The Victory Chimes
The cruise was a Sunday to Sunday. I remember having to fly to Boston and change planes for a DC3 to Portland or Bar Harbor. The DC3 was one of those old classic planes...as in the film Casablanca... a two engine prop, with the nose up in the air, and the little landing gear in the back. The luggage was carried up front near the cockpit (today known as the flight deck). That in itself was an adventure.
Boarding was about 5 or 6 in the afternoon, and it was RAINING and cold. My fellow passengers were a little bit older than me, somewhat of an ecclectic group... a professor and his wife from Queens College, a musician, a writer, and the typical Northeast vacationer or two. The one thing that I do remember is that they were all very generous with their "schnapps" to help keep warm. (Remember in those days you could drink at 18)
On Monday we set sail... hoisting the sails was strictly voluntary, but it was useless... no wind. The boat, which was about 150 years old at that time, did have a small diesel engine so we did manage to make some progress toward our ultimate destination, Acadia National Park.
The food was hearty... thick New England Clam Chowders, lobster of course, bar-b-q's on sandy coves where we might anchor for an afternoon. The days were spent lazying on the poop deck, playing Bridge (glad I knew how to play), reading, or just listening to people playing guitars. Very casual dress as you can imagine, and it was great not having to shave for days on end. Cocktail time usually started long before 6pm...
The accomodations were basic.... a step up from steerage, but comfortable and clean. We were three or four to a room, and I can't remember if the bathroom was in the room or down the hall.
It was a great week, spent with interesting people, on a historic boat, in an atmoshphere very different from Garden City, Long Island. In retrospect it was an appropriate transition week for a young man going off to college ready to explore new places, ideas, and people.
NB: The Victory Chimes is still afloat and is still operating out of Maine. She has new owners, but a windjammer cruise still looks as if it could be a fun vacation, like the Irish Music Cruise. Information about The Victory Chimes cruises can be found on their web site..... http://www.victorychimes.com/schedule.html
