C. Wolf
Even on sabbatical I can't get away from teaching. At the game we talked about the ship with elementary school students and handed out "Brig Niagara" temporary tattoos. It was a nice break from the difficult physical work we have been doing. And it was Erie SeaWolves vs. Altoona Curve. I couldn't lose. (glass half full, right?)
To avoid yesterday's issue - when Susanne left and I couldn't talk to her - let's meet Adam now...
Adam Stanisz
What do you do around the ship Adam? Ship's carpenter. (Sweet, says me!)
How did you learn those skillz? The Apprentice Shop in Rockland, Maine
How did you end up on the Niagara? I worked on another ship, The Highlander Sea, with a guy that works at the museum now. On the Niagara since December of last year.
What's the best thing about working with the Niagara? "There is always something new challenge to overcome."
What are you responsible for? "Anything made of wood."
Anything else? "One of my goals is to start an educational program teaching the principles of ship's carpentry here at the museum so volunteers and others would know not only rigging and sailing but carpentry too."
And the word for the day...Sole
The sole is the floor of the ship below deck. This whole concept is a bit weird. So imagine you are below deck. The boards below your feet are called the sole. The boards to your left and right (the "walls") are called the ceiling. The boards above your head are called the overheads. Got it? Yeah, I thought the same thing.
So we got another yard up today and it is huge. We are almost a ship. One more yard and then we will bend on the sails and we will be just about done. Very exciting.
On a totally different note I was taking note of the fact the crew has a very strong sense of community. I have always been proud of how Kiski has a sense of community - the crew puts us to shame. I was mentioning this to some of the crew in casual conversation and the Chief Mate seemed to make a great point. The bounds you make with the crew have to be fast and strong. Why? Because you literally have to trust your shipmates with your life. I don't want to over-dramatize this, but everything hanging over your head on the ship - blocks, ropes, thimbles, hearts, deadeyes, hanks, etc. - are secured in place with rope lashings BY YOUR SHIPMATES. Plus when you are out at sea and have all your sails set and a squall suddenly appears you need to rely on your shipmates to properly strike the sails as fast as possible so avoid the danger of capsizing in the storm. Kiski has it's own unique sense of community that keeps me there year after year, but the Niagara has something special. I will miss it.
Until tomorrow,
Ahoy!
And you my dear are unique and special as well and I'm sure you will be missed by them also!
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