We just returned to the USA after a longer than expected voyage. Will be up
on the Chesapeake for a month or so then off on a long overdue vacation on
the new boat. Sort of a test cruise before the final rebuild/refit/upgrade
is accomplished by my good friends in PortTownsend. Was able to get in some
sailing in Diego Garcia of course and also off the coast of Spain this time.
Also did some instructing (DGYC uses more the British style competent
crew/competent skipper etc. system which is far more demanding than the US
ASA training so I had to dial up quite a bit. One more school to finish the
leap to both 200 ton and one from NearCoastal to Oceans and that will be
done by September as well. So it will be nice to check in from time to time
and see whats up but mostly I'll be concentrating on finishing up this job
and then puttering around the San Juan Islands in Washington and BC. This
working all but 3 weeks a year helped me catch up but it's time for a
break! And like the Persian Gulf it's a safe area with no trailer park
residents . . .so to speak. I think playing catch up was the most important
thing. You can't regain the lost time but I did regain a lot of the lost
money simply by filing a set of 1099 forms for the last two years. IRS for
once was quite nice about it and no fines for late filing from 2002. The
one and only thing that still hangs and will probably keep doing so is
wondering when some shoe will drop. Security investigations aside (and all
positive) there's no telling what little surprises await but what the hell!
Life goes on. Biggest lesson learned . ..don't let anyone no matter how
close get ahold of your identity. You just don't know. Thankfully the US
Navy demands a complete check and the Coasties did another one besides.
Plan is still to finish up the new boat and then truck it to the Great Lakes
on onto the ICW and down to Caribbean with stops in Florida of course ,
then it's flip a coin East or West but I'm thinking about Corpus Christi to
San Diego (all part of research on an article called Canals On Wheels). If
that happens in both directions it'll be off back to the S.Pacific. Mexico
and CentralAmerica? I've got the T-Shirt and it's sort of like driving to
the end of the block but not crossing the street after the first few times.
Don't know how many of you caught it but my first published article is in
the middle of Lats and Atts current issue, look for the pictures of the
freighters! Two more accepted but no pub date and two more in the machine
to be finished up. IRS loved that too and my laptop got a complete write
off!

So life is sweet and the future looks so good I gotta wear shades!

Cheers and Smooth Sailing to all . . . . So whatever happened to Neal?

Michael

On Sat, 5 Jun 2004 11:25:29 -0500, "Michael"
wrote:

We just returned to the USA after a longer than expected voyage. Will be up
on the Chesapeake for a month or so then off on a long overdue vacation on
the new boat. Sort of a test cruise before the final rebuild/refit/upgrade
is accomplished by my good friends in PortTownsend. Was able to get in some
sailing in Diego Garcia of course and also off the coast of Spain this time.
Also did some instructing (DGYC uses more the British style competent
crew/competent skipper etc. system which is far more demanding than the US
ASA training so I had to dial up quite a bit. One more school to finish the
leap to both 200 ton and one from NearCoastal to Oceans and that will be
done by September as well. So it will be nice to check in from time to time
and see whats up but mostly I'll be concentrating on finishing up this job
and then puttering around the San Juan Islands in Washington and BC. This
working all but 3 weeks a year helped me catch up but it's time for a
break! And like the Persian Gulf it's a safe area with no trailer park
residents . . .so to speak. I think playing catch up was the most important
thing. You can't regain the lost time but I did regain a lot of the lost
money simply by filing a set of 1099 forms for the last two years. IRS for
once was quite nice about it and no fines for late filing from 2002. The
one and only thing that still hangs and will probably keep doing so is
wondering when some shoe will drop. Security investigations aside (and all
positive) there's no telling what little surprises await but what the hell!
Life goes on. Biggest lesson learned . ..don't let anyone no matter how
close get ahold of your identity. You just don't know. Thankfully the US
Navy demands a complete check and the Coasties did another one besides.
Plan is still to finish up the new boat and then truck it to the Great Lakes
on onto the ICW and down to Caribbean with stops in Florida of course ,
then it's flip a coin East or West but I'm thinking about Corpus Christi to
San Diego (all part of research on an article called Canals On Wheels). If
that happens in both directions it'll be off back to the S.Pacific. Mexico
and CentralAmerica? I've got the T-Shirt and it's sort of like driving to
the end of the block but not crossing the street after the first few times.
Don't know how many of you caught it but my first published article is in
the middle of Lats and Atts current issue, look for the pictures of the
freighters! Two more accepted but no pub date and two more in the machine
to be finished up. IRS loved that too and my laptop got a complete write
off!

