HEADING HOME THIS AFTERNOON ALONG PORTER HILL LINE….’SPRINGS A POPP-IN’:))
Having said in Wednesdays post I needed to give the Motorhome a good old soap and water wash I figured when I got up this morning I had just better get myself on outside and do that. So I did. With nights no longer dropping down into the mid 30’s our mornings are now becoming warm enough to get out and do things where water is required. It generally takes me the best part of an hour to wash that big thing but longer this morning because I had to first go round with black streak remover and get all those miserable black streaks off almost anywhere where there is rubber molding around windows and that includes the windshield. Didn’t get all the glass cleaned so maybe on the week-end. Raked up more pine needles and that about finished off my morning.
ONE OF OUR FRONT YARD AZALEA TREES IS IN FULL BLOOM ALREADY
Due at Goderich’s Alexandra Marine Hospital at 12:30 for a Doppler Ultra-Sound on my legs I was of course there early. In the grand scheme of things I don’t mind those kinds of appointments because there is no pain involved. Bonus. The procedure took 20 minutes and other than having to put on one of those silly blue backless gowns everything went off without a hitch and I was out of there 20 minutes later. A short drive down around the harbor netted me a few Coast Guard Cutter photos and that was about it for the day and I was back home well before 2.
SAW THIS FELLOW IN GODERICH TODAY AND HE REMIINDED ME OF ONE OF THE BISBEE ARIZONA CHARACTERS
I’M ASSUMING THIS IS THE COAST GUARD VESSEL ‘CAPE DISCOVERY’ BUT I’M NOT POSITIVE BECAUSE I DIDN’T GET A SHOT OF THE NAME ON THE BOW
NOT SURE IF THOSE ARE CREW MEMBERS OR GUESTS
THE FELLOW DRIVING THE BOAT WAS PUTTING IT THROUGH SOME SLOW MANUEVERS SHOWING IT’S AGILITY
HEADING BACK TO BASE
With a storm front fast approaching gusting winds knocked a lamp of a table on our front porch and lifted the back deck umbrella right up and out of the table it was supported by. The storm front was short and swept over us with a couple claps of loud thunder a quick deluge of rain. Temperatures dropped about 15 degrees in about 15 minutes. I was happy to see cooler air come in and kick that humidity right out of town. As the storm headed inland our skies cleared and we ended the day under cooler sunny skies:))
OUR LITTLE ONE LEGGED MOURNING DOVE LIKES TO REST ON OUR BIRD STATION
Seeing that Coast Guard vessel which I believe to be the Cape Discovery in the Goderich harbor today reminded me of Sunday June 20th 2010 when I actually got a chance to go on board this boat and take some photos. Below are the pictures from that day as well as a few paragraphs of what I wrote about my short time spent aboard.
SUNDAY JUNE 20TH 2010 THE CAPE DISCOVERY DOCKS ALONGSIDE BAYFIELD’S SOUTH PIER
CREW MEMBERS MAKE READY A GANGPLANK FOR FOLKS TO TOUR THE BOAT
After a few minutes I noticed they had the Coast Guard boat secured so walked back down the pier & waited by the gang plank. A uniformed crew member waved me on board & it was apparent right from the start that Rescue Specialist Jamie Oakley was the first of 4 courteous crew members on duty today. A narrow steel walkway with a white hand rail led back to the aft deck & up a short ladder to the top outside bridge. Jamie pointed out the state of the art electronic navigation & communication equipment-gyro stabilized radar, electronic charts, RDF equipment,VHF inter-ship communication & VHF AM air to ground communication systems. All this equipment & more is replicated one deck below in the wheelhouse where I caught a glimpse of Capt. Greg Kingston on his way to an even lower deck. He too was busy with the tour.
