My Heart Is Touched By This Event and Follow up Story!

While visiting Japan for the first time in 1986, I found a wonderful society that was proud, intellectual, neat, generous and above all honest. I can attest to the last statement out of personal experience...I had just landed in Japan after a long flight from NJ and needless to say I was tired from the flight that had taken many hours to complete, not to mention the Sake that some US Sailors and I consumed along the way. After deplaning, I met my host who was putting me up for a few weeks before I started my back packing trip, in my haste to get some rest I inadvertently left one of my bags in the airport lobby, that one contained my money, travelers checks Etc. About thirty minutes driving from the airport I  realized that I had forgotten my bag, we turned around and went back to the airport, not expecting to find my bag. My friend said" don't worry, it will be there". Lo and behold, after what seemed like an eternity, I arrived back where I thought I had left my bag, there it was, untouched and everything intact! I was pleasantly surprised and actually witnessed many other acts of kindness and honest behaviour during my three months there.

A few years later, as a teacher in Jackson Township, several other teachers and I were invited by the Japanese Government to take part in an exchange athletic program. After agreeing, we packed our bags along with thirty six high school students and flew to Japan for what turned out to be a wonderful and rewarding trip. We were there for Christmas and to help usher in the New Year. No incidents or drama, just a great time. We were put up in the Keio Plaza Hotel during our stay and if you remember, that is where George Bush, the elder stayed during one of his visits.


http://www.nerve.com/news/current-events/japaneese-residents-return-over-78-million-from-earthquake-wreckage

If you read the accompanying story, you will see what I mean. My friends in Japan, you should be proud of your country men and women, I wish you all the best, and hope that you can get your lives back to normal after this terrible tragedy.

Preparing For Three Up Coming Events... Of Course There Will Be Pictures!

Coming next week is the Duck Boat Worlds, Marie darling and I are hurrying to get an entry ready,  for The Friends of Belmar harbor. We worked on this boat last year but we only had the boat for a week, this year we have done more extensive work on her and expect that she will be on the starting line for the judging and the race. This is our entry from last year, better this year.

Fore deck

Boom Crutch and steering station

The next event will be a motorcycle ride of the Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway, followed by some touring of the Smokey Mtns., then home by way of the Coast and all the Ferry systems.

http://www.google.com/search?q=images+of+blue+ridge+parkway&hl=en&rlz=1T4SKPT_enUS444US445&prmd=ivns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=YfpMTomfD5PfgQfY6-HoBg&ved=0CBoQsAQ&biw=1920&bih=833

My ride

Just the Southren Section of BR Parkway

After that on Sept 17, a tour of Ireland is scheduled. 8 Days in Ireland, visiting Galloway, Cork and Dublin, with some excursions and a draft r two of Guinness along the way;  if you get my meaning.

http://www.google.com/search?q=pictures+of+ireland+scenery&hl=en&rlz=1T4SKPT_enUS444US445&prmd=ivns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=cPlMTqzPOMeBgAf80pyQBw&ved=0CDQQsAQ&biw=1920&bih=833

Eight days in Ireland

New Train For Japan!

Those of you who feel sorry for Pandabonium, take note, this is the antique railway system that he has to deal with. I can see he and Kim relaxing to a wonderful Obento as they fly along the tracks. I would like to travel to Japan just to try this rail service, maybe not too far fetched!

Pandabonium, lighten up, take Kim for a ride. Perhaps go to Hakata for a Robotayaki grill, one of my favorites. I'll meet you there, dinner is on me.

I'd salute this thing too

I might even salute her as well

Tough life to be a tourist

Any body know where the toilet is?

Add caption

Personal comfort

I think that Freud would have something to say about this.

This might be a Geico commercial

Safely landed, a Lido 14 with a cockpit?

Pictures from Ayre's Pond Regatta

I just received some pictures from my friend Roland who attended the Ayre's Pond Regatta this past weekend. He and his friend John Kelsey sailed a Marshall Sanderling among a hundred other Catboats. Great fun with fellow sailors on the water. 

"Ahoy, Charley!
Just back from two days sailing in the Arey's Pond Regatta......nearly 100 catboats! More than I ever expect to see again in one place at one time. Lots of fun. Here are a few photos from the day with friend John Kelsey aboard his Sanderling. I'm sure your gimlet eye will pick up some details....like sails luffing in very light airs."


http://www.areyspondboatyard.com/

Ayre's Pond Regatta

Watching the wind

All makes and models

Still watching the wind
John "don't sweat the trim", just ask Roland.

A Dog Day Afternoon...Just Call Me Baydog! Hajime Mashite!

I have been writing this Blog for about a year and a half now and there was, from the very start one individual who always took the time to comment on my Posts. That person goes by the Blogosphere name of Baydog. Today after sharing comments on each others Blogs, I finally met the Baydog, I must say, that he was what I expected. I think that we hit it off from the very first "Hello" and that we will continue to be friends on the Internet and Beyond.