So life is sweet and the future looks so good I gotta wear shades!

Cheers and Smooth Sailing to all . . . . So whatever happened to Neal?

Michael


Good to hear from you again. I'm glad you had a good trip.
Which ticket/endorsement are you going for after your 200 ton and
Oceans?
Mark E. Williams

"What a disappointment today. Some months of waiting, travel half way round
the world, finally get off this bucket and take a taxi to Barnes and Noble .
... . AH HAH! Lats and Atts is in stock. Then I realized it wasn't the
May/June issue but the June issue. Aforementioned article is 'last months'
mag. Drat! Dag nab it! Lucky my friends in various places bought copies
for me while I was gone........sorry 'bout the misleading statement.

Hi Katy! Hi Doug! Hi Thom! Hi Joe! Donal! Oz! Haggie! Pony's! Scotty!,
Mooron! Flying Tadpole! and all you old time posters! What do you all have
in common? Mr. Borland's CC Mail system will allow none of your email
addresses to work. But I did try . . . .

Sheesh! Catch me up, whats been happening? Anyone going to Harborfest in
Norfolk next weekend?

Nice to be back . .

just plain Michael now . . . . .

"What a disappointment today. Some months of waiting, travel half way round
the world, finally get off this bucket and take a taxi to Barnes and Noble .
.. . AH HAH! Lats and Atts is in stock.

not many people get excited reading about scooter trash.

done some prison time, have ya dude?

Seemed like it some days. Swung on the hook for seven weeks in Diego G.
awaiting a back haul. Life on a tropical atoll seems great . . until it
includes 90 hour work weeks. But the paycheck looked great! Not as bad as
the MSC unrep ships though. That is real institutionalized living. Funny
thing on the last of those I sailed on, the "Shasta" we took aboard frozen
stores one day and included were boxes of meat originally consigned to the
California Penal System and overstamped "Rejected."

M.




"JAXAshby" wrote in message
...
"What a disappointment today. Some months of waiting, travel half way
round
the world, finally get off this bucket and take a taxi to Barnes and
Noble .
.. . AH HAH! Lats and Atts is in stock.

not many people get excited reading about scooter trash.

done some prison time, have ya dude?

Hi.... good to hear from you! Sounds like you've had quite the adventure.

All things are going well here on the coast of Nova Scotia. Let me know if
you are ever headed for Halifax.... I'll meet you there and we can go for a
sail.

From what I understand Capt. Neal is in Cuba. He's running the branch office
of Bush's oil company "Arabusto" and living with a child prostitute. It's
all funded by Al Quaida. Bush intends to retire there to avoid the
repercussions after they discover how badly he screwed up during his only
term as President. :-)

