ForbesