Guy, what kind of hobbies do you have?

[Kirbstone]

I see a 1964 Ford Galaxy in there, the one that got rear-end shunted.
In August 1967 I hired a Ford Galaxy 500 sedan in Montreal after a week visiting 'Expo 67' there, and we drove it (three of us) Trans Canada to Vancouver, West Coast to LA, then zig-zag back N.W. via Bryce & Grand Canyons, Yosemite, Salt lake City, Albaquerque, Oklahoma, St louis, Washington DC and dumped it in Buffalo, near Niagara, taking the night train via Rochester & Albany into Grand Central N.Y.
The Galaxy performed faultlessly throughout the entire trip. Bit of a four-wheeled sponge, though....Much softer sprung than the European cars we were used to.

[Mugs-n-such]

That's interesting...I was going to say I've never driven a British car but I guess that would be false. I did drive the MGB for about 15 minutes. I think it did have stiffer springs but I wasn't really paying attention. I wish now I had kept it and tried to restore it, I sure did get some looks when I drove it back to my apartment. Having said that, I do really enjoy the Miata and it's kinda the same concept...rear-wheel drive, two seater convertible sports car (=fun). To me the kind of funny thing is, my Hyundai Accent actually seems to have more power than the Miata. I know if I wanted to spend thousands of dollars (one after-market crankshaft ALONE costs over $5,000...more than I paid for the car) I could up the horsepower considerably but since I don't plan on racing it any time soon, I doubt if I'll bother...unless I have a rich uncle die, hardy har har. I guess 'nuff said for now.
P.S.: I didn't know you'd visited the States! What did you think? Did you ever go through old Kansas? Someday I'd like to visit Ireland and UK, been to France and Spain and Italy and Germany but that's about it. Just quick tours when I was in the Army. 'Bye for now.

[Kirbstone]

Kansas. We had limited time and had been right across Canada and down the W. coast, & back up a bit to visit Yosemite, then up again through Carson & Reno to hit the Interstate 80 to Salt lake City, then down the little roads through gorgeous country via Farmington to Alboquerque (missing Santa Fe). There followed a very long drive to get East of the Missisippi, so we passed South of Kansas in the dark, hitting St. Louis in the small hours.
I have had to look up Google Maps to tell ne that we passed through Tulsa & Joplin Springs. I have little recollection of these places now. The US of A is so vast that one should hire a Winnebago and spend 6 months touring round at least. Steer me in the direction of a friendly philanthropist who'll finance that for me.

Other than that trip I have only been across the Pond to attend professional meetings in Chicago, the Big Apple, Indianapolis, Vancouver and Salt Lake City again....flown in , flown back, not much free time.
Tom K.

[Mugs-n-such]

That's interesting. My mother was raised in Tulsa, although I think she was born in Illinois, not sure which town though. If they fly you across the pond for meetings, it sounds like you have a fairly responsible position, I guess that's good.
Speaking of hobbies, back to reading, right now I'm trying to get through "Scotland: the Story of a Nation" by Magnus Magnusson. It's pretty interesting but he mentions a lot of place names and I'm scratching my head and thinking "where the *snip* is THAT?" Although now in these days of the internet if you don't know where something is, it's pretty easy to google it. Whenever I think of the UK and Scotland, I think of fog, and cold weather, and no sunshine for days and days on end. I wonder if Ireland weather is similar...
Trying to keep on track (hobbies), speaking of the reading hobby, one of my favorite authors is Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, so I like to read about his adventures and it's fun to imagine him off on a case amidst the fog and rain and cloudiness...especially if you're sitting at home by a warm fire or in a warm bed, safe from the elements. As I recall Sherlock Holmes sometimes would stick his lunch, a sandwich or a slice of bread or so, in the pocket of his coat and be off on the case. Those stories were sure interesting. I guess when Sir Arthur killed off Sherlock Holmes, he was getting death threats and so on, so he felt impelled to bring him back for the sake of his health.
Well, always enjoy reading your posts, I'm glad this forum doesn't seem to be stagnating. I took a quick glance at "The New Atrium" and it does seem to be stagnating. Maybe, as Skip said, it's because of the return of certain posters...whom I shall not name. Ja, mata. (See you again)

[Kirbstone]

I'm beyond official retirement age, but love my work and fortunately still have the visual acuity and manual dexterity to do it. Medical and Dental, so I do surgery on, and rebuild people's lower faces. I run a referral practice, in that most of the people I see are sent me by other practitioners.
Nobody flies me anywhere. I regularly fly to update meetings in my specialist fields...Oral Surgery, Implantology and Endodontics (Root-canal treatments).
This means that I pay for my trips myself, but the expenditure is deductable from taxable income. Flying across the pond has become cheaper with the weakened dollar, and airlines are really competative now.