From the upper bridge it was back down the rear ladder, around a tight corner & into the enclosed deck below. Practically every inch of space is utilized & this was where I saw a lot of weather gear hanging. Heavy coats, jackets, & coveralls. Janet Elliot, the boat's engineer was in this small space & happily opened a second hatch door facing rear & downward. This was the engine compartment with it's 2 large gleaming Cat 3196 geared diesel engines. With 900hp drive 2 fixed pitch 4 bladed propellers the boat can reach 25 knots. Janet seemed especially proud of the gearing system located under our feet. She pulled up a couple deck covers to reveal the transfer cases & one of the propeller shafts facing aft. I have a feeling this gal likes to get in there & get her hands dirty:))
Another small hatch opened forward through the bulkhead to reveal another space with a lot of canisters, piping & tubing. CO'2 containers were stored here with a lot of other things I didn't recognize. And again, another small heavy metal door led forward into the bow space. By the way, you do not walk upright through these doors. You pretzel yourself up, grab an overhead hand rail & somehow unceremoniously launch yourself through the opening. Large black plastic containers held more gear in this bow area but I have forgotten what kind of gear. Not a lot of room to stand up in some of these spaces & there I was lugging around my long 300mm lens bashing it against this & thumping it on that. Both Jamie & Janet were eager to explain things & I was trying my best to come up with some intelligent sounding questions for them. Bit of a stretch for me you know!! It wasn't until later that I wondered if they had some kind of washroom of sorts on board. (well of course they would!!) Or a pull down cot for a quick snooze maybe. Or a small fridge for snacks & drinks. What about a coffee maker & where did they stash their on board peanut butter!! (I couldn't go to sea without my peanut butter)
From the gear room it was up a short ladder with a squeeze through into the interior bridge. This small space was crammed with all kinds of electronics. I have seen Jumbo Jet cockpit pictures that looked like this. Two captains chairs were in here & it looked like it would be a bit of challenge to even get into them. Jamie did allude to the fact about the interior design not being optimized to it's full design potential. Directly behind the seats another short ladder led up & out onto the exterior bridge above where we had started the tour. Crewman Jason Hamilton was there explaining the bridge electronics to a few more folks.
There were a fair few people gathering on the boat for the tour now so I was anxious to free up some space & get myself back on the pier. We RV folks are used to tight spaces but our rig is a palatial palace compared to the tight quarters aboard this Coast Guard Vessel. Jamie & Jan filled me in on the names of the crew members before I debarked & with a firm handshake & an armload of pamphlets I was across the short gangplank & back on the pier. A big thank you to all the crew for the tour:))
Here are a few additional stats on the "Multi Task Medium Endurance Lifeboat." It is 14.63 meters long (47ft) with a breadth of 4.27meters. Carries 1,560 liters of fuel & 22.7 liters of fresh water. Space enough to seat 5 survivors & this boat has the technology & ability to right itself if it rolls over in heavy seas. This class of vessel has a medium range with moderate to high speed capable to operating in all weather conditions. The crew does not live on board but is based out of a shore station which in this boat's case is Goderich Ontario just up the coast from Bayfield. During the winter this vessel is dry-docked in Sarnia Ontario.
GROANER’S CORNER:(( Once upon a time there was a famous sea captain. This captain was very successful at what he did; for years he guided merchant ships all over the world. Never did stormy seas or pirates get the best of him. He was admired by his crew and fellow captains. However, there was one thing different about this captain. Every morning he went through a strange ritual. He would lock himself in his captain's quarters and open a small safe. In the safe was an envelope with a piece of paper inside. He would stare at the paper for a minute, and then lock it back up. After, he would go about his daily duties. For years this went on, and his crew became very curious. Was it a treasure map? Was it a letter from a long lost love? Everyone speculated about the contents of the strange envelope. One day the captain died at sea. After laying the captain's body to rest, the first mate led the entire crew into the captains’ quarters. He opened the safe, got the envelope, opened it and... The first mate turned pale and showed the paper to the others. Four words were on the paper…..Port Left - Starboard Right
-----------------------------
Why do seagulls fly over the sea? Because if they flew over the bay, they'd be bagels!
How much did the pirate pay for his piercings? A buck-an-ear!
Why do young pirates always fail when saying the alphabet in kindergarten? Because their fathers insist that there are seven Cs!!!!
Why is pirating addictive? They say once ye lose yer first hand, ye get hooked!
What lies at the bottom of the ocean and twitches? A nervous wreck!
------------------------------
This is the actual transcript of a radio conversation between a British Navy ship and the Irish Coastguard, off the coast of Kerry:
Irish. Please divert your course 15 degrees to the south, to avoid collision
British. Recommend you divert your course 15 degrees to the north, to avoid collision
Irish. Negative. You will have to divert your course 15 degrees to the south ' to avoid collision.
British. This is the Captain of a British Navy Ship. I say again, divert YOUR course.
Irish. Negative. I say again, you will have to divert YOUR course
British. THIS IS THE LARGEST SHIP IN THE BRITISH FLEET. WE ARE ACCOMPANIED BY 3 DESTROYERS, 3 CRUISERS, AND NUMEROUS SUPPORT SHIPS. I DEMAND THAT YOU CHANGE YOUR COURSE 15 DEGREES TO THE NORTH, OR COUNTERMEASURES WILL BE UNDERTAKEN TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THIS FLOTILLA.
Irish. THIS IS A LIGHTHOUSE ....... YOUR CALL!
