Those Trips Ashore

[happy daze john in oz]

Often woke up with strange things by my bunk[sometimes in it ha ha]
Street signes were fairly common, but once I woke to see this Voodoo like carving staring back at me.
Den.

You sure Den that was not one of the local 'ladies' you often speak of?

[happy daze john in oz]

Oh yes we often 'ran' ashore but had to crawl back. Keeping your end up was the ambition of all who went ashore, and very often the local ladies would ensure that it happened.

[ian avery]

Hi Frank, I went ashore in Montevideo in 71 as a deck boy, I was telling the girls of the night I was a cheery boy, they would not believe me, (even though I was at the time, bloody women) anyway I was drunk as a skunk and fell a sleep in the pub, my shipmates left me and move on; I woke up in the morning wondering where I was, looked around and found I was still in the pub; first thought was check for my wallet, I could not believe it, it still there with money still in it. Still think I was lucky to find a good pub and local people. (you did not always find them)

[Tony Taylor]

On one Chinese crew ship, the galley boy looked about 10 years old. The bosun was adamant he was sixteen. They took him ashore in Curacao up the Campo, where they told the girls he was a cherry boy. He looked literally sh-gged out for the next few days. He did however put up very well with all the wind ups from everyone for weeks.

[Ron B Manderson]

While in Calcutta About 3 am I heard scream/ shout from the 4th eng cabin next door. I jumped out the bunk and ran next door only to find The 4th hitting this Mongoose with Cobra coiled around it . with everything he could get hold off. Poor sole didn't remember buying that ashore.

Ron the batcave

[Colin Pook]

Hi Frank. Colourful memories of the MAN FRIDAY coffee bar in Wellington. Any-one else sample the menu!??
Colin

[Malcolm Lawrence]

Ffyffes SS Roatan
We had 2 weeks in New Orleans whilst discharging bananas and taking on general cargo, the banana warehouse was situated at the bottom of the main street and Bourbon St was about half a mile up it, needless to say we had a whale of a time and rarely sober.
On one occasion we (4 engineers) went on a humdinger of a bender and returning to the docks at 2 am following the obligatory 6" Burger with every extra on it decided it was too far to walk along the key to the ship, the 2nd Eng who was a massive ginger haired and bearded Geordie spotted a fork lift and proceeded to stick his swiss army knife screwdriver in the ignition to see if it would start.
Brrmmm, yep, it started, he shouts all aboard and off down the key the 4 of us go (think we were singing too), myself and one of the juniors were sat on the counter balance weight and the 4th Eng was sat next to the Ginger Beast as we called him, we get about half way to the ship and hear a loud 'pop' and the machine veered to the left, the beast shouts abandon ship, abandon ship whereby we all leap off, next thing we know there's a loud splash then silence, our transport had gone over the key and into the Mississippi. Apparently the Pop was the power steering hydraulic hose bursting!
We have a quick look around to see if we've been spotted but the place was deserted, so it was a rapid sprint back to the ship to percolate a hangover, next morning the local police came aboard asking if anyone heard or had seen anything as they thought thieves had been operating on the docks, funnily enough we all a had severe cases of memory lapse.
Happy daze
Stiitched_Roatan_2.jpg

[happy daze john in oz]

Malta in about 64, down in the Gut.
We arrived just after 1900 hours looking for a good time that night.
There was a bar we had heard was very good, had a juke box and the locals were very friendly.
As we approached one guy said where is that funny looking water coming from in the gutter?
No one bothered to take notice and we went into the bar.
It was only later when one of the guys need a leak we discovered the source of the water.
In the corner behind a curtain a bucket, over flowing into the gutter.

After a couple of beers one guy said we should move to another bar as he did not like the smell.
No worries, off we go.
Then the same guy saw a shop with motor scooters for hire.
Got one at home he said know how to ide them he said.
So off he goes to hire one deciding to see the town at night telling us he would see us in the morning.

We got back to the ship late and a bit worse for drink.
Next morning we got the news, Jim would not be returning to the ship as he had an accident last night, is in hospital and will come home DBS when fit enough.
So great with a scooter, but not great enough to see the truck distorting his view.
According to the driver he has never seen a scooter and rider fly so far off the wharf into the water.
Broken leg, damaged shoulder and many other cuts and bruises.

We had a very quite drink that night well away from any hire place.

[Doc Vernon]

Oh those happy days of Shore Leave in various places and the times we all had,are really memories to remember all ones life!

We were so fortunate to have been part of a great Era ,and great Ships of that time as well.
How many people that missed out on such a great life ,with free Travel to the Worlds most known and loved (sometimes not so loved) ports.

Then able to get Shore leave as well,and really let ones hair down,the escapades we went through and the excitement we had far outshines any life these days that I can think of.
Memories of such days will forever be part of out greatest times alive.

So many true tales one can tell but would in most cases take Weeks for some ,to put to Pen and Paper, so it all just sits in the Memory bank of our Minds and that enough for me !
Cheers

[Tony Taylor]

I once had a run ashore in Cristobal and ended up in a bar, where the bar front was tiled, as was the step at the base of the bar, there was a tiled channel running along the step. Dont think I need to elaborate but there were no signs for toilets.