Magnus M. was a great TV presenter and ran a frightening programme 'Mastermind' in which he quizzed each 'victim' individually seated in a chair under a bright light...a bit like a spy interrogation. His book on Scotland is an authorative work. He was an Icelandic Dane himself. Pity he's gone.
Conan Doyle wrote great entertainment which endures, and they have put some of his stories on film, which is a transport into London fantasyland...mists and all.
Our weather is similar to Scotland's, but a considerably milder version. Example: Today we had the arrival of real Winter. First snow since February. Pity it came so soon (November). Normally we don't see any until New Year. Today we had one or two inches. In Scotland they've had about a foot of it !

We had our Rowing Club AGM last night and the meal menu was Thanksgiving....Turkey & Ham &c. Nevertheless, we were out on the water for 8 AM in an eight, and walked the boat across a snow-covered forecourt between the boathouse and the river. Once aboard we warmed up quickly despite the +2 degree temp., and were positively glowing by the end of the outing.....and we're all 60+ year-olds !
Tom K.
Tom

[Mugs-n-such]

Hmmm, that's really interesting. I'm glad that there are professionals who can do that for those unfortunate people who have had that type of injury. I wonder if many of the people you have helped have been in motorcycle or auto accidents? The reason I ask is because I was in a scooter accident 5/16/09 and the therapist told me it was a gift that I got the use of my arms back because I had a broken neck so they did surgery on the c6 and c7 vertebrae. I agree, it is a gift to be able to use my arms, otherwise I guess I'd be a permanent fixture in a hospital or nursing home. Years ago I was a medic in Vietnam but I haven't really kept up with the medical side so I'm pretty much "lost at sea" now when it comes to medical practices. It amazes what they can do sometimes, reattaching severed hands, etc. To be honest, I'm not sure I would have the stomach even to work in the emergency ward, but I'm glad there are people that God has gifted to do that.
I didn't know Magnus M. had a TV show...fascinating. Tbh, I wasn't sure he was still alive when TV came in. Actually, I'm not sure when he wrote history of Scotland...let me see...whoa! I noticed the copyright is 2000 so it's a lot newer than I thought. For some reason I thought it had been published 100 years ago or so...
Yeah the latest movie they made of Sherlock Holmes (can't think of the name of it) was imo just a roller coaster ride of adrenaline and action, like so many modern movies. I like it when they are more faithful to the original spirit of the book. Also it seemed to corrupt the relationship between Holmes and Watson, in one point in the movie, Watson actually slugs Holmes in the face. That never happened in the book that I'm aware of. Imo in older movies the action was there because of and to support the plot, modern movies almost seems the plot is there because of and to support the action. It makes me think of the old Roman "pan et circenses" (bread and circuses).
I'm glad you stayed warm on the boat, but I just wonder how you did it? The clothing? The boat itself wasn't heated was it? Thanks for writing, and 'til next time.
Gary H

[Kirbstone]

No. Racing eights tend to come without central heating. They are 60' long, 20" wide and weigh 250-odd lbs. People are heavier and warm-blooded. Our crew fully clothed for Winter would weigh some 1,600 lbs, or six times as heavy as the boat. We all slide to and fro together through about 30" on the slides, with that attendant weight transfer. At bared teeth racing pace we'd hit 13mph, and it's the boat that shuttles back and forth under us. Witness the Olympic crews' bow balls shunting to and fro relative to each other as they approach the finish line. It is in the lap of the Gods in a very tight finish whose bow ball will actually cross the line first. The rowers' motto is '20 strokes however bad are better than 10 strokes however good' at the finish, so they're all doing over 40 strokes per minute at the end.
In 1966 we won a multi-lane eights race in Belgium by so close a margin that only when the band struck up 'The Queen' in the enclosure did we know we'd won!
That 'British' eight had an Australian stroke, a Polish No.7, and an Irish No.6 (me) in the stern. The rest were Brits. The verdict was 10 centimeters!....After 2,000 meters that's nothing, but somebody must win the gold gongs.

