Picton Castle - 10 years later
Walked on the decks of Picton Castle today. It’s been years… ten years in fact, since I last set foot on her decks. It was an interesting experience. Dan is the only person on board that was there when I was on board. The ship was much the same, and yet, much changed in the small details. Parts of the ship had been painted different colors, the blocks had been replaced by ornately carved blocks. Other differences too. The stove is now diesel fired, rather than coal, the engine room is cleaner than ever before, (but the engine still leaks oil in all the same places.)
I looked longingly at the ship, knowing that I am not likely to get a chance to sail on her again. Certainly not around the world again.
Looking back….
It has been over 7 years since I stepped ashore in Lunenburg NS after 20 months at sea on board Picton Castle. I was on the first world voyage… Me and my shipmates. I still see them from time to time… In fact Vicki is here in Seattle right now. I am beginning to realize what my role on that ship was. There are some things that I am not so proud of. At the same time, I am very proud of some of my accomplishments… accomplishments that came out of that trip. I think I need to pull this one apart for a while… I will likely have some more to share on this later, this will be an important step I am sure.
Arrival
I arrived at the ship on the 19th of October 1997. Becky Keen came down to Halifax to pick me up at the airport. We loaded my sea-chest into the back of Dan’s little red Ford ranger pickup, and drove back for what seemed forever, talking about things… But I remember most that I was most fascinated with Nova Scotia’s idea of a Limited Access Highway It was basically a two to three total lane road with no median that only allowed access at certain points… but there were no proper clover-leafs or exit ramps. Only intersections… some with and some without lights.
We eventually got to Lunenburg, The drive was really an hour and a half, but like I said it seemed to take forever.
Fair Wind and Plenty Of It
Rigel has written his book of our voyage, and it has made me realize that I am afraid to lose the details of our trip, so as I think of them I will be logging them here.