CM

"Michael" wrote in message
...
| We just returned to the USA after a longer than expected voyage. Will be
up
| on the Chesapeake for a month or so then off on a long overdue vacation on
| the new boat. Sort of a test cruise before the final
rebuild/refit/upgrade
| is accomplished by my good friends in PortTownsend. Was able to get in
some
| sailing in Diego Garcia of course and also off the coast of Spain this
time.
| Also did some instructing (DGYC uses more the British style competent
| crew/competent skipper etc. system which is far more demanding than the US
| ASA training so I had to dial up quite a bit. One more school to finish
the
| leap to both 200 ton and one from NearCoastal to Oceans and that will be
| done by September as well. So it will be nice to check in from time to
time
| and see whats up but mostly I'll be concentrating on finishing up this job
| and then puttering around the San Juan Islands in Washington and BC. This
| working all but 3 weeks a year helped me catch up but it's time for a
| break! And like the Persian Gulf it's a safe area with no trailer park
| residents . . .so to speak. I think playing catch up was the most
important
| thing. You can't regain the lost time but I did regain a lot of the lost
| money simply by filing a set of 1099 forms for the last two years. IRS
for
| once was quite nice about it and no fines for late filing from 2002. The
| one and only thing that still hangs and will probably keep doing so is
| wondering when some shoe will drop. Security investigations aside (and
all
| positive) there's no telling what little surprises await but what the
hell!
| Life goes on. Biggest lesson learned . ..don't let anyone no matter how
| close get ahold of your identity. You just don't know. Thankfully the US
| Navy demands a complete check and the Coasties did another one besides.
| Plan is still to finish up the new boat and then truck it to the Great
Lakes
| on onto the ICW and down to Caribbean with stops in Florida of course ,
| then it's flip a coin East or West but I'm thinking about Corpus Christi
to
| San Diego (all part of research on an article called Canals On Wheels).
If
| that happens in both directions it'll be off back to the S.Pacific.
Mexico
| and CentralAmerica? I've got the T-Shirt and it's sort of like driving to
| the end of the block but not crossing the street after the first few
times.
| Don't know how many of you caught it but my first published article is in
| the middle of Lats and Atts current issue, look for the pictures of the
| freighters! Two more accepted but no pub date and two more in the machine
| to be finished up. IRS loved that too and my laptop got a complete write
| off!
|
| So life is sweet and the future looks so good I gotta wear shades!
|
| Cheers and Smooth Sailing to all . . . . So whatever happened to Neal?
|
| Michael
|
|

Sounds just like him make that, them. Actually I have acquired all the
charts, once down the St. Lawrence, hanging a right at Belle Isle and
wandering right by. One of the benefits to this job is getting all the
'old but up to date with corrections' charts. Ii'll be sure to pick your
brain by email or phone for some voyage planning. Then there's the
Trent-Severn waterway in Ontario which most never see. Looking forward to
it and I think the results will make or break the case for bypassing the
'ditch.' Panama is like Tahiti. Sounds good in the books, not that big a
deal in real life.



Bush family seems to have a talented habit of screwing up a golden
situation. First there was 'read my lips' George who made deals with the
enemy and wondered why his supporters weren't anymore. And now we have
Version II who took on Saddam and the DNC. Sort of a "Bridge Too Far"
redux. Over the months I've got to talk first hand to a lot of the guys and
gals coming out of Iraq. We get a group of them aboard every return trip.
Bush scored high for letting the military run the war instead of the
micro-management style we all learned to hate so well inthe past, the people
on the front did a superb job of getting the initial job done with a
remarkably low casualty rate (compare for example to the names on that wall
.. . . .) but none of them do well, hell no one anywhere does well, at long
term urban combat. Except maybe examples like Warsaw in WWII or Pol Pot in
Cambodia and that we're not prepared to emulate. The biggest enemy beyond
those aforementioned is time. We USA types tend to think everything is a
big video game and you get it over with, turn off the Play Station and go on
to watching the tube. No stomach for the long haul. Besides arranging a
new version of "Peace With Honor" a la' Nixon when he cleaned up to some
extent LBJ's fiasco, the one major thing though that will turn it around for
the Bush Bunch is to finesse a drop in the price of fuel at the pump. Mr.
and Mrs. Unwashed in the heartland respond to that much more than anything
else. As for the troops both those in Kuwait and those in Iraq. They are
tired when we get them back but still proud of the job they did. Those who
committed excesses, such as in those prisons, they want to hang them . .
...but then we had our Captain Medina and Lieutenant Calley just like all
wars I suppose. Given a vote today . .. still 70% of the military will vote
for Bush. That's no surprise. Whatshername Pelosi? Made that ridiculous
announcement about supporting the troops better? That cost them lots of
votes in the military segment. Military people don't go by what you say but
by what you actually do. Getting crapped on continuously by those people
since the Korean War and then making silly statements like Pelosi did was
hugely counterproductive. . ..but what do you expect? The one thing; you
don't do is make statements antagonizing a large group of voters when you
have gone over to the other side. Two other huge mistakes the DNC made.
First, was discussing military records of the candidates. They should have
just kept quiet because it brought up the Clinton years in recent memory and
the professional military (which includes 100% of them these days) remembers
the "military service is not important" mantra hammering they took for
eight years, among other things. And that brings up the ability of each
party's candidates to conduct wars. DNC is the big time loser on that one,
the shoulda just kept it quiet. Second was promoting a return to the
draft. That told the troops they expected to have to return to military
slavery to get anyone to fight for them. Sent the wrong message big time on
that one. But as I said the troops are very tired. And it's not a WWII
mindset anymore. A lot of the reservists and National Guard (another form
of reservists in the USA) learned what it's like to fulfill the contract.
The days of being LBJ's darlings are long, long gone. When the military was
downsized, especially under President Clinton, the reserves were given a
major role for future combat needs. But under the volunteer system you can
safely say absolutely no one is there against their will. Everyone had to
volunteer for service in the military. A far cry from the dark days of
universal conscription. Remember the words of Robert Heinlein, "If a
society is worth saving enough will come forward; if enough do not come
forward it follows the society was not worth saving." What you are seeing
today is the handwriting on the wall. The ballot box is at the enlistment
office's. That's something RNC and DNC would do well to consider.

