Selections
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WELCOME TO BOY SCOUT TROOP
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Sea Base -- The Story
We began our Sea Base adventure in March, 2002 by getting placed on the
waiting list. Originally, we were advised that it was unlikely that
we would received a spot for 2003. However, we continued with our
fundraising efforts with the thoughts of trying again for a spot in 2004.
Due to expansion of the Sea Base Fleet, we were notified in October
that we could have a spot for August, 2003!!!
Our trip was scheduled to begin on August 17th. Prior to departing, we conducted some fund raisers which included selling popcorn, making homemade apple butter, and selling stuff at a yard sale. One of the parents also conducted some sailing lessons for us.
Finally, the day for departure is upon us! We meet at the church at 5:00am (UGH!), and leave at 5:30 for BWI Airport for an 8:00 flight. Due to traffic and security, we were the last ones on the plane. Who woulda' thunk that there would be that much congestion at 6:00 on a Sunday morning! We fly to Orlando half asleep for a connecting flight to Ft. Lauderdale. At the gate in Orlando, we discover that one of our flight attendants is an Eagle Scout (turns out he also fancied himself a comedian, the flight was very entertaining)! Pretty cool! He makes a big deal of welcoming us aboard and even has our guys passing out peanuts and softdrinks. They all got honorary flight attendant wings! Once in Ft. Lauderdale, we collect our baggage and pickup our rental vans (our one negative experience on the trip) and head south. Due to the problems with the rental vehicles, we arrive at Sea Base late (after 4:00pm). We have to check-in and get our gear to the bunk house. At this point, it is time for dinner, so our swim test is scheduled for after dinner. After dinner, we complete our check-in process and swim test. We also see a slide show describing the adventure that we will soon embark on in the morning! We all hit the bunks in anticipation of the adventure ahead.
The next morning, we get up and prepare for breakfast at Sea Base and our departure for Marathon (our boat, the Yankee, is too large to get into the Sea Base docks). We get the trailer with gear and supplies loaded up and head for Marathon! Wow, it is really happening! Once in Marathon, we meet our boat and its crew. The Yankee is a 78' square rigged schooner (you can see pictures in the following pages) and is a beautiful vessel. A chain is formed to unload the trailer and stow the gear about the boat. Once on board, we receive safety instructions, rules of the boat, and the all important instructions for operating the head! Then we shove off.
We head for Sombrero Reef about 5 miles off of Marathon. Here, we tie up at a mooring bouy. These bouy's are permanent fixtures that are in place to protect the reef from the damage boat's anchors. We snorkeled, got back on board, ate lunch, cleaned up, and headed for our anchor spot for the night in New Found Harbor. There, we had a before dinner swim, ate dinner, cleaned up, sat around enjoying each other's company, and headed for our bunks (or our spot that was staked out on the deck!). Our days generally followed this same schedule. In between activities travelling from one spot to the next, we would read, play cards or chess, talk to the crew about the boat and try to learn a few new things, or take naps. On our second day, we were able to move under sail. It was a lot of fun putting the sails up and sailing! Unfortunately, due to lack of wind, this was our only time that we were able to sail. We got into Key West Harbor that evening and anchored in the harbor for the night. The next morning (day 3), we headed to our slip in Key West, cleaned up the boat, got to take a real shower at the facilities at the marina, and headed for town! All had a wonderful time in town, and we were back at the boat by 10:00pm. On day 4, we left Key West to begin our return voyage back to Sea Base. On the way out of the harbor, we met another Sea Base boat and "manned the rails" for a wet bread ball fight! Don't know who won, but it sure was fun! Did some more snorkeling, eating, napping, etc. and anchored once again in New Found Harbor. On day 5, we went to Bahia Honda and anchored off of the beach. The captain let us swim ashore for some time on the beach and a visit to the snack shop where we were able to get some ice cream! It was back to the boat for lunch and then on to our next stop for the evening off of Boot Key. Day 6 brought us back to Sombrero Reef for one last time of snorkeling, then it was back to the dock in Marathon. :(
After cleaning up the boat, we all headed back to Sea Base. There, we cleaned up and prepared for our luau that night. Dinner was great, and skits were put on by the various crews who had returned that day. We concluded our night with the Conch Ceremony, where all shared their thoughts about the adventure. It was a great experience that will not be soon forgotten by anyone on the trip!
