Barging practice

I put another three hours in today, sailing across Hampton Roads over to Hampton Bar to watch some of the 74 girls sailing in the U.S. Junior Women's National Doublehanded Championship (in 420s.) The crossing of the channel over the Tunnel was interesting. Sydney Harbor has its ferries; the Columbia River has its barges; Hampton Roads has BIG traffic. As I foiled behind the fantail of the USS San Jacinto, a 567 foot long cruiser, I kept my eye on a 1000' long container ship steaming in. Maybe not as close as the ferries or the barges, but it still kept me on my toes. It's amazing how focused you can be when a slight misstep would place you in dire straits.

Enjoy Dire Straits



Tunnel of Love, by Mark Knopfler (1980)
Richard Rodgers/Oscar Hammerstein II (intro)

Getting crazy on the waltzers but it's the life that I choose
Sing about the sixblade sing about the switchback and a torture tattoo
And I've been riding on a ghost train where the cars they scream and slam
And I don't know I'll be tonight but I'd always tell you where I am

In a screaming ring of faces I'd seen her standing in the light
She had a ticket for the races just like me she was a victim of the night
I put my hand upon the lever said let it rock and let it roll
I had the one arm bandit fever there was an arrow through my heart and my soul

And the big wheelkeep on turning neon burning up above
And I'm just high on the wold
Come on and take a low ride with me girl
On the tunnel of love

It's just the danger when you're riding at your own risk
She said you are the perfect stranger she said baby let's keep it like this
It's just a cakewalk twisting baby step right up and say
Hey mister give me two give me two 'cause any two can play

And the big wheel on turning neon burning up above
And I'm just high on the world
Come on and take the low ride with me girl
On the tunnel of love

Well it's been money for muscle another whirligig
Money for muscle another girl I dig
Another hustle just to make it big
And rockaway rockaway

And girl it looks so pretty to me just like it always did
Like the spanish city to me when we were kids
Oh girl it looks so pretty to me just like it always did
Like the spanish city to me when we were kids

She took off a silver locket she said remember me by this
She put her hand in my pocket I got a keepsake and a kiss
And in the roar of dust and diesel I stood and watched her walk away
I could have caught up with her easy enough but something must have made me stay

And the big wheel keep on turning neon burning up above
And I'm just high on the world
Come on and take a low ride with me girl
On the tunnel of love

And now I'm searching through these carousels and the carnival arcades
Searching everywhere from steeplechase to palisades
In any shooting gallery where promises are made
To rockaway rockaway from cullercoats and whitley bay out to rockaway

And girl it looks so pretty to me just like it always did
Like the spanish city to me when we were kids
Girl it looks so pretty to me just like it always did
Like the spanish city to me when we were kids