The St. Augustine hotels and beach homes are in plain view

[oneighty]

from the deck of the shrimp trawler as we drag the two sixty foot trawl nets back and forth and back and forth two miles south then two miles north always parallel to the shore line.

I can imagine the fun going on over there. The parties, the dances the beautiful people and the hard bodies sunning on the beach. Oh to be over there and not here on this stinking boat.

Late afternoon a fast and terrible storm blows up. We struggle to get the nets aboard but the best we can do is get the trawl doors to the tip of the outriggers. In a storm it is impossible to navigate the narrow channel to safety in St. Augustine Harbor. It is necessary we anchor up and ride the storm out.

The trawler next to us has run into a serious hang in her starboard net swinging her crosswise to the gusting winds and rain. She struggles to bring the net aboard and when doing so finds she has captured a large ship's anchor. Some time later the Captain remarks; "I always wanted one of them for my front yard."

We pass the night in the raging storm sleeping in shifts.

The following morning it gets worse. Much worse.

180

[Metta]

1. This is some scary stuff, Jim.

Way too much fun for me. My hat is off to you.

[JitterbugPerfume]

2. The following morning it gets worse

much worse-----and???

tell us the rest of the story

[leftofthedial]

3. you need to hook up with Frank Miller and Robert Rodriguez

do you write this stuff down in real time or later, after the fact?

or are you just making it up and you're not really a shrimper?

Doesn't matter, there is a terse, ominous power in what you write.

Let's collaborate on a song.

:thumbsup:

[oneighty]

4. This is a true story

It took place thanksgiving week about 1986.

I would like to say "This was the worst trip I ever been on." But it was not. (Thanks Beach Boys). The trip I did not go on went to sea and was never heard from again.

Ahh a song that would be a fun project.

180

[leftofthedial]

5. the trip I did not go on

what kind of attrition is/was there in the fleet? How many trips never came back?

[oneighty]

7. Oh boy

I only have personal knowledge of three. One shrimp trawler and two snapper boats. Snapper boats are way more exposed to danger than the typical shrimp trawler.

The shrimp trawler and one snapper boat was out of McClellanville South Carolina. The other snapper boat was out of Mount Pleasant

I was to Captain the snapper boat out of McClellanville but was passed over for a more experienced Captain.

180

[leftofthedial]

10. that is irony

have you written the story?

[oneighty]

11. No.

In respect for the young crew lost at sea I have never so much as said the name of the boat out loud. One day they were very young men laughing strong proud and brave.

And then they were gone.

180

[leftofthedial]

12. not their story

*your* story

or at least one that starts with a version of you

[oneighty]

13. Oh the St Augustine story

It is a story of scallops and stink and of drugs and girls and thieves and cops and hunger and hitch hiking and foot steps in the dark and a retired air force general. And how I jumped ship and made it home.

I offered this piece up as a test. I am surprised it appears interesting to others. Often those of us close to these events see it as normal.

Did you ever smell a scallop shucking operation?

180

[leftofthedial]

14. it's terrific and should be written, but I did mean

the trip you never took

but make it a story about the guy who didn't go and what it meant that he didn't

not about the ship that never came back per se

you are a terrific writer. I'd like to read more.

[oneighty]

15. Check your PM

180

[JitterbugPerfume]

6. and Ed (oneighty) is to modest

to tell you that he has written two books and some really fine poetry

[oneighty]

8. Your check is in the mail Mom.

Hee hee hee.

180

[JitterbugPerfume]

9. thanks

be sure it is signed

hee hee hee