Day 20 Fleeing South

The last time I saw this bridge it was when the Bumboat entered Lake Michigan. This rainy crossing may be sweeter since I am rapidly closing in on a reunion with my family and the Bumboat... leaving my Captain and Royal Eagle an opportunity to train fresh crew.

A great adventure.... and after being 20 days before the mast, I have one significant conclusion: If you can, be the captain!

My Lake Superior image gallery will appear shortly on www.bumboat.com

Day 19 Surrender

I've had command of Royal Eagle for less than 24 hours. Since then, the weather has deteriorated to the worst of the voyage. The water tanks are dry and the head is plugged. The ship's brain won't talk to me... and there is no one aboard to execute my shouted orders.

I must release the Captain to restore order aboard. I have underestimated the responsibilities and skills required to maintain life at sea. If left to my own resources, my survival is questionable.

Captain, please forgive my selfish actions. I am prepared to accept the punishment I am due.

Day 18 MUTINY!!

I (call me Fletcher) had to take the ship. The Captain.... errr Admiral.. is in shackles laying in the bilge. I think he knew it was inevitable.... he put up little resistance.

The Captain is all about routine. This afternoon he fired up his "passage cigar" and I could take it no longer. For the last 18 days, I've sucked in the second hand smoke of 18 passage and 17 after dinner stoogies. These stoogies are huge and burn for at least an hour. There is no escape from the nausiating fumes. I won't even go into all the other daily routines...

I can now take endless showers, shit on demand, and shout out my own commands. Sail on!!!

Day 17 Promotion

This is the ship's brain. It tells us where we've been and the hazards that lie before us. The Captain spends many hours with his friend. I just observe the interaction of these neural resources.

As we set to sea today a high NW wind warning for Superior was posted. Our course took us over hundreds of wrecks of less fortunate sailors. The Captain executed a perfect gibe off Whitefish Point, leaving the towering seas and the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald in our wake.

In celebration of not being another wreck on Gitche Gumee's most dangerous shore... The crew hereby declares Captain Kip an Admiral.

Day X? Time Space Continuum

My sea experience is all a blur of place and time; the minutes, hours, and days are becoming more difficult to discriminate. Only the chiming of the ship's clock reminds me of the hour (and half hour).

When ship's business and the needs of the Captain are met, I am able to spend time in the spartan crew quarters. Notice my assigned crew ID number, which also was tattood on my forearm upon initial boarding of Royal Eagle. My ID is a constant reminder of the ship's social political hierarchy. At night, exactly on the hour, I abruptly awake and recite "Sir, 1023395, ready and able to serve".

Day 15 Mama Mia! Stayin' Alive Jive Talkin'

Today's strong winds kept the Captain jive talkin' while holding on and stayin' alive. Actually, we listened to the Captain's second favorite group, the BeeGees, during today's voyage. He put them on within minutes of me touching the radio (for the first time) in my attempt to hear some music or news.

The Captain likes a quiet ship; only the drone of the engine and the wind across the deck. Any attempt by the crew to enjoy music aboard the ship is quickly suppressed; by BeeGees at sea and Abba (Captain's favorite) at the dock.

Day 14 Photo Ops

As many of you know, I try to document my voyages with images (with a real camera rather than a cell phone). This voyage has been no exception. At the beginning of the trip, the Captain did not seem to have much compassion for positioning the ship for a proper shot. Even with my longest telephoto lens, I wasn't able to make some lighthouses any bigger than a spec in my view finder.

After many days of crew requests to pilot the ship closer to images of interest, the Captain is beginning to comply. I was able to get some decent shots of Huron Island Light (above) due to the Captain's masterful navigation in treacherous waters. If he continues to be compliant, he will be rewarded with many frame-able images of our voyage. If not, he'll get my cell phone pictures.