Yes, the appropriate clothing is essential for a rapid warm-up. At our level of effort you don't stay cold for long, and layers are shed during the outing, which even at our level of geriatricism will last 90 mins. minimum.

Yes. A lot of the cases we get have been injured in traffic or sport-related accidents. The hospitals generally have done most of the mending on the worst ones before we see them, and our job then is to restore their chewing function and facial aesthetics. These cases are the best, because they are Insurance covered and the treatment plans are Carte Blanche.
I forbade all four of my offsprings from using motorised two-wheeled transport and so far they've reached their thirties without injury.

Tom K

[Mugs-n-such]

Wow this is cool Kirbstone. This is like having a pen-pal beyond the pond. Just a little sad some of the other members don't choose to participate, but I realize they may be busy and there are TONS of things you can do on the internet, other places to visit, as it were. Other places I like to visit are, Christian Forum, Unexplained-Mysteries, Skirtcafe (natch), not so much The "New" Atrium, because it seems to be languishing perhaps because of the reason cited by Skip. Also I like to frequent (or did before I got a bit burnt out) Chess.com and Livemocha.com, a (foreign) language learning site.
You mentioned sliding on the slides. I'm sorry, but I haven't a clue as to what this means. I don't know very much about boats, don't you see, so when it comes to sailboats and/or rowboats I'm pretty much "lost at sea" (pun intended) *hides under table*. All seriousness aside, not trying to be obtuse, just don't know what the slides are in a boat. I know in a sailboat you have to raise the sails to catch the wind, and in a rowboat, you use oars to propel the boat. I also know some fitness centers have rowing exercise machines that mimic the action of a rowboat, but that's about all I know.
It's cool that you won some races, I'll bet that was some hard work. Are the sailors all pretty much in the same age group? I'd think they'd have to be to be fair...
Well, on retrospect (hindsight is always 20-20 as they say) I think it's good you forbade your youngsters the two-wheeled transport, although I know some friends of mine who would very much dislike my saying that. It's just that there are too many drivers out there who are either not paying enough attention or don't care or both. You can even get rear-ended or worse in a car when it is not your fault at all, so even though two-wheelers are lots of fun while the good times last, the good times are so often cut short too early, and why am I preaching to the choir, I don't know. I had thought about buying another scooter just to ride with the Wichita Scooter Club (formally known as the Wichita Twisters), and only with them, to be safe; but when I mentioned it to my best friend's sister, she said, "You're going to WHAT?" so I had some second thoughts shall we say. Well, I reckon I've talked to hear myself talk enough for now.
Just a quick note, I think I mentioned sailing/rowing being potentially dangerous (although I'm sure a bit of a cerebral approach can diminish if not outright eliminate said danger) and I was reading in the news, perhaps you read it too, about those three teenagers that ran out of gas in their motorboat and were adrift on the ocean for I think 50 days or so. Thank goodness they were spotted by a passing boat. They thought they were going to die. They survived partly on fish that flipped into their boat, I guess the flying fish kind that flew into their boat. Thank you God, thank you Jesus! Well, will end now. Always good to hear from you, Gary H

[crfriend]

[Kirbstone] mentioned sliding on the slides. I'm sorry, but I haven't a clue as to what this means.

Tom is on a team that races shells -- very lightweight narrow rowing vessels designed for outright speed and little else. The "slides" are the "seats" that the oarsmen sit on, and are so constructed so that the oarsmen's legs are able to be used to directly impart force on the oars (and thence into the water to cause forward motion). These "seats" slide fore and aft (front to rear) to facilitate that force-transfer.

Are the sailors all pretty much in the same age group? I'd think they'd have to be to be fair...

It depends more on the level of physical fitness of a team and how well they function as a team. A rowing team must function pretty much as a single organism, else chaos would break out on the boat up to, and including, the oarsmen colliding with each other and possibly destabilising/capsizing the boat. A perfectly-drilled group of seniors would have no problem easily dispatching a ragged lot of rowers in their prime; a lot of that sport is choreography.

