engine and motor away from this black menace.
Sail has the right of way over power. Yeah, right. Except where the US Navy is operating and owning the ocean. Brian was coming off a hangover and was not thinking clearly. As this sub overtook us it became apparent we were in harms' way. Suddenly, Brian got the message. He finally put the helm over. He decided to start the engine and motor away from this black menace.
He tried to start the engine. Nothing doing. He tore open the engine cover and was trying to decide WTF was wrong. Gb suggested it was electrical which set off a light in Brian's head. He started jiggling the cables of the battery and if by magic, the engine caught and started. If by magic or the divine hand of God, we were able to avoid certain destruction by mere yards as the sub roared by us creating huge swells that threatened to engulf this 64' ferro cement home build.
The sheer panic in Lori's eye told the story. We had survived a swamping by the luck of idiots and cooperation of everyone on board. Lori had steered us out of the path of destruction as nimbly as avoiding a pothole in Minneapolis where she was from. The subs' skipper looked back at us in the most dumb ass look Gb had ever seen. However, Gb was no longer seasick. The rest of the voyage to Palmyra was a delight of shift changes, weather observations and dolphin watching along with some very nice sunsets followed by night adventures with flying fish and BIG seas.
Except for the fact that we made landfall in the evening with only one gallon of rusty freshwater between three people, we were ecstatic. We were thirsty, sunburned and extremely irritated having to wait till morning to make safe passage into the lagoon.
Except for the fact that we made landfall in the evening with only one gallon of rusty freshwater between three people, we were ecstatic. We were thirsty, sunburned and extremely irritated having to wait till morning to make safe passage into the lagoon.
With the sun behind us the giant coral heads were truly huge and shallow as we lined up the range finders that showed us the channel full of sea life. The white tip and black tip sharks were simply waiting for their next meal to fall overboard. The bulls were out further on patrol for dead or dying things.
All of the events on Palmyra were recorded in other passages but the ones Gb remembered were the private explorations on the north side of the island where the pill boxes were. There he found many WW II artifacts that the sea is reclaiming rapidly. The Grumman Avenger that had crashed in the surf. The GI helmet full of sand, the spent cartridges of brass all spoke of a terrible time of war on these peaceful atolls that made up Palmyra.
All of the events on Palmyra were recorded in other passages but the ones Gb remembered were the private explorations on the north side of the island where the pill boxes were. There he found many WW II artifacts that the sea is reclaiming rapidly. The Grumman Avenger that had crashed in the surf. The GI helmet full of sand, the spent cartridges of brass all spoke of a terrible time of war on these peaceful atolls that made up Palmyra.
It never saw actual battles but was a storage facility being developed into a military base. The war ended and much of the equipment was left intact in situ.
Even on these remote atolls are gargantuan stacks of detris such as plastic that had made its way to these pristine shores. Japanese fishing net floats of blown glass found their way to these soft shores.
The swan dive off the cross trees into the lagoon almost led to an injury as I did not plan for the rocking of the ship. I lept off and felt the boat give way. Luckily, I missed hitting the deck by mere inches. All's well that ends well. I swam to shore rapidly as the lagoon is overpopulated with sharks who might just take a bite out of your thigh. You never seem to forget the movie Jaws when in the wilderness of the South Pacific.
The swan dive off the cross trees into the lagoon almost led to an injury as I did not plan for the rocking of the ship. I lept off and felt the boat give way. Luckily, I missed hitting the deck by mere inches. All's well that ends well. I swam to shore rapidly as the lagoon is overpopulated with sharks who might just take a bite out of your thigh. You never seem to forget the movie Jaws when in the wilderness of the South Pacific.
At the Palmyra Yacht Club there were many shark jaws hanging about. All were caught nearby. This is the stuff of dreams and nightmares. The Ycht Club is just a joke with these transit yachts.
I found out later, Palmyra was the scene of a murder. It is one of those historic facts that you come across when searching for more information about Palmyra. It seems this couple on the run had sailed to Palmyra and hijacked another ship by killing the captain and putting his body in a trunk that eventually washed up to be discovered by other visitors. They subsequently reported their find to the Honolulu police who in turn investigated these two international criminals. They thought they escaped cleanly. Nature had a different agenda.
