Post by: gunug on July 19, 2006, 09:59:41 AM
http://members.iinet.com.au/~daveb/halfsafe/halfsafe.html
It's about a man who went around the world in one of those amphibious vehicles in the 1950's:
Post by: Highmac on July 19, 2006, 10:16:12 AM
Post by: gunug on July 19, 2006, 10:20:00 AM
I couldn't imagine going around the world in one of these either! This is the link that references the book about this guy's journey:
http://ruk.ca/article/1843
Post by: beacher on July 19, 2006, 01:25:40 PM
Post by: Mrious_be on July 19, 2006, 01:27:58 PM
QUOTE(gunug @ Jul 19 2006, 05:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I worked some on a Paleo-Indian archeological site in the Shenadoah River in Virginia and we got to work on something like this one in the background:
At least it looks more comfortable than what the guy is sitting at in the foreground
Some people do live their dreams
Post by: gunug on July 19, 2006, 02:06:30 PM
Post by: RHPConsult on July 19, 2006, 03:05:07 PM
As to the "Duck", what a tribute to the imagination/skill/prowess of the 2 parties: Ben and his spouse and the guys who designed/manufactured the vehicle.
Boggles the mind.
Prior to this, the wildest (craziest) voyage I've ever heard about was a local guy who spoke to our Rotary Club some years ago about sailing to Hawaii.
(Relatedly, I have a pal who, to satisfy a lifelong dream, sailed to Hawaii in his 75 ft schooner . . . 75 foot! It was such a terrifying voyage (12 days of gales) that he and his co-owner hired a crew to sail the vessel back to SF)
Now to the Rotary speaker. He got a call from a boyhood chum who asked him if he'd like to sail to Paradise (loosely constued). Both had only sailed on LAKES prior to this harebrained decision. The "boat" – are you ready for this – was 14 ft. overall. Kinda, sorta modified. But, teensy-tiny nevertheless, and after some "practice" in San Diego harbor – now there's a test bed, if I ever heard of one – off they went.
I forget how many days . . . over 40 I seem to recall. The key factoid: They were not too experienced (so to speak) in the fine points of navigation, Fortunately for them they encountered a supertaker about 500 miles from Hawaii, whose skipper was astonished to encounter such a craft afloat there. He somehow paused midocean to render (presumably unneeded) assistance. The intrepid sailors told the tanker of their course. From that they received a "suggestion" toward correcting that course just a tad, which unchanged would have had them miss the Big Island by 400 miles and sail on into the trackless Pacific beyond. And "real" Paradise!
Never unestimate the ability of Man to . . . .!
Post by: Highmac on July 20, 2006, 01:52:26 AM
I was six years old at the time and it's stuck in my mind... didn't even have to search to remember the raft's name
Now, what was it I actually came in here for.....?
Post by: Al on July 20, 2006, 02:53:36 AM
I got to speak to one of the boat captains and he said he could not imagine taking it over 5 mph because the parts for it is so rare that if anything major broke on it now, they would have to have someone fabricate the parts.
Post by: gunug on July 20, 2006, 09:19:49 AM
Post by: Gregg on July 20, 2006, 12:21:33 PM