Very busy

But thinking of sumthin' to say.

I'm trying to come up with posting material. I do have a thousand stories, just want to put them out in some sort of order.

While at the local Yatch bar, met a Gent on Saturday named Adam, who is involved with the distribution of "Bold City". We had a couple of Bold City IPA's which were quite tasty. He gave me his email address on a napkin, but naturally, I tossed it in the garbage. We talked about my late trash talking of their fine beers.

There will be a field trip to the Roselle Street brewery, for further investigation.

The J.O.B. is deciding to leave Florida. Not cool, as far as my policies are concerned, but probably the right decision for the company. (Our Rhino Governor has turned Socialist on the Insurance industry) So rates have not kept up with losses and reserves, so big company is on the out-going tide.

I have never, ever drawn unemployment. We haven't been told that our jobs are actually on the line, but I don't need Billy Ayers to tell me which way the wind blows. So if these ice hole politicians are going to cost me a job, then I can guaran-(Place my favorite word here)-tee that I will draw unemployment to the bitter end. Oh yes.

If Romper Room was still on, Miss Mary Ann: might say, "...And I see DC, he's going away mad, with a load of beer on, he is gonna drive his boat to Islamorada, until his Unemployment check runs out..."

I watched "Deep Water", last night. Great to see our old acquaintance, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, proudly wearing his Little Ship Club sweater, telling a great story about the Golden Globe Challenge. Real sad story, the end sucks. The last fade out is Crowhurst's race boat abandoned in Cayman Islands. Having sailed a bit, I can say that I could not have stood up to the strain on that trashy boat. I would raise the Bravo Sierra flag and returned home to safety. The story really seemed to be about dreams, finance and those who will make a buck off of a shattered reputation.

But what could those racers do? No one was designing boats with seven seas cruising in mind. So I won't come in and monday-morning quarterback that race. Sad to see a family lose their Dad.

Back to work!

Back at work

Back in on Monday. Spent the weekend on the Barco, enjoying the clear skies on the water. Took a little trip south of the Buckman and enjoyed a boat-free river. As far as the Barco crew was concerned, we OWNED the river!

I am waiting for my copy of "Deep Water", a Documentary made in 2006 about the Golden Globe round the world sailing challenge of 1968. I ordered from Amazon and it should be here today. Our sailing buddy is in the film as he won the race by outlasting most of the fleet and made it back to England in eight or nine months.

I read the story by Robin Knox Johnston, "A World of my Own", probably around 1974 or 1975. I never really forgot the story and naturally, when the sailing bug bit, I reread it. When Spousal Unit and myself moved to London, we went to the London boat show and met with the folks from the Little Ship's Club and immediately joined.

More to come.

About that seemingly disconnected paragraph above; RK-J's "A World of my Own" is the author's version of what happened during that lengthy race. There was an unanswered question at the end of the book, concerning the state of the Author's marriage.

Moving ahead to 1996, I was at the Little Ships Club, where the President of the club was doing a meet and greet with new members. Spousal Unit and I did the routine Hi-how-are-ewe, brief bio and decided to dash out before we became boring.

Note: When ever you meet someone famous, like a rock star or personality, know full well that they really are quite bored with the normal banality, "Oh, urr sooo great, I have all your books, seen all your movies, blah blah blah..."

They don't care. Really. In fact, all they want to do is go off and get out of the crowd and hide in some quiet place.

That said, Spousal Unit and myself were trying to slip out the door to beat the Famous Couple outside, and decide which pub dinner would be best to dine. This is when Mrs. Knox-Johnston approached us near the door and as if reading our minds, "You're not leaving... are you? Robin would like the honor of your company at dinner with us both."

Well, what the heck... I was surprised, to say the least. In fact, some of the more prominent Club members, hoping for a place at the table... themselves, were completely surprised.

So we sat for the dinner. We made small talk about what I did in the Navy (Search and Rescue and Anti-Submarine Warfare), duty onboard Frigates and Destroyers. Robin talked of his own Naval Service, and the fact that he was friends with the C.O.'s of the Missouri and Iowa. It was a great dinner, with a great teller of tales, and the beginning of a four year running acquaintance. (We would share drinks after eleven o'clock, Club closing time, after the crowd went home--then he would tell Lynne and I how to plan and execute our own Trans-Atlantic cruise).

He asked if I had any questions about his book, and I think he was quite pleased with my cleverness; "In the final chapter, you leave the reader hanging, concerning the pending divorce. "What ever happened?"

Sir Robin Knox Johnston smiled, looked at his lovely wife and said, "You probably should ask Lady Knox-Johnston..."

T.I.N.S!

Tuesday: I couldn't find the actual pictures of 1996 with Robin and his Lady, but I have some from a year and a half later:

This is Sir Robin Knox-Johnston after giving us the "Alderney Tankard" award for publishing the best sailing story for 1997 in "Little Ship" magazine.



