American Glory

It’s been an exciting week at the marina with a regional high school sailing regatta featuring sailing teams from high schools as far away as Tennessee and North Carolina.  I’ll try and post some of the pictures in an upcoming entry.  This coming weekend we are hosting the Deep South Sailing Regatta for the 51st year of this event.  We had over 50 boats entered in last year’s 50th anniversary race and expect a good turnout again this year.

 

Now, I know I promised PICS of the new house, but I am begging at least one more week to post any.  Paulette would kill me if I showed all the boxes, etc…  Bear with me on this, they will come soon.

 

Now, have you ever seen an Agatha Christie movie or read a book where the action took place on a small cruise ship or tramp steamer and thought, “How romantic?”  Did you figure that mode of transportation is of a different era and a thing of the past?  Well, the small cruise line business is alive and well and I have some pictures to prove it.

 

At least twice a year, since I started working on the water, I have seen this small cruise ship pass by going one way or the other on the Intracoastal Waterway.  I have always wondered about it.  Where was it from?  Where was it going?  How does one book passage?  I have snapped a few photos in the past that did not do the ship justice.  It made an appearance this past fall and I was able to snap a shot or two.  This time, on Dec.27th, I was better prepared and better armed for the task.

 

Here is a shot of its approach on the wide angle.  You can only see a white spec, so I edited in the arrow to direct your eye to the part of the frame that the ship occupied.

 

 

I knew as soon as I saw it on the horizon that it was The American Glory cruise ship.  I zoomed in and started shooting as it neared.

 

 

I did a web search and came up with some facts about the ship.

 

American Glory

Launched in July of 2002, American Glory was purpose built to cruise the Intracoastal and inshore coastlines of the eastern coastline. She is also very adaptable to larger rivers and lakes.

Operator: American Cruise Lines	Capacity (double occupancy): 49
Builder: Chesapeake Ship Building	Full Capacity: 49
Inaugurated: July 2002	Space Ratio: 30.2 / 30.2
Gross Tonnage: 1,480 gt	Crew: 22
Length: 174 ft. / 53 m	Berlitz® Rating: **

 

The actual Web Site for this cruise line, if you are interested is here:  http://www.americancruiselines.com/

 

As the ship neared our marina I could just picture me on deck sipping a mimosa as the ship passed our docks.

 

 

I envisioned what dining aboard might be like as the stars twinkled above and I made my way forward, dressed to the nines in white dinner jacket and dress pants.

 

 

I could just hear the knock at my cabin in the middle of the night.  The scream in the corridor, the crack of the gunshot, and the mysterious stranger crumpled on the carpet as I threw open the door.  The vivacious damsel in distress would fly past me into my stateroom for protection from enemies unknown and unseen.

 

 

Then my radio would crackle to life where it hung on the belt clip at my waist and I would remember I was still the Dock Master walking the docks and dreaming of things that will never be except in that place of great adventure and fabulous journeys… my imagination.

 

 

I watched as The American Glory passed me by again, wending its way down the ICW, passing America by, and providing the passengers with breath-taking view after view on the American waterway.

 

 

After its passing, I stood there on the docks reflecting on my own fate and position in life.  I must admit, after the wake had settled and the ship had departed the horizon, I felt at a loss to want for more.

 

 

I was privileged to enjoy this view every working day of my life and could not come up with any reason to feel slighted or unfulfilled.  I have my own adventures every day in some small way and really could not imagine a life different than the one I have forged and am living.  I turned in the other direction, and gazed at the spot on the horizon where The American Glory had first appeared.  The waterway was calm and the wreck of the old shrimp boat stirred more thoughts in my imagination.

 

 

Yes, I smiled as I turned and walked off the docks.  With all of this, who needs to travel for their adventure?  In my mind, I have all the adventure and intrigue I need right here in my own back yard.