In short, troops did a great job, politicians are screwing it up, Bush will
still get 70% of the military vote.

But on to important questions . . ..Where's the capital of North America
going to be? Two official languages? Or three? Next 20 or 30 years will
tell. In my remaining lifetime for sure.

Cheers

Michael




"Capt. Mooron" wrote in message
...
Hi.... good to hear from you! Sounds like you've had quite the adventure.

All things are going well here on the coast of Nova Scotia. Let me know if
you are ever headed for Halifax.... I'll meet you there and we can go for
a
sail.

From what I understand Capt. Neal is in Cuba. He's running the branch
office
of Bush's oil company "Arabusto" and living with a child prostitute. It's
all funded by Al Quaida. Bush intends to retire there to avoid the
repercussions after they discover how badly he screwed up during his only
term as President. :-)

CM

"Michael" wrote in message
...
| We just returned to the USA after a longer than expected voyage. Will
be
up
| on the Chesapeake for a month or so then off on a long overdue vacation
on
| the new boat. Sort of a test cruise before the final
rebuild/refit/upgrade
| is accomplished by my good friends in PortTownsend. Was able to get in
some
| sailing in Diego Garcia of course and also off the coast of Spain this
time.
| Also did some instructing (DGYC uses more the British style competent
| crew/competent skipper etc. system which is far more demanding than the
US
| ASA training so I had to dial up quite a bit. One more school to finish
the
| leap to both 200 ton and one from NearCoastal to Oceans and that will be
| done by September as well. So it will be nice to check in from time to
time
| and see whats up but mostly I'll be concentrating on finishing up this
job
| and then puttering around the San Juan Islands in Washington and BC.
This
| working all but 3 weeks a year helped me catch up but it's time for a
| break! And like the Persian Gulf it's a safe area with no trailer park
| residents . . .so to speak. I think playing catch up was the most
important
| thing. You can't regain the lost time but I did regain a lot of the
lost
| money simply by filing a set of 1099 forms for the last two years. IRS
for
| once was quite nice about it and no fines for late filing from 2002.
The
| one and only thing that still hangs and will probably keep doing so is
| wondering when some shoe will drop. Security investigations aside (and
all
| positive) there's no telling what little surprises await but what the
hell!
| Life goes on. Biggest lesson learned . ..don't let anyone no matter how
| close get ahold of your identity. You just don't know. Thankfully the
US
| Navy demands a complete check and the Coasties did another one besides.
| Plan is still to finish up the new boat and then truck it to the Great
Lakes
| on onto the ICW and down to Caribbean with stops in Florida of course ,
| then it's flip a coin East or West but I'm thinking about Corpus Christi
to
| San Diego (all part of research on an article called Canals On Wheels).
If
| that happens in both directions it'll be off back to the S.Pacific.
Mexico
| and CentralAmerica? I've got the T-Shirt and it's sort of like driving
to
| the end of the block but not crossing the street after the first few
times.
| Don't know how many of you caught it but my first published article is
in
| the middle of Lats and Atts current issue, look for the pictures of the
| freighters! Two more accepted but no pub date and two more in the
machine
| to be finished up. IRS loved that too and my laptop got a complete
write
| off!
|
| So life is sweet and the future looks so good I gotta wear shades!
|
| Cheers and Smooth Sailing to all . . . . So whatever happened to Neal?
|
| Michael
|
|

