June 30, 2024

Ship Update #4

DANG RUTTERS!!!

I know in a few months this will all be a distant memory and it' paramount that SAFETY IS FIRST! But Dang the rutter stock replacement has really been problematic in allowing us to set sail! Tuesday night we got the news that the milling and final fittings for the new rudder stocks was extremely slow going and that we are going to be further delayed in our Belfast Dry Dock. The latest prediction for being able to sail is now somewhere around July 20th. They will continue to keep us in the loop - we typically get updates on Tuesday and Friday each week, and being a Founder member, I get addition insights along with other Founder's (small group of about 40 of us, who gave additional funds to have a financial stake in the company and have a share in the company ownership).

SEMERANG, INDONESIA - BIRTHDAY BLISS!!

By Pat Patrick • May 11, 2026
Some days I just don't want to sight see! My birthday was one of them. I just wanted to indulge in a good movie in a comfy, cool theater, eat some popcorn and follow with a yummy lunch! That's exactly what I did, despite some of my friends trying to convince me go on a 5 hour van to see 2 gigantic temples.

SEMERANG, INDONESIA - HISTORIC TOUR - PART 2

By Pat Patrick • May 11, 2026
The ancient temple of Soo Poo Kong was our next stop. We were all wilting in the heat by then, but they promised an air conditioned room for a 20 minute movie on the history - so we rallied! Basically, the Temple was erected as a thank you to the Chinese Muslim Admiral Cheng Ho who let the fleet stop here on their way somewhere else in Asia back in 1416 because his helmsman, Wang Jing Hong, was sick. Wang recovered from his illness in a cave on this site and built first the statue and then the temple to thank Ho for his life.

SEMERANG, Central Java Island, INDONESIA

By Pat Patrick • May 11, 2026
SEMERANG is the capital of Central Java , the world's 13th largest island and the 5th largest in Indonesia. Despite it's size, it is the world's most populous island, holding over 150 Million people (over 55% of Indonsesia's population). Today, I did a 50 person bus tour of some of the Semerang's history , so I could cover a lot in one day.