Happy 221 Years for the U.S. Coast Guard

Sonoma County, California


It is my former employers 221st birthday. The following is a short commentary on the service history. The below picture is of USCGC Morgenthau (WHEC 722) in the South China Sea in 2002. I reported aboard Morgenthau in Pattaya Thailand in June 0f 2002. A year later I was Chief of the Boat. A very difficult and mentally taxing tour of duty, but satisfying at the same time. You can read Morgenthau's current blog by clicking here.

Morgenthau South China Sea

Recent Picture of Morgenthau Returning from the Eastern Pacific

Some Service History

Our official history began on 4 August 1790 when the first Congress authorized the construction of ten vessels to enforce federal tariff and trade laws and to prevent smuggling.  Known variously through the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries as the Revenue Marine and the Revenue Cutter Service, we expanded in size and responsibilities as the nation grew.  
The service received its present name in 1915 under an act of Congress that merged the Revenue Cutter Service with the Life-Saving Service, thereby providing the nation with a single maritime service dedicated to saving life at sea and enforcing the nation's maritime laws.  The Coast Guard began to maintain the country's aids to maritime navigation, including operating the nation's lighthouses, when President Franklin Roosevelt ordered the transfer of the Lighthouse Service to the Coast Guard in 1939.  In 1946 Congress permanently transferred the Commerce Department's Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation to the Coast Guard, thereby placing merchant marine licensing and merchant vessel safety under our purview.
The Coast Guard is one of the oldest organizations of the federal government and until Congress established the Navy Department in 1798 we served as the nation's only armed force afloat.  We protected the nation throughout our long history and served proudly in every one of the nation's conflicts.  Our national defense responsibilities remain one of our most important functions even today.  In times of peace we operate as part of the Department of Homeland Security, serving as the nation's front-line agency for enforcing the nation's laws at sea, protecting the marine environment and the nation's vast coastline and ports, and saving life.  In times of war, or at the direction of the President, we serve under the Navy Department.
The Coast Guard Historian's Office is charged with collecting, preserving and presenting the history and material culture of the nation's oldest continuous sea service.

Morgenthau Steams West under the Golden Gate

 Happy Birthday Coast Guard! Keep them retirement checks coming!

Capt Chris

The America's Cup

Glen Ellen, CA

 The leading up to the America's Cup Race commences. The actual  cup race will be held in my backyard of San Francisco Bay in 2013. Watching dualing 72 foot Cats is going to be incrediable!





Capt Chris

To Inspire

Glen Ellen, California


 I watch (AppleTV) and listen to a fair amount of news while puttering about my business. With super high speed wifi at the house I can stream SiriusXM radio throughout my little kingdom while I go about my upgrading choirs.  When not listening to "Mandatory Metallica" on Sirius channel 27 I'll listen to a range of channels from C-Span Radio, Fox, CNN and CNBC Morning Joe. I have to say the news has positively been depressing. This is why after a a while of news I'll shift to Mandatory Metallica followed by some country and blue grass to shake off the blues. I came across this Youtube video that I found to be wonderful. It's a great example of film as art used to inspire, and send a message. My favorite guy is the deaf fellow. Anyone who knows me will be able to peg which sequence is my favorite. Enjoy!

Blast From the Past

Aboard a Navy Tug Midway Island 1994. 27 Years Old

Capt Chris

Wandering Dolphin Sailing South to Trinidad

Mill Valley, California


 For folks that have followed my blog my connection to the Burton's and Wandering Dolphin is well known. I still keep in constant contact with them, even though they are in El Carib and I'm Baghdad by the Bay. 

Screen Shot of WD in real time

 I miss them terribly. Team Burton has remained in the Virgin Islands working and saving to continue their world voyage, but are heading south toward the equator to miss the bulk of the hurricane season. As many will recall I have little tolerance for squalls and the instability of the Caribbean summer. So, Rebecca and Kristopher departed this morning, close hauled and heading for Trinidad for some maintenance and then to Grenada for some R&R. 

Wandering Dolphin on a Mooring Off Christa's Stern close enough to hear a family squabble

 To highlight my paranoia regarding these revolving beastly hurricanes I provide the below picture from the 2008 hurricane season. Were all lashed into the mangroves on the south coast of Puerto Rico awaiting the arrival of Hurricane Earl. You can see Wandering Dolphin up from.

Poolside with the Wandering Dolphin Progeny in Puerto Rico

Wish them luck and keep them in your prayers as they cross the Carribean Sea. You can follow them in real time on their Spot page by click here. Spot is kinda like google maps for boats. It's super fun to follow along. 

Blast From the Past Video

Rebbecca and Kristopher filmed my departure from the Virgin Islands when I was heading south. Makes me sad to watch the video. 

Fair Winds WD!