Our trip was scheduled to begin on August 17th. Prior to departing, we conducted some fund raisers which included selling popcorn, making homemade apple butter, and selling stuff at a yard sale. One of the parents also conducted some sailing lessons for us.
Finally, the day for departure is upon us! We meet at the church at 5:00am (UGH!), and leave at 5:30 for BWI Airport for an 8:00 flight. Due to traffic and security, we were the last ones on the plane. Who woulda' thunk that there would be that much congestion at 6:00 on a Sunday morning! We fly to Orlando half asleep for a connecting flight to Ft. Lauderdale. At the gate in Orlando, we discover that one of our flight attendants is an Eagle Scout (turns out he also fancied himself a comedian, the flight was very entertaining)! Pretty cool! He makes a big deal of welcoming us aboard and even has our guys passing out peanuts and softdrinks. They all got honorary flight attendant wings! Once in Ft. Lauderdale, we collect our baggage and pickup our rental vans (our one negative experience on the trip) and head south. Due to the problems with the rental vehicles, we arrive at Sea Base late (after 4:00pm). We have to check-in and get our gear to the bunk house. At this point, it is time for dinner, so our swim test is scheduled for after dinner. After dinner, we complete our check-in process and swim test. We also see a slide show describing the adventure that we will soon embark on in the morning! We all hit the bunks in anticipation of the adventure ahead.
The next morning, we get up and prepare for breakfast at Sea Base and our departure for Marathon (our boat, the Yankee, is too large to get into the Sea Base docks). We get the trailer with gear and supplies loaded up and head for Marathon! Wow, it is really happening! Once in Marathon, we meet our boat and its crew. The Yankee is a 78' square rigged schooner (you can see pictures in the following pages) and is a beautiful vessel. A chain is formed to unload the trailer and stow the gear about the boat. Once on board, we receive safety instructions, rules of the boat, and the all important instructions for operating the head! Then we shove off.
We head for Sombrero Reef about 5 miles off of Marathon. Here, we tie up at a mooring bouy. These bouy's are permanent fixtures that are in place to protect the reef from the damage boat's anchors. We snorkeled, got back on board, ate lunch, cleaned up, and headed for our anchor spot for the night in New Found Harbor. There, we had a before dinner swim, ate dinner, cleaned up, sat around enjoying each other's company, and headed for our bunks (or our spot that was staked out on the deck!). Our days generally followed this same schedule. In between activities travelling from one spot to the next, we would read, play cards or chess, talk to the crew about the boat and try to learn a few new things, or take naps. On our second day, we were able to move under sail. It was a lot of fun putting the sails up and sailing! Unfortunately, due to lack of wind, this was our only time that we were able to sail. We got into Key West Harbor that evening and anchored in the harbor for the night. The next morning (day 3), we headed to our slip in Key West, cleaned up the boat, got to take a real shower at the facilities at the marina, and headed for town! All had a wonderful time in town, and we were back at the boat by 10:00pm. On day 4, we left Key West to begin our return voyage back to Sea Base. On the way out of the harbor, we met another Sea Base boat and "manned the rails" for a wet bread ball fight! Don't know who won, but it sure was fun! Did some more snorkeling, eating, napping, etc. and anchored once again in New Found Harbor. On day 5, we went to Bahia Honda and anchored off of the beach. The captain let us swim ashore for some time on the beach and a visit to the snack shop where we were able to get some ice cream! It was back to the boat for lunch and then on to our next stop for the evening off of Boot Key. Day 6 brought us back to Sombrero Reef for one last time of snorkeling, then it was back to the dock in Marathon. :(
After cleaning up the boat, we all headed back to Sea Base. There, we cleaned up and prepared for our luau that night. Dinner was great, and skits were put on by the various crews who had returned that day. We concluded our night with the Conch Ceremony, where all shared their thoughts about the adventure. It was a great experience that will not be soon forgotten by anyone on the trip!
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All clipart used with permission.