A seamans Story
by Published on 2nd November 2022 11:20 PM
My trip as a deck hand on the Thor 1, was preceded by my first trip at sea at age 17 to Japan .
We encountered a cat 5 typhoon halfway between Japan and Alaska. Returning to Vancouver, where I lived.
But it’s Tahiti that stands out in my memory. Imagine my surprise when I googled Quinn’s bar and a photo of Susy no pants was there to see!
After that voyage I returned to Vancouver again but went on one last trip on an old ex-banana boat from Ecuador.
Mexican captain, who was often drunk, a Bolivian first mate, another fellow from the Canary Islands with his dog.
The dog would run off with the captain's pipe, with him chasing it along the deck. Very funny.
The radar didn’t work , the captain would be quite drunk, kick and swear at it !
The engine broke down three times crossing the Pacific on the way to pick up a cargo of New Zealand apples before returning to Vancouver.
I worked on deck 8 hours per day, four hours on watch, abc four hours at the wheel.
On my 21st birthday mid pacific I was presented with a case if New Zealand beer and proceeded to get drunk myself, then at midnight, it was my turn at the wheel! Lol.
One morning at dawn white water was visible dead ahead of us, breaking on a reef with no land in sight. Luckily it was daylight !
After that the captain taking a liking me wanted me to stay on the ship to circumnavigate South America.
He regaled me with stories of his travel as a young man from Mexico to the tip of South America. This while sitting in his captain's chair, me at the wheel steering the ship.
He had an Elvis hairdo with ducktail, black leather jacket, collar turned up and would pull out his switchblade to use as a toothpick .. he was an unforgettable character.
That was just the beginning of extraordinary trips to the UK, Spain, Morocco, travelled all over Europe, and drove a VW camper with my girlfriend and two sons from Spain to Pakistan then on to Sri Lanka.
I was kidnapped by four armed men in northern Pakistan, managed to escape luckily , but nearly succumbed to thirst.
All in all I’m lucky to be alive still with my then girlfriend now my wife, having been inseparable for 59 years now .
Yes she knows about Susy ..
we are pensioners living on Bowen island near Vancouver.
I’m British by descent and Canadian born.
David Okell.