D..y was easy to talk to and I could tell that he shares the same passion that I do for the water and serene places. He found a new one today! My little piece of Paradise quickly became one of Baydog's.

After snapping several pictures we both bid each other Adieu (until we meet again), perhaps one day he will visit Florida Bay, maybe we will sail for an afternoon or just keep in touch via Blogs. Whatever, it's all good.

A Duck Boat sporting an unusual Sprit Sail arrangement



Heading out of the Basin



Baydog  caught in the act of  collecting Blog material

Getting Our Entry Ready For The Worlds...Duck Boat That Is!

Marie Darling and I have been working several days now to get our entry ready for the Duck Boat Worlds, actually it is not our Duck Boat, it belongs to "Friends of Belmar Bay". Marie and I are just some volunteers that they dug up to whip this craft into sail able condition. This is  our second year helping out and we both have enjoyed the process. What you see in the pictures is the wooding of the bottom and preparing the deck for paint.   We both expect that this boat will be competitive and expect to have fun in the process.

Using tools at hand we remove the paint from the bottom

After removing the paint, we fair the bottom with a sander and some elbow grease

Marie doing the final sanding

Prepping the deck for paint

DUCK BOAT WORLDS 2011...LET THE FRENZY BEGIN!

It's that time of the year again, Duck Boat frenzy has officially started. Beaton's has begun to bring the Little Quackers out of storage for their short lived chance to get wet and strut their stuff. I see Russ Manheimer working on Speedwell, Marie Darling and I are getting our entry ready and Paul Smith is busy in the shop working on yet another.

Set up Party 8/25/2011 6:00 PM

Duck Boats at the ready

This year the Set-up Party hosted by the Mantoloking Yacht Club is Thursday, August 25 at 6:00 PM with the Regatta taking place the next day.

As usual Peter Kellogg is highly involved in the affair and if the past years are any indication of what to expect this year, it should be a wonderful time for all.

SUNSET IN THE RIGGING

It seems a very short time ago I returned form the Winter in the Keys, actually it has been four months to the day. Although I usually enjoy the New Jersey Shore and it's fine summer weather, this year has been quite different because of the high temperatures and lack of rain fall as of late. The same was not true in May however, when it seemed like it rained every day, or at least every other day. None the less, life is good and in two months I make my way back to the Keys, God willing.

Sunset over Alligator Bay

The photo that accompanies this post is one that was taken one evening off a small Key on Alligator Bay, while on an overnight sail. "Sun Set In The Rigging".  The second picture is of my buddy Corky who sailed with me for ten years, she enjoyed the Sunset as well!

"Corky",  because she was a Corker
I miss my sailing partner

Forty miles WSW is the tip of the West Coast of Florida and the Gulf of Mexico.

More On Twila Merrill And Her Rodeo Days...Scenic Owner!

This is an interview with my friend Twila about how she became a rodeo star to support her family. As I said before Twila is unique and will fight to the very end. "There ain't a Cowgirl that can't be throwed!"

http://www.riverearth.com/lost-sea/rodeo-legend-twila-merrill-explains-aint-a-cowgirl-that-cant-be-throwed

Time Marches On, Somewhere!!! Reluctantly

As usual, on any given summer day I was hanging out at the boatyard, working on a project, shooting the bull and observing how little things have changed yet how some things have changed.

The first set of pictures are of a 1903 Ships Wheel,  in for an estimate to determine how much it would cost to restore it to new condition. I will not divulge the estimate, rest assured that it would be considerable. It was made in Philadelphia in 1903 by Williams Mfg. Co., I assume that it saw service on some Coasting Schooner, transporting goods up and down the East Coast until it either sank or was taken out of service. The Wheel is about  5' in diameter and is inlaid with holly and sports a solid bronze hub. Unfortunately, for  the present owner it did not react well to being left outside exposed to the elements. Never the less It is a great conversation piece, I sure hope it can be saved. Update... 8/3/11 Just as I thought, after hearing what it would cost to restore the wheel, the owner picked it up from the shop and took it home.

1903 Ships wheel in for restoration?
The King Spoke is at 4:00 o'clock and is marked by a circular bronze plaque indicating the Manufacturer.

This must have been something in it's day!

The second set of pictures are of the very old, in need of repair, plank steaming box. The steam is provided to this dilapidated box by an antique steam boiler. Don't get me wrong, I love this stuff, this is what keeps me going back to Beaton's year after year. Initially, the box leaks until it swells then the wood is steamed until the fibers become pliable and are bent on a jig. Remember if it ain't broke, don't  fool with it.

At first it leaks like a sieve, then tightens up and works as designed

Steam Box and plumbing

Wood fired Boiler,  the heart and soul of the steaming process

Thinking outside the box...Err. ah...inside the box, outside the building!
Extension for longer planks.

Finally, modern technology comes to Beaton's, in the form of a wind vane of the highest calibre. Bureaucracy is still rampant in Brick Township, just in case you are wondering; it took great patience and much Red Tape to get this new "Green" machine approved.

High tech comes to Beaton's
Wind mill that provides the power to the Houseboat to the left