My First Week Aboard
Greetings, my many good friends and family!
Well, I have been on board for a week now. I am NOT on the Hawaiian Chieftain, however. I sailed one day with the Chieftain, and then got offered a job on board the Lady Washington. When I say "a job", I mean a PAYING job and an officer's position! I am now the purser, the person in charge of handling all the money, keeping the ship's gift shop, and keeping the books. The position pays about $750 a month, and I will hold it for two months before I go home. Not bad for expecting to serve without pay for that period of time.
So let me tell you my impressions of the two boats. First the Chieftain: On Saturday, I boarded the Hawaiian Chieftain. I had to wait a day before I could get a bunk or officially sign on board, because they were full to capacity with volunteer crew, due to a two week program for a history class at Evergreen State College. Many of those kids intend to come back to the boats over the summer. So Sunday was when I actually got to know the crew and sail on the boat. Both of these experiences were a pleasure. The crew was like a really excellent family. Rob Mizer, the captain, is someone I would gladly serve under any time. He's mellow and friendly, and he knows his ship. What else is there to say? Other crew members include:
First Mate Preston: Hawaiian youth, in charge of training, as well as calling sail and working directly with all crew
Steward "Haida Bob" aka "Sketchy Uncle Bob", a man I had met last year, but really only over e-mail. The entire organization relies on and respects this man. The steward is the man who works with the public, keeping everyone safe and comfortable and happy.
Purser Alex: Cute and funny and high energy.
Engineer Nate: The engineer has to deal with everything modern on the ship. Nate is hating life right now, because the Chieftain is having generator trouble, as in no electricity, no cooking, no lights, and most significantly, NO FIRE SUPPRESSION, which means she can not carry passengers until it is fixed. The genny died just yesterday. But back to Nate. Nate is the big guy on board. If it requires brute force, call Nate. On the other hand, he's also a brain, as demonstrated by his being the engineer. He's also an all around great guy.
Bosun John Johnson: From Indiana, he worked as a stage rigger, which is how he got the bosun job. The bosun is in charge of boat maintenance, all things NOT electronic or powered. If I had stayed aboard the Chieftain, I'd have been the Bosun's Mate--in the professional sense, you understand.
Education Coordinator Becky: Ah Becky, I miss Becky! Yeah. High energy, funny, friendly, loving to everyone and enthusiastic.
Deckhand Mike aka "Rosco".
Two-week volunteer Kim, aka K.I. She's from Wyoming. Quiet, smiley, young, blond, totally new to boats and open to learning. Awesome!
Cook Ashley: High school student from Aberdeen, recommended for the job by her home ec teacher.
Then there is a new guy who came on the day I left. His name is Gary Fiendish, so they just call him Fiendish.
I miss them, and I am always glad to go back and visit when there is a chance.
AND NOW the Lady Washington:
Captain Evil Ryan Meyer has been a rotation captain for more than a decade. If there was one man who could be pointed to as the quintessential Lady's Captain, it would be Evil. He's the one that took the Lady to the Caribean for the Pirates movie. He's also the one they sent to bring the Chieftain back to the West Coast from Portsmouth Massachusetts when the Historical Seaport bought her. So, that's at least three times he's taken tall ships through the Panama Canal. He weathered Hurricane Ophelia on the Chieftain.
First Mate Darryl aka "Elf": He used to be the purser. When the last mate left for a vacation, he became the mate, which is how I got the job. He's this incredibly gentle soul, an older gentleman who has made a life out of re-enacting history. When he's not a tall ship sailor, he's a tour guide at Fort Nisqually, so he speaks Chinook Trade Jargon. In fact, this man ANSWERS THE PHONE in Chinook Trade Jargon.
Steward Kyle aka "Stiles"
Education Coordinator Holly
Engineer Elmo
Bosun Topher. Topher is one of those crew members that there are all sorts of stories about. If you sail on the Lady and he's not there, you'll hear about him.
Cook Tara: Tara was the other two-week volunteer when I was. She stayed on after I did, though. She's an excellent cook, and she's health conscious. If you ask her, she will make you a health concoction to boost your immune system, straighten out your bowels, level your moods, or you can get the SUPER DRINK, which has a little of everything in it. There is a rumor going around that the GREEN DRINK will make your breasts grow. I haven't tried this yet, but I still have time.
Deckhands: Otis, Jenny aka DJ, Sam, Shane, Maggie, Tommy, and Than.
DJ is a two-week volunteer.
Sam is Samantha Riggs, and she is a very well known belly dancer and instructor from Arizona. She's covered in tattoos and piercings.
Shane is a jet engine mechanic with the Air National Guard and she looks like Shane from the L-Word.
Otis was aboard last year when I was on the Lady. It would not be the same experience without him. The crew was really quiet at meals when I got on board. There was not that much bonding going on. Otis is an irishman with the gift of blarney, and he gets people laughing and then they start talking and all is well.