"Michael" wrote in message ...
Seemed like it some days. Swung on the hook for seven weeks in Diego G.
awaiting a back haul. Life on a tropical atoll seems great . . until it
includes 90 hour work weeks. But the paycheck looked great! Not as bad as
the MSC unrep ships though. That is real institutionalized living. Funny
thing on the last of those I sailed on, the "Shasta" we took aboard frozen
stores one day and included were boxes of meat originally consigned to the
California Penal System and overstamped "Rejected."

M.


Dont feel bad, I spent 168 days strait on Deigo. Its a blast the
first 14 day then it get kinda old. Did you hear of Hector? In fact I
was on the first US Navy boat to be in deigo garica since WW11. I took
my 50 footer in ahead of the ship and set up a temp bouy system to
bring the ship in. We were there when the Iran hostage deal started.
No Yacht club, just a small seebees base and they were still
dynamiting the coral reefs to make concrete for the landing strips, it
was something seeming them take those big dozers out into the surf
were the whole things except a air intakes were underwater and pushing
up the coral onto the beach. It was a shame, the reefs there have to
be the best in the world. Swimming the reefs was like swimming in the
best tropical fish aquarium on earth the variety of fish was amazing.
After the first 168 day we got took a R&R trip to mariutius off the
cost of africa, last island on earth were the dodo bird lived, they
sold hash on the streets there for about 5 bucks a pound, talk about a
stoned crew.

Did you see any coconut crabs? Miniature horses? Did you make it to
the plantation? Do they still have the fishing barge ancored out? We
would catch 40 pounds red snappers all day long if we wanted. Is it
still under B.I.O.T
police? Infact if you go to the other Mikes sailinglinks site you can
see a picture of me on the landing at Deigo in the back ground you
will see a pristine beach, thats were they put the YC today I think.
I'd love to see the place again, but it sounds like they have turned
it into another club med. Talk about a tropical paradise. Anyhow
welcome back you salty dog.

Joe



"JAXAshby" wrote in message
...
"What a disappointment today. Some months of waiting, travel half way
round
the world, finally get off this bucket and take a taxi to Barnes and
Noble .
.. . AH HAH! Lats and Atts is in stock.

not many people get excited reading about scooter trash.

done some prison time, have ya dude?

"Michael" wrote in message ...

Also did some instructing (DGYC uses more the British style competent
crew/competent skipper etc. system which is far more demanding than the US
ASA training so I had to dial up quite a bit. Michael

Michael here is the picture of me on the landing:

http://www.sailinglinks.com/images/deigogarciag101.jpg

Thats me on the right, note the ladies laying around on the landing.
In the background is the area were the yacht club is now located. It
was pristine back in 1980.

Do you have any recent pictures of the isle you can post?

Joe

Are you in for some surprises. I took a bunch of photos. Did the same last
year and sent them back along with a lot of stuff to post but somehow,
somebody was too busy doing whatever else to deal with it. So I took more
this year. It's all different. The yacht club is all built up but they
just tore down the bar to build a new one. Hector was too busy stealing
fish off of hooks, eating the handouts fromthe dumbies on the ship's and
ended up going after some folks so they did away with him. Pictures of that
monster still posted above the cash register in the Seamans Club. Lots of
new buildings, complete ATT sat phone service, clubs, stores, swimming pool,
gym etc. etc. etc. Everything except Scuba as they have no pressure chamber
available sothat's out. I'll get those photos developed and a copy put on
disc and then post them somewhere or send them direct.

This time I picked up 25 Burgees from DGYC. I had two before. One ended up
on the wall at Port Townsend Rigging and one in a yacht club that gave me a
week free just to get it! Now I'm well prepared.