Three weeks there was enough. Now to more of the South Pacific. Eventually Fiji came into view and subsequently the beautiful islands of Tonga. This all came about simply because of Gb's need to continue the search for God. The church choirs are remarkable and should be recorded.
I found out later, Palmyra was the scene of a murder. It is one of those historic facts that you come across when searching for more information about Palmyra. It seems this couple on the run had sailed to Palmyra and hijacked another ship by killing the captain and putting his body in a trunk that eventually washed up to be discovered by other visitors. They subsequently reported their find to the Honolulu police who in turn investigated these two international criminals. They thought they escaped cleanly. Nature had a different agenda.
Three weeks there was enough. Now to more of the South Pacific. Eventually Fiji came into view and subsequently the beautiful islands of Tonga. This all came about simply because of Gb's need to continue the search for God. The church choirs are remarkable and should be recorded.
Unfathomable is all he could say about the God experience. If you are so fortunate to understand this entity you will also know it is a burden that must be borne by the ones who know of him. Not the ones who have no real knowledge and will eventually mislead you into supporting their lives through tithing and other forms of agreed slavery.
Tonga and Fiji are Methodist strongholds pioneered by the Wesleyans of Hawaii who first converted the Chief who subsequently converted the people to Methodism. Methodists are not bad people. They are simply misled people of a variety who keeps things simple and uncomplicated. As long as you do it their way things with God will be OK. Go out from this and the worst will surely happen. Going out is what Gb does best.
And when you finally get there, look up at night on a clear sky in the Southern Hemisphere. It is a completely different set of stars. There are constellations you have never seen before. You first get the taste of this about 20 degrees North above the equator. The Southern Cross climbs above the horizon as far as Costa Rica in the winter months. Going farther south like New Zealand, one becomes aware of the Magellanic Clouds with the smaller one visible most of the time. Then there are new constellations to learn like the Oak Tree and the Cygnet. The skies on the ocean are so clear you can see the Milky Way as it turns in the sky. To travel just for the sky watch was Gb's first thought. It continues to be the most thrilling thing to ever see or do.
Before leaving Hawaii though, I had the chance to go up to the telescopes on Mauna Kea and take a quick look at Halley's Comet passing in the heavens. You get in this massive line outside this beautiful observatory in the freezing cold of high altitude waiting for your timed 10 seconds of viewing before you are quickly ushered away back into the cold atmosphere only to rumble into the packed car for the uncomfortable ride back to the temple. Was it worth it? A once in a lifetime opportunity to join Mark Twain as a viewer of Halley's Comet.
It brought back memories of Joe Wong escourting me to the observatory at UNO to have a longer look at Saturn tilted on its side as if to say take a good look. You might never see me again.
Tonga and Fiji are Methodist strongholds pioneered by the Wesleyans of Hawaii who first converted the Chief who subsequently converted the people to Methodism. Methodists are not bad people. They are simply misled people of a variety who keeps things simple and uncomplicated. As long as you do it their way things with God will be OK. Go out from this and the worst will surely happen. Going out is what Gb does best.
And when you finally get there, look up at night on a clear sky in the Southern Hemisphere. It is a completely different set of stars. There are constellations you have never seen before. You first get the taste of this about 20 degrees North above the equator. The Southern Cross climbs above the horizon as far as Costa Rica in the winter months. Going farther south like New Zealand, one becomes aware of the Magellanic Clouds with the smaller one visible most of the time. Then there are new constellations to learn like the Oak Tree and the Cygnet. The skies on the ocean are so clear you can see the Milky Way as it turns in the sky. To travel just for the sky watch was Gb's first thought. It continues to be the most thrilling thing to ever see or do.
Before leaving Hawaii though, I had the chance to go up to the telescopes on Mauna Kea and take a quick look at Halley's Comet passing in the heavens. You get in this massive line outside this beautiful observatory in the freezing cold of high altitude waiting for your timed 10 seconds of viewing before you are quickly ushered away back into the cold atmosphere only to rumble into the packed car for the uncomfortable ride back to the temple. Was it worth it? A once in a lifetime opportunity to join Mark Twain as a viewer of Halley's Comet.
It brought back memories of Joe Wong escourting me to the observatory at UNO to have a longer look at Saturn tilted on its side as if to say take a good look. You might never see me again.