I think I mentioned sailing/rowing being potentially dangerous (although I'm sure a bit of a cerebral approach can diminish if not outright eliminate said danger) [...]

Ultimately it comes down to risk assessment and management, and nothing improves one's success of overcoming adversity than preparation. Rude surprises have a habit of happening, and being prepared for something -- mentally and physically -- is usually the "saving throw". When I go out for a sail, discussions are had on the proposed outing, the participants mentally run through the charts -- including recent notices -- in their minds, the boat is gone over very carefull to make sure that everything is in proper order (including knowing where the life-preservers are), and only then do we cast off. A longer cruise involves making sure that all proper charts are in order, the radio works (especially if we'll be out of cell' range), and that the auxiliary motor is working and we have a proper amount of fuel for it.

I was reading in the news, perhaps you read it too, about those three teenagers that ran out of gas in their motorboat and were adrift on the ocean for I think 50 days or so. Thank goodness they were spotted by a passing boat. They thought they were going to die.

Had they taken proper precaution, the incident would not have happened. Did they check that they had sufficient fuel and the engine was in proper order? Did they carry a radio with which to call for help if they became disabled? Fifty days in an open boat is not without precedent, but if the story is true, then those are three very lucky teenagers.

[Milfmog]

I think it's good you forbade your youngsters the two-wheeled transport, although I know some friends of mine who would very much dislike my saying that. It's just that there are too many drivers out there who are either not paying enough attention or don't care or both.

This is a burning debate at home at present as my son is very nearly old enough to ride a small moped or scooter and has expressed his interest in doing so. To say that Carole is not keen would be a little like saying it can get warm in Death Valley. I am in more of a cleft stick on this as I have a burning desire to go out and buy another motorcycle after far too long without one. I reckon something like a Suzuki SJ650 or perhaps a 600 / 620 Ducati Monster. I've been off bikes long enough now to be aware of my lack of skill when armed with a twistgrip and age has also brought with it a sense of my own mortality so a Ducati 848 would not be wise, even though it seems to have been designed based on my favourite two wheeled fantasies.

Oh well, at present it is nothing more than a pipe dream, I certainly can't afford to spend money on a toy like that while I'm out of work (any suggestion that I'm looking for a job that will require commuting through traffic so that I can justify buying a 'bike is entirely scurrilous and should be discounted immediately ).

Have fun,


Ian.

[Kirbstone]

Thank you, CR. for a very erudite explanation of what racing shells are about. I thought a couple of actual illustrations might say a Thousand Words. These were taken of our 60+ year old veteran crew competing in a long (5Km.) timed row last February, hence the warm clothing covering our legs.
They illustrate two positions: the catch, where we're all crouched forward with the blades entering the water for the next stroke.....& the Recovery, where the stroke is finished and we are all sitting back, legs straight having extracted the blades on to the feather (horizontal) before sliding up for the next stroke. Between strokes the boat runs about 12-15 meters, witness the 'puddle' left by the previous stroke. The blades are 'squared' shortly before they enter the water again.
Each seat is on four wheels and runs on rails, called the 'slides'. The feet are inserted into shoes (adjustable) built into the boat. Each oar is lightweight hollow kevlar and 13-odd feet long. The 'Button' or fulcrum is locked into a swivel gate at the end of each aluminium rigger. Our boat is state-of-the-art, a Hudson, built in Canada. The blades are Concept 2, like the rowing machines, made in California.
The symmetry is achieved through years of coaching and 'choreography'. The legs, like in weight lifting, provide 85% of the driving motive power. The trunk swings of course, but the arms are used only to connect the blade handle to the shoulders during the power drive, control the attitude of the blade and to finish out each stroke. The rest is training- developed puff !

'nuff said. Tom K.

[crfriend]

Thank you, CR. for a very erudite explanation of what racing shells are about.

You're quite welcome. There are a couple of little colleges in the Cambridge, Massachusetts, area that have a goodly number of competitive teams that race on the Charles River. I fondly recall watching them during lulls in work when I did field service on computers in the 1980s. Rowing is also quite popular on Lake Quinsagamond in Worcester, MA just down the street from where I call home these days.

Watching teams compete is a lot of fun, and it's amazing how fast they get going in a sprint. (A while back, Mythbusters ran a few experiments to see if it's actually possible to water-ski behind a shell being rowed at speed; the answer was a qualified, "Yes.")