My third trip there in a little over a year. Great place, but as you say
only for the first few weeks. Can't get basics like tennies, bootlaces,
etc. etc. etc. still and the Pinoy's that run everything only order in Sizes
S and M with a few of the rest in short supply.

Still has that vicious surge just inside the entrance too! Whipped out
60,000 tons around and at one point I felt like I was steering a surfboard!

OK I'll get that done in Virginia and get them posted.

Looks like a month and a bit there and then back to the good ole Pacific NW.
I'll be in and out all the islands for quite a while between ships. It's
been a long two years and it's good to have a place to go to where you know
everyone. Did contact my friends in Norfolk though and the weekends will be
spent back on the tugs. Little more preparation for the next license jump.
That will get me away from the limitations of near coastal and set up for
crossings and, as I've found out, 100 ton limited to the coast are (not to
downgrade it but to make a practical statement) available for whistling so
it makes sense to jump the tonnage and get the 'oceans' version. That opens
up a lot of delivery work plus some worthwhile charter skippering not to
mention the commercial side of things. Big difference out here when you can
go from local tourist guide or taxi boat to the working world of the
industry. Oh well . . .more on that and on the boat refit later as time
goes on. I should be around through the summer and into October before the
next freighter voyages start up.

Side note - I remember someone asked about my old radar unit but it went
tit's up so I didn't bother trying to send it but I am taking out the Edson
wheel steering this year and going back to tiller steering. That unit
complete with engine controls and compass binnacle will be available if
anyone is interested. Also have a lot of duplicate charts now and
continually pick up more if anyone has a need I'll be able to get at them
in a month or so plus whatI can find locally.

Old Salt!!!!!!!!! Looked in the mirror lately?

Cheers

Michael




"Joe" wrote in message
om...
"Michael" wrote in message
...
Seemed like it some days. Swung on the hook for seven weeks in Diego G.
awaiting a back haul. Life on a tropical atoll seems great . . until it
includes 90 hour work weeks. But the paycheck looked great! Not as bad
as
the MSC unrep ships though. That is real institutionalized living.
Funny
thing on the last of those I sailed on, the "Shasta" we took aboard
frozen
stores one day and included were boxes of meat originally consigned to
the
California Penal System and overstamped "Rejected."

M.


Dont feel bad, I spent 168 days strait on Deigo. Its a blast the
first 14 day then it get kinda old. Did you hear of Hector? In fact I
was on the first US Navy boat to be in deigo garica since WW11. I took
my 50 footer in ahead of the ship and set up a temp bouy system to
bring the ship in. We were there when the Iran hostage deal started.
No Yacht club, just a small seebees base and they were still
dynamiting the coral reefs to make concrete for the landing strips, it
was something seeming them take those big dozers out into the surf
were the whole things except a air intakes were underwater and pushing
up the coral onto the beach. It was a shame, the reefs there have to
be the best in the world. Swimming the reefs was like swimming in the
best tropical fish aquarium on earth the variety of fish was amazing.
After the first 168 day we got took a R&R trip to mariutius off the
cost of africa, last island on earth were the dodo bird lived, they
sold hash on the streets there for about 5 bucks a pound, talk about a
stoned crew.

Did you see any coconut crabs? Miniature horses? Did you make it to
the plantation? Do they still have the fishing barge ancored out? We
would catch 40 pounds red snappers all day long if we wanted. Is it
still under B.I.O.T
police? Infact if you go to the other Mikes sailinglinks site you can
see a picture of me on the landing at Deigo in the back ground you
will see a pristine beach, thats were they put the YC today I think.
I'd love to see the place again, but it sounds like they have turned
it into another club med. Talk about a tropical paradise. Anyhow
welcome back you salty dog.

Joe



"JAXAshby" wrote in message
...
"What a disappointment today. Some months of waiting, travel half
way
round
the world, finally get off this bucket and take a taxi to Barnes and
Noble .
.. . AH HAH! Lats and Atts is in stock.

not many people get excited reading about scooter trash.

done some prison time, have ya dude?