Next post: The best stuff so far.
Well, I have been on board for a week now. I am NOT on the Hawaiian Chieftain, however. I sailed one day with the Chieftain, and then got offered a job on board the Lady Washington. When I say "a job", I mean a PAYING job and an officer's position! I am now the purser, the person in charge of handling all the money, keeping the ship's gift shop, and keeping the books. The position pays about $750 a month, and I will hold it for two months before I go home. Not bad for expecting to serve without pay for that period of time.
So let me tell you my impressions of the two boats. First the Chieftain: On Saturday, I boarded the Hawaiian Chieftain. I had to wait a day before I could get a bunk or officially sign on board, because they were full to capacity with volunteer crew, due to a two week program for a history class at Evergreen State College. Many of those kids intend to come back to the boats over the summer. So Sunday was when I actually got to know the crew and sail on the boat. Both of these experiences were a pleasure. The crew was like a really excellent family. Rob Mizer, the captain, is someone I would gladly serve under any time. He's mellow and friendly, and he knows his ship. What else is there to say? Other crew members include:
First Mate Preston: Hawaiian youth, in charge of training, as well as calling sail and working directly with all crew
Steward "Haida Bob" aka "Sketchy Uncle Bob", a man I had met last year, but really only over e-mail. The entire organization relies on and respects this man. The steward is the man who works with the public, keeping everyone safe and comfortable and happy.
Purser Alex: Cute and funny and high energy.
Engineer Nate: The engineer has to deal with everything modern on the ship. Nate is hating life right now, because the Chieftain is having generator trouble, as in no electricity, no cooking, no lights, and most significantly, NO FIRE SUPPRESSION, which means she can not carry passengers until it is fixed. The genny died just yesterday. But back to Nate. Nate is the big guy on board. If it requires brute force, call Nate. On the other hand, he's also a brain, as demonstrated by his being the engineer. He's also an all around great guy.
Bosun John Johnson: From Indiana, he worked as a stage rigger, which is how he got the bosun job. The bosun is in charge of boat maintenance, all things NOT electronic or powered. If I had stayed aboard the Chieftain, I'd have been the Bosun's Mate--in the professional sense, you understand.
Education Coordinator Becky: Ah Becky, I miss Becky! Yeah. High energy, funny, friendly, loving to everyone and enthusiastic.
Deckhand Mike aka "Rosco".
Two-week volunteer Kim, aka K.I. She's from Wyoming. Quiet, smiley, young, blond, totally new to boats and open to learning. Awesome!
Cook Ashley: High school student from Aberdeen, recommended for the job by her home ec teacher.
Then there is a new guy who came on the day I left. His name is Gary Fiendish, so they just call him Fiendish.
I miss them, and I am always glad to go back and visit when there is a chance.
AND NOW the Lady Washington:
Captain Evil Ryan Meyer has been a rotation captain for more than a decade. If there was one man who could be pointed to as the quintessential Lady's Captain, it would be Evil. He's the one that took the Lady to the Caribean for the Pirates movie. He's also the one they sent to bring the Chieftain back to the West Coast from Portsmouth Massachusetts when the Historical Seaport bought her. So, that's at least three times he's taken tall ships through the Panama Canal. He weathered Hurricane Ophelia on the Chieftain.
First Mate Darryl aka "Elf": He used to be the purser. When the last mate left for a vacation, he became the mate, which is how I got the job. He's this incredibly gentle soul, an older gentleman who has made a life out of re-enacting history. When he's not a tall ship sailor, he's a tour guide at Fort Nisqually, so he speaks Chinook Trade Jargon. In fact, this man ANSWERS THE PHONE in Chinook Trade Jargon.
Steward Kyle aka "Stiles"
Education Coordinator Holly
Engineer Elmo
Bosun Topher. Topher is one of those crew members that there are all sorts of stories about. If you sail on the Lady and he's not there, you'll hear about him.
Cook Tara: Tara was the other two-week volunteer when I was. She stayed on after I did, though. She's an excellent cook, and she's health conscious. If you ask her, she will make you a health concoction to boost your immune system, straighten out your bowels, level your moods, or you can get the SUPER DRINK, which has a little of everything in it. There is a rumor going around that the GREEN DRINK will make your breasts grow. I haven't tried this yet, but I still have time.
Deckhands: Otis, Jenny aka DJ, Sam, Shane, Maggie, Tommy, and Than.
DJ is a two-week volunteer.
Sam is Samantha Riggs, and she is a very well known belly dancer and instructor from Arizona. She's covered in tattoos and piercings.
Shane is a jet engine mechanic with the Air National Guard and she looks like Shane from the L-Word.
Otis was aboard last year when I was on the Lady. It would not be the same experience without him. The crew was really quiet at meals when I got on board. There was not that much bonding going on. Otis is an irishman with the gift of blarney, and he gets people laughing and then they start talking and all is well.
Next post: The best stuff so far.