Capt Chris

U.S Coast Guard Sometimes I Miss It

Sonoma County, California


 Not surprisingly as of late, I've been having nautical rumblings deep within my gullet. This does not mean I'm getting ready to launch Christa out the Golden Gate and take a left. But the other day while crossing the stunning Golden Gate Bridge, peering west, the pacific looked mighty inviting. Here is a cool video the U.S. Coast Guard put together. The only thing missing is the ridiculous number of meetings taking place 24X7. Pay attention to the last image in the video. The view centerline from the bridge of a Coast Guard Hamilton Class 378. I know this view well. Untold amount of hours standing watch on said bridge. I don't miss getting up for the 4 to 8 watch....at all.



Here is a blast from the past!

12/31/2001 Dutch Harbor Alaska

 Don't forget to surf on over to my Youtube channel! http://www.youtube.com/user/clallaire

Capt Chris

Awesome Sailing Video

Glen Ellen, CA


Since I stopped sailing I've had  minimal consistent desire to start long-term sailing again. I do have stabs of compulsion occasionally to head to the tropical latitudes. As I watched the Bumfuzzle gang sail south to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico I did get out a chart and stretch some distances. That is usually how a sailing trip gathers steam. It is what it is. This morning I watch the below video on my beautiful 21.5" iMac.
What can I say, the beauty of the ocean is some awesome. I also recalled that while I was sailing the economy was fracturing, the presidential election was going on, and a general societal hyperventilation. That type of thing was far outside my immediate world. That aspect, the checking out of certain aspects of modern day life, and replacing it with weighty decisions of how much anchor chain to deploy and when to head to the beach is missed sometimes. Here is the video!




Capt Chris

A Slew of Photo's Over the Month

Glen Ellen California

Enjoy!

Capt Chris

Gimme Shelter Some Random History

San Rafael, CA

I would not characterize myself as a huge Rolling Stones fan, not in the vein of my good friend the former Kathleen Walsh, but I diggem. Even if one is not a Stones fan, anyone who enjoys history would enjoy a peruse of the Stones and their effect on American and British culture.  Someday soon I'll carve out the time to read Keith Richards Book 'Life'. The below picture is from the infamous concert, dubbed the 'Woodstock of the West' that went totally awry with the Hells Angels providing security. You can read about this event and its aftermath by clicking here.

Altamont Speedway near Livermore CA, December 1969

 Maybe my favorite Stones tune of all time is Gimme Shelter. The song was written mostly by Richards while he was sitting by the river Thames. For me the strum pattern and the female singer is what is so appealing. The other day the song came on and I decided to do a bit of research to find out the who's and the what's. Enter Merry Clayton.

She was born in New Orleans and the daughter of a Preacher and a renown Gospel singer in her own right. She has sang background vocals on numerous songs Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama" and Tori Amos "Cornflake Girl." This song reminds of my good friend Tara McDaid. 

What a set of pipes on this lady. So below is a quote about the song from Mick Jagger.

   "That song was written during the Vietnam War and so it's very much about the awareness that war is always present; it was very present in life at that point. Mary Clayton who did the backing vocals, was a background singer who was known to one of the producers. Suddenly, we wanted someone to sing in the middle of the night. And she was around. She came with her curlers in, straight from bed, and had to sing this really odd lyric. For her it was a little odd - for anyone, in the middle of the night, to sing this one verse I would have been odd. She was great."

What a crack that she showed up with curlers in her hair. That is old school! She sang so hard that night that she had a miscarriage. What a story.

History is chock full of these kinds of stories, and I just love them. 


Chris

My New Base of Operations

Glen Ellen, California


I've been busy outfitting my little house to make it homey. A critical component of my new living arrangement is my office.

The office is up and running. Looks pretty nice. Oh? What's that? That's right, that is a new 21 inch iMac sitting on my new Ikea desk with my Apple TV connected to my flatscreen. Hopefully I can be productive with all my gizmos so near at hand.


CC

A Hike Through Jack London State Park

Glen Ellen, California
At the Homestead

I spent a good portion of yesterday skulking through Jack London State Park. More accurately in the words of Thoreau I was merely "Sauntering."My friend Tina turned my onto Bill and Dave's Hikes. These fellows lead monthly hikes, mostly in the Valley of the Moon, but they do some hikes in other California parks. It was great fun. At the top of the list of what attracts me to California is its incredible geography. Lately I've been so busy with school and moving into the my house, I've spent almost zero time pursing any type of leisurely activity.

View of the Valley of the Moon or Sonoma Valley from the trail

California is a very troubled state. Jack London State Park is one of the parks that is on the closure list in California. The park with be off limits come September. You can click here to read an article in the LA Times regarding the sorry state of the park system. I leave you now with some photos from the hike. Enjoy!

BLAST FROM THE PAST

Rhett Walker and the Kid Washington State Cica 1990

Capt C