Sir Robin is the President of the Little Ship Club.

One cool thing: That man has an unstoppable memory. Spousal Unit ran into him on the streets of the City of London. He not only remembered her name, but her father's name, whom he had met a year before!






History:
The Little Ship Club was founded as a private members club in 1926 to bring together yachtsmen and women working in the City of London who wanted to meet and exchange ideas during the long winter months. It rapidly became renowned for its classes in navigation and seamanship. In 1937, the club was awarded the right to fly the defaced Blue Ensign for its contribution to training the Royal Naval Volunteer Supplementary Reserve.

http://www.littleshipclub.co.uk/welcome-little-ship-club%2526%2523039%3Bs-website

Racing Wildebeest III on Thames near Thames Barrier

Feeling ill this past couple of days

I am wrecked. Spent about eighteen hours sleeping in last day. I expect to feel better by the weekend.

Bold City Beer Update

Ok.
I tried another Bold City product:Pale Ale.

It was great! Wait, it was labeled as "Pale Ale", but I just went to their site and only found this:

Rye Pale Ale

A medium bodied Pale Ale brewed with Rye Malt which provides a distinct flavor. A slight hop bitterness finishes this beer off nicely. This is a must try!

If that was it, I must give kudos to the Bold City Folks. This was a fine beer, it went well with a Gorgonzola pizza. I had two.

I still stand by the comment below, concerning that White Pale Ale.

Don't Fruit the Beer

I don't drink much Miller Lite, but they (and Bud Light Real Men of Genius) make some great commercials.

This goes with the previous post.

Saturday View out back and Beer testing

We had adequate weather, last weekend onboard Barco. Maybe about 65 degrees, and there was rain in the evening.

The above picture is a view of Pirate's Cove, looking from the Sundeck. Not too shabby.

The next picture is the view to our Port, but really it is to the right as you look to the stern.



Saturday was quiet, we sat out back with Hyacinth while nibbling on chips and cheese. Went over to the club for some better victuals, but all we could get were wings that came off of a Cornish Hen. The wings were tiny.

While snacking, we watched the "tennis" crowd came in and ordered drinkies to go, and laughed as the Bartender tried to offer free tastes of "Bold City White Ale".
http://www.boldcitybrewery.com/




I have never seen people pass a glass of free beer back, unfinished. The White Ale purports to be (this ripped off from their website): .."

White Ale

Our lightest beer; is a Belgian White Ale. Brewed with white wheat malt, Coriander and Bitter Orange peel. This refreshing Ale is pleasant on a hot summer day or a fall afternoon. Try it with a wedge of Orange.

I thought Burt Reynolds and the rest of the Miller Lite Man-Law crew have already made it a Man-Crime to fruit the beer.

Try it with a wedge of orange??? Whiskey Tango Foxtrot????? I supppose some snob will claim that there is a "Licorice finish, with a hint of Elderberry.."

Mongo's Straight!

I really, really, really want to support local brewery(s). Just meet me half way with something drinkable.

I watched at least six people refuse this beer. Even the bartender said that the Ale tasted different each time she tried it this week! (Of course, I found this simply Hi-Larious) I really want to like this beer brewer, SO I will try out their India Pale Ale, the English Ale and the rest of their offerings. Also just to set something else straight, I have never liked Belgian Beers, or for that matter Weiss Beers. But the Belgian beers like Hefeweizen were drinkable, even for me.

Of course, if you are buying, I'm drinking! Just not the Bold City White Ale.

One has to have standards!

Moving on;

The rain started coming down, and my jokes were falling flat on the Spouse and on the Staff. Time to go home to the Barco, and kick on some good tunes and break out the snacks and more reasonably priced refreshments.

Anyday spent on Barco Sin Vela is a good one.

Meet Hyacinth Bucket

She is a stray who chose to live at our home. Like we needed another cat.

Big problem; the Siamese girls, Mali and Saffy, are kinda feral. And they hate Non-Siamese cats. It has been a year, no mercy, no quarter.

Hyacinth is a "British Street Cat". She is HUGE, and should have no problem sorting out the Meezers.

Nope, she cowers and cries when they attack. They cut her up when they can. So Hyacinth has to live separate from the two girls. Major pain in the backsides.

Mao is bookended by his Girls.


The small Siamese girls look so loving, so precious. But they aren't. In fact, they are feral and vicious!

So today, Hyacinth is on the boat, at the moment. (We went to the club last night, and instead of driving home, we stayed aboard Barco). We bring the cat because she really likes the boat. It is incredible, the pleasure she has just lounging around the boat.

Just like her humans. Dogs have owners, Cat's have Staff.

Still Livin' the Adventure. Go Navy!