BOATS represent Freedom for many, in our Earth, the first of transient vehicles, since the beginning of Creation, (even Noah's great ship/below)! I love boats, but love wagons too, especially the clever Gypsy Wagons of the most famous of transient populations!
Amundsen's seaworthy GJOA, abandoned in San Francisco after his historic skedaddle from Norway, who finally got her back, below, and actually restored the rotten old relic back to NEW!
Being an Ice Breaker, she was said to have had sides two and a half feet thick!
my Pop used to take us to see this great ship in Golden Gate Park (above), he could have been in this very picture, with his fedora! When I saw it, I SO wanted to climb aboard! notice it has only one mast, easier to sail with fewer hands on deck.
Joshua Slocum's old SPRAY (below) he recreated (1890s) from the 100 year old relic Spray, an oyster fisher; his was probably the most seaworthy small ship on the planet, as many replica owners attest. Joshua lived on it freely, sailed around the world in three years, and lived out the rest of his life in it, as well, perishing at sea. His historic book on his wonderful journey, is Sailing Alone Around the World. Most amazing part is his journey, around Cape Horn. One of the greatest mariners who ever lived, and a truly FREE SPIRIT, and wonderful Christian man.
Slocum and his beautiful courageous wife.
"Yammerschooner" is the native word for "gimme" or, a "begging word" said Slocum, in Tierra del Fuego, or Land of Fires; the natives there built fires in their canoes (see) to stay warm, and their fires glowed all over the Magellan Straight, in their habitat; they would call out "yammerschooner!" to the sailing & steam vessels that passed through their habitat, for gifts from the ships' occupants. Some of these natives assimilated into the replacement population but were typically such a non adaptable nuisance that they were eventually eradicated by the newcomers, and unfortunately no longer exist; nevertheless some were SAVED of course.
These folks never had a house, being a transient population with very crude portable shelters.
Compare below from above shots of these tough peoples,below/Japanese?-above/Polynesian
Above, photo of the Magellan Straight where Joshua Slocum sailed, stalked by the natives in canoes. Below, rough water at the Horn. Joshua sailed around such hazards a lot.
More SPRAY shots: Joshua made it's "keel" out of hardwood oak
I love these portraits of Joshua, with a sense of accomplishment & peace in his expression.
In my dreams I will go sailing with Joshua, in the New Earth, maybe he will help me build one?
the SPRAY'S sister ships, other Oyster Fishers thankyou! (below)
What a little beauty, perfect for the San Francisco Bay! (thankyou!) that Bay will still be available for sailors in the New Earth, I suppose I will have to be patient!
Fine SPRAY Replicas built by more kool tough guys like Joshua.
Braving the Cape!
Joshua told how his sturdy little ship was completely submerged hereabouts, in a "rogue" wave, with him scrambling quickly up into the mast, where he was safe from the water; and his little ship popped up thereafter, shivering in it's timbers, as a little cork that he made her to be.
Cape Horn is one of the most treacherous of waters on the entire planet: these, struggling.
Below, in the Era of the Great Sailing Ships, the Balclutha, out of San Francisco, was a stately workhorse, I used to walk around on her, she is very stout and large, three stories as I recall.
this above shot seems to be in my time... the 1960's college daze... below, some rare antique shots of her and her crew...
Nowadaze looks like they are keeping her up very beautifully, for which I thank them all!
Other Notable Boats and Ships I love so much to see, and remember!