I thought a couple of actual illustrations might say a Thousand Words. These were taken of our 60+ year old veteran crew competing in a long (5Km.) timed row last February, hence the warm clothing covering our legs.

Looks like the chap third from the bow fluffed his entry a little bit. (Ruddy armchair admirals!)

[Kirbstone]

Funny you should pick out our no.3 man from your armchair, Admiral C.R.

A bit of backsplash is recommended nowadays, says you're not missing any water at the catch. Paul, our no. 3 is our benign Philanthropist. He runs a very successful forensic engineer business fighting injuries at work claims in court, and he bought our boat, (and the previous one) the oars & the trailer and he tows it with his Merc. As it happens, he's the only one of us who didn't row as a young man, taking it up only later on, but believe me, we all forgive him his very minor technique shortcomings. He trains like one posessed! I'm behind him at no. 2 with the big green hat on.
I have had the pleasure of rowing the Head of the Charles once, in 1994. It's held late in the year, and we were flushed with success that year, having won at the World Masters' Regatta in Groenningen in Holland the month before. Lots of Dublin crews go quite regularly to this event, but I haven't been lately.

[Mugs-n-such]

Ultimately it comes down to risk assessment and management, and nothing improves one's success of overcoming adversity than preparation. Rude surprises have a habit of happening, and being prepared for something -- mentally and physically -- is usually the "saving throw". When I go out for a sail, discussions are had on the proposed outing, the participants mentally run through the charts -- including recent notices -- in their minds, the boat is gone over very carefull to make sure that everything is in proper order (including knowing where the life-preservers are), and only then do we cast off. A longer cruise involves making sure that all proper charts are in order, the radio works (especially if we'll be out of cell' range), and that the auxiliary motor is working and we have a proper amount of fuel for it.

I would say that is a very cerebral approach (and imo the only approach) to sailing, or indeed, any type of locomotion on the big blue pond!

This is a burning debate at home at present as my son is very nearly old enough to ride a small moped or scooter and has expressed his interest in doing so. To say that Carole is not keen would be a little like saying it can get warm in Death Valley. I am in more of a cleft stick on this as I have a burning desire to go out and buy another motorcycle after far too long without one. I reckon something like a Suzuki SJ650 or perhaps a 600 / 620 Ducati Monster. I've been off bikes long enough now to be aware of my lack of skill when armed with a twistgrip and age has also brought with it a sense of my own mortality so a Ducati 848 would not be wise, even though it seems to have been designed based on my favourite two wheeled fantasies.

In all honesty, I sure can't say I blame Carole for feeling the way she does. My own experience as well as that, I'm pretty sure, of countless others is that one of the most common and hard-if-not-impossible to avoid accidents involving motorcycles/scooters is where the other driver turns left, smack-dab in front of you. This is what happened to me and I didn't even get time to apply the brakes. Thankfully I had my helmet on or I would have been killed outright (if lucky). I'm not trying to scare you (am I?) but I just want you to know there are risks. I cringe every time I see a motorcycle/scooter rider not wearing a helmet. I'm sorry (am I?) but imo that just stupid.

Oh well, at present it is nothing more than a pipe dream, I certainly can't afford to spend money on a toy like that while I'm out of work (any suggestion that I'm looking for a job that will require commuting through traffic so that I can justify buying a 'bike is entirely scurrilous and should be discounted immediately ).

I had thought about buying another motorcycle but at my age the old bones don't heal so quickly, and also being disabled as I am, I'm a bit afraid if I broke my neck again, next time I might not get the use of my arms back. Well, I wanted to write some more but the computers acting kinda weird so I better post this I guess before I lose it. Thanks to everyone for their interesting inputs!

[Kirbstone]

I thought these pics might cheer B&B up, languishing as he is under feet of snow looking out at his boat unused since last the weather was fair.
It's of our GK29, similar in size to his 'Wee Boat', but a lot less pretty. He will recognise the location of one pic. We were setting out for a long June week end in the Channel Islands in two boats, hence my pics. of 'Get Kool' underway, from the other yacht. That's the only time I got such pics. of her.
The other pic. was taken just a few miles South of Scapa Flow.....in the Swinge, West of Alderney ! I'm looking at how young and slim we all were then ( ca. 1980).