Experiences at sea

[Tom Kirby]

Empress of Australia 1955 mid Atlantic sliced a very large whale in half. Watched a Humpback whale breach about 30ft high alongside the ship, and saw a pod of killer whales attacking a very large fish/whale. Also experienced another ship crashing into us amidships "Seattle Star"pushing us almost onto beams at Tilbury. "The Malan" passing through the Stait of Formosa being buzzed by both communist and nationalist planes an warships. Then arriving in Hong Kong with the Jolly Roger flying from the main mast. One more thing, In Rio Grande south Brazil a desolate wild west place, I arranged for transport to the nearest town, one hour later a Wells Fargo stage coach and horses arrived to take six of us to (would you believe it) a wild west town complete with horse riding Vaquero's taking time off from their herd of cattle near by.

[Captain Kong]

I will hopefully be at Pitcairns Island in January next. another first. then back to Tahiti, my friend there is a decendent of Edward Young, Midshipman Mutineer.
Cheers
Brian.

[Red Lead Ted]

1, Being in the first convoy early June 1975, After the Suez canal was reopened to shipping. Wish I had a video recorder on my person the battle scares either side of the banks amazing sight.
2. Tied alongside in Barbados believe me or not I met John Lennon and Yoko Ono in a little bar ashore.
3. M.V.HARMATTAN. Harrisons of London. Being towed alongside us 26th December 1971 after being blown to pieces by a stray missile Karachi on the 9th December few British seamen lost there lives aboard her. Another day another dollar Regards all Terry.

[Bob Dunkley]

after 20 days on the anchor in Suva aboard the Wellington star, went to the Golden Dragon night club and was asked by an indian if i could take him to N.Z we were bound for latoka and then to Picton on the south island after asking my cabin mate we agreed to take him for $200 n.z each we kept him under our bunks and he pissed out the port hole ,we arrived in Picton and travelled with him to wellington and put him on a train to auckland and spent 3 days on the Iberic before going back to picton on the friday night ferry when arriving we went on the piss in our bar went to the pub at ten o clock wetre drinking jugs of pernod and lemonade we were sailing at 1 pm left the bar and were so drunk 4/5 of us walked down the car ramp back onto the ferry and waved the Wellinton star good bye as we sailed out for wellinton.spent the night back on the Iberic and got a bus to Napier on the sunday to rejoin the ship Loggings all round
The second thing was jumping the sugar Importer in Brisbane and Stowing away on the Port New Plymouth to whangerai spending the last couple of days in the sterring gear ,and managing to get off and take a bus to Auckland where i was supposed to get married but it never worked out that way .
And the last was missing the Demodocus (blue flue) in kaoishiong Taiwan after 4 days adrift me and a scouse were fown to tapei and taken through the airport in handcuffs put on a plane to Singapore via hong kong . This was where i joined my 1st norwegian ship the Johs Stove ,the silly captain paid us off with a D.R for conduct,and then said we owed the company £246 for air fares i stayed on norwegian ships after this for 8 yrs
all incidents were done whilst under the influence of the booze

[leratty]

John A post 9, you brought back a funny memory of my first time in Dunkirk & we went ashore became less than sober & instead of nicking a locals bike some smart rectal suggested we take this Gendarmes motorbike with side car. Well me being the smallest was stuffed in first to the side car then another behind me three on the bike & off we started after much kick starting. Well gendarme & mate came flying out of bistro all but two of us got away, I was stuck in the side car due to state of sobriety & position getting whacked to hell & back with a baton & spent night in jail then logged next morning on board. Funny looking back but not so for a wee boy ): at the time.

John S post 3, that would have been truly something to experience. Did they communicate with your ship seeing as it was the Cuban crisis? We had that experience on the Port Lyttleton off Panama Pacific side, I was on the bridge with my camera why I am not sure, anyway I actually got a photo of it. It was about a mile at most off stb side, sea like glass she hit the surface like jumping-breaching whale (not that I have seen one) & took off at high speed amazing sight as well as noise. Often wondered how often we were under observation when at sea by such vessels?

[Richard Quartermaine]

Bob - Kenny's Golden Dragon with the bare footprints to show the way up the stairs. John Wilson who is popular fine artist lives 6 doors down from me here and he had a band on the cruise ships and did stints for Kenny. Many a happy relationship went on the rocks after visits to the Golden Dragon - the coconut telegraph took care of that.
Richard

[Bob Dunkley]

Richard it sounds like you had a few good nights in the Golden Dragon yourself didnt know about the artist though ,I remember another night on board the Athenic in New Plymouth we came out of the Breakwater Hotel and my friend Brian who is still at sea on the aussie coast stole(borrowed) a bike from outside it was closing time ten o clock,and i sat on the crossbar and Brian drove the bike we were both slaughtered he played chicken with a bus coming up from the port and when we arrived at the ship he stopped peddeling and we sat there for about 30 seconds and realised we were standing upright ,then the bike slowly keeled over and we landed in a heap on the quay the wheels had been stuck in the railway line and the wheels were at a 90 deegree angle i looked at Brian he looked at me and we tossed the bike into the harbour and went on board to carry on with the party ,if you read this Brian i hope you remember it to

[leratty]

Bob that was some experience & only due to the state of mind-sobriety you were not concerned. I recall as a boy getting my front bike wheel stuck in the tram lines. I was very messy at the nether regions when I got home my older brother urinating himself with glee watching me the rat bag as the tram got closer & closer ringing its bell. A superhuman effort & I got out of the track. Here bikes are so popular & they have the government ones which are very good for hire, all you do is swipe your credit card use the bike & then put it back on one of the many bike racks for that purpose. Must say the ladies here riding their bikes look so good, always straight backed. I love the older ones within their baskets their dogs & all have a smile on their face. This is unusual as certainly the ones (m&f) in service area never ever smile it is quite disquieting to deal with & makes not a jot of difference if you try to be friendly in fact my wife thinks it makes it worse.