Tonight The Waves Have Big Shoulders

excerpt from ship's log

 

 

 

 

 

Tonight The Waves Have Big Shoulders,

 

 

 

excerpt from Bill's log on the Snow Goose:

 

 

3/25: Left Maule Lake at 1200 hours, S.E. wind 20-25 K., heavy overcast.

Anchored No Name Harbor - wet ride, punched head seas all the way.

 

3/26: 1900 hours left No Name Harbor and anchored opposite Cape Florida Light,

really dumb. Couldn't sleep, boat rolling. Set course for Cat Cay, 125 magnetic.

Went on foredeck, promptly got sick. Winds N.E. and increasing. Awfully cold,

Must be 40 degrees. Not dressed for this, wrapped in blankets and still cold. Barbary

has the watch & I'm still prone in cockpit. Our wake is like flames.  0200 hours -

Feeling fine again, seas moderated in axis of Gulf Stream. Still blowing fresh.  Turned

180 degrees to avoid freighter. 0230, sighted Bimini Light, right where it should be.

0430, see Gunn Cay Light - too soon. Speedometer is broken, no idea of our speed.   

0530, one mile west of Honeymoon Harbor & ¼ mile north of Gun Cay entrance.   

0700, anchored east side of Cat Cay on lee shore - rolling - waiting for customs office

to open.  We're exhausted.

 

3/27: Left anchorage north of Gun Light, course 98 degrees. Wind N.E., 25 Knots &

clear.  Taking spray over entire boat, so turned around - only made 4 miles in 3 hours.

Low on fuel, no fuel at Cat Cay dock, nearest is Bimini. Talked it over, decided this too

much for Barbary' spine after surgery. [Several months ago, a 40 ton Bahamian

fishing boat rammed us.*] 0900 hours, heading west to Florida. E.S.E. winds 15-20, 4

ft. to 6 ft. waves pushing us. 1400, Land ho - Miami off port bow (But we set a course

for Ft.Lauderdale!)  1500 hours, off shore of Lauderdale, too hazy, can't identify

entrance, so back to Miami & anchored Richenbacker Bridge, north side.

 

4/2: Happy Birthday, Barbary.  Cleared customs at Miamarina via phone. Intracoastal

run to Lauderdale. Hard aground on rock shelf in mid-channel, over 45 degrees.

Pounded for 2 hours before Waterway Police pulled us off.

 

 

*Journey of the Snow Goose ISBN 1-4241-5786-2

 

 

 

Reviews

[julian3]

OK, my dear friend, either I hallucinated posting a review of this before OR it was lost during the Great Crash of 08. I hope it was the latter!
Every line you have shared from the Snow Goose - every voyage, every moment of sea-night introspection, sunrise illumination, every talented and gifted line, brings the reader the clear scent of salt air and the distant tolling of wave and bell.
I eagerly look forward to seeing more of your writing here, as your time allows.
And I wish you all the best...

[[untitled]]

I believe that I have been privy to enjoying this before. However, this time I was there and felt every thing....even a bit of nausea. This disry reminded me just a token of the diary into which I am currently delving. 1944 & 1945 Diary of the 305th BG all 4 SQ. I have found my fathers name twice...of course that is the point. I am so happy that you are here....so happy. :-))