Living on borrowed time.
Mar. 12th, 2011 09:25 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gurdymonkeyEarlier today a friend posted to his FB that the situation in Japan had him wondering about how much he was living on borrowed time. I answered that all time is borrowed and what one does with it is what counts.
Certainly the last couple days have been the case with me. Despite all the gloom and doom and our local tsunami warning, I had made social plans. A friend from my old shire back east who I have not seen since 2002 was in town for a conference and we'd arranged to get together for dinner last night. I got into SF a little earlier than she was going to be back at the hotel and planned to grab a chai and wait for her. However, I spotted a bookstore on Second Street and decided to kill time there. It turned out to be the sort of place with handwritten recommendations taped below books all over the shelving and a place for local students to sell textbooks in the basement. I came away with a marked down Tuttle edition of The Samurai Banner of Furin Kazan and a new novel by Jasper Fforde called Shades of Grey.
Met Jen and her friend/co-worker at the hotel. It being a Lenten Friday, I suggested we hop an F-line trolley down to Fisherman's Wharf and go to Capurro's. It wasn't long before we were wrist deep in delicious cioppino served in sourdough bowls, cracking crab legs with glee. A bit more than I'd thought to spend, what with beers all around, appetizers and dessert, but it was absolutely worth it and we were able to sit over our meal and catch up properly. Unfortunately, it's a working convention and Jen isn't getting much play time.
As for today, I discovered earlier this week that the Lady Washington and the Hawaiian Chieftain were back in town. Having posted this news to my FB, Dafydd expressed interest in going. What with life, tsunami warnings, weather reports and my being in SF and not owning a smart phone, we didn't coordinate plans until very late Friday, however, we decided we would go.
Met for lunch at the Rockridge Cafe, which was packed. Caught a BART train later than we had hoped, and the walk to Pier 40 was longer than it had looked to me on the map. I floated Plan B if they left without us: a detour to the Asian Art Museum as I have a membership. As we speed-walked down the Embarcadero, his phone rang: it was the Grey's Harbor folks, calling to see if we were on the way. He told them how far away we were and they held the departure for us.
We had both booked for the Lady (I had sailed on her in the spring of 2009 out of Jack London Square). However, due to our late arrival, they boarded us on the Chieftain instead,. This was a treat in its own right. The Lady is a replica of a 1750s two masted brig and of the two I think she's just prettier. The Chieftain is a topsail ketch of a slightly later vintage. She's also faster and more maneuverable than the Lady, as we discovered pretty quickly. The Lady led us out of the dock, but we passed her under diesel power well before we got out into the bay to raise sail. (Below, the Lady Washington, on her way under the Bay Bridge.)
Passing the Lady Washington.
My companion, who has sailing experience and hopes to build a boat at some point, accepted the crew's invitation to haul ropes as needed, and for an additional donation and signature on a waiver, got to climb the rigging. (With my knee and the way we were heeled over, I decided to stay on deck.)
Alcatraz off the starboard bow!
We cruised up past Alcatraz towards Angel Island, buzzed closely at one point by a large catamaran, made several passes in that area, then eventually returned to dock around 5:30 PM or so. There was chantey singing. There was chatting with other passengers and the crew, all of whom are volunteers and love what they do. There was sun and wind and water, some of it splashing through the starboard scuppers from time to time.
It wasn't QUITE like this, but it was still pretty cool to lean over the rail and feel the waves slap her sides.
Certainly the last couple days have been the case with me. Despite all the gloom and doom and our local tsunami warning, I had made social plans. A friend from my old shire back east who I have not seen since 2002 was in town for a conference and we'd arranged to get together for dinner last night. I got into SF a little earlier than she was going to be back at the hotel and planned to grab a chai and wait for her. However, I spotted a bookstore on Second Street and decided to kill time there. It turned out to be the sort of place with handwritten recommendations taped below books all over the shelving and a place for local students to sell textbooks in the basement. I came away with a marked down Tuttle edition of The Samurai Banner of Furin Kazan and a new novel by Jasper Fforde called Shades of Grey.
Met Jen and her friend/co-worker at the hotel. It being a Lenten Friday, I suggested we hop an F-line trolley down to Fisherman's Wharf and go to Capurro's. It wasn't long before we were wrist deep in delicious cioppino served in sourdough bowls, cracking crab legs with glee. A bit more than I'd thought to spend, what with beers all around, appetizers and dessert, but it was absolutely worth it and we were able to sit over our meal and catch up properly. Unfortunately, it's a working convention and Jen isn't getting much play time.
As for today, I discovered earlier this week that the Lady Washington and the Hawaiian Chieftain were back in town. Having posted this news to my FB, Dafydd expressed interest in going. What with life, tsunami warnings, weather reports and my being in SF and not owning a smart phone, we didn't coordinate plans until very late Friday, however, we decided we would go.
Met for lunch at the Rockridge Cafe, which was packed. Caught a BART train later than we had hoped, and the walk to Pier 40 was longer than it had looked to me on the map. I floated Plan B if they left without us: a detour to the Asian Art Museum as I have a membership. As we speed-walked down the Embarcadero, his phone rang: it was the Grey's Harbor folks, calling to see if we were on the way. He told them how far away we were and they held the departure for us.
We had both booked for the Lady (I had sailed on her in the spring of 2009 out of Jack London Square). However, due to our late arrival, they boarded us on the Chieftain instead,. This was a treat in its own right. The Lady is a replica of a 1750s two masted brig and of the two I think she's just prettier. The Chieftain is a topsail ketch of a slightly later vintage. She's also faster and more maneuverable than the Lady, as we discovered pretty quickly. The Lady led us out of the dock, but we passed her under diesel power well before we got out into the bay to raise sail. (Below, the Lady Washington, on her way under the Bay Bridge.)
Passing the Lady Washington.My companion, who has sailing experience and hopes to build a boat at some point, accepted the crew's invitation to haul ropes as needed, and for an additional donation and signature on a waiver, got to climb the rigging. (With my knee and the way we were heeled over, I decided to stay on deck.)
Alcatraz off the starboard bow!We cruised up past Alcatraz towards Angel Island, buzzed closely at one point by a large catamaran, made several passes in that area, then eventually returned to dock around 5:30 PM or so. There was chantey singing. There was chatting with other passengers and the crew, all of whom are volunteers and love what they do. There was sun and wind and water, some of it splashing through the starboard scuppers from time to time.
It wasn't QUITE like this, but it was still pretty cool to lean over the rail and feel the waves slap her sides. Stopped for hot drinks at the Peets in the Ferry Building before taking BART back to the East Bay and sending my mate back to his wife and kiddies. An outstanding time was had by all.
Photos are up at http://www.flickr.com/photos/70104978@N00/sets/72157626128675953/
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