Day 10: More of the same but a little slower...

For those that read Day 9:  Views.  You know what I meant.  Deal.

Over 600 views now.  Power corrupts.  Mwahhahah....

This sabbatical is just great.  I miss my wife and kids (and grandson) immensely but the experience is maybe once in a lifetime.  Go sabbatical!  Thanks, Kiski.

So we didn't get a whole lot done today, all things considered.  Not a lot of workers and the ones we had were quite spread out on myriad duties.  I helped attach rig-takles to the fore topmast stays so we could bring the sprit yard to the ship in an old-timey manner:  block and tackle and lots of muscle power.  Ahh, let's see if I can show you some of this to make it clear.

The arrow is pointing to the sprit yard. (Sorry its a model of the Niagara but couldn't get a good shot that showed the yard well)

To get the yard out there from "on the hard" (shore) we used block-and-tackle (rig takles) with tag lines (lines to "steer") and a "hold-back line that, well, ahhh, holds the yard back so it doesn't smash into the ship and sink it in the slip.  There was lots of commands and lots, and lots, of hauling.  That is mostly what I do since I don't have much experience with tending the lines and this was heavy and important. 

This dude (me much of today) is hauling on a block and tackle.  If instead of the bale you imagined a yard (the thing at the bottom of a sail) that would be what we did today.

We do as much as we can in the traditional way.  It is pretty awesome.  It has taught me to be more patient.  I hope it sticks.  Patience is good.  I am bad at it (no comments from my wife).

Ok well I guess that's all for today...Oh, got ya.  You thought I forgot word of the day.  Never!  Since it came up in conversation with the chief mate today, I thought I would throw out an easy one: Aloft.  On Saturday I will be getting trained to be allowed to go on the last part of the ship I have yet to climb on - up high.  Aloft basically means going anywhere on the ship that is higher than the highest solid structure on a ship.  I will try and get someone to snap a photo of me while I am aloft.  I already learned to use the harness rig but I am only allowed to go up on the rails - about 6' off the deck.  Come on Saturday.

I think tonight will be a relaxing and reading night.  No running around cause I'm on duty again tonight.  Well seems like that's it for the day.  Hope all is going well back at Kiski.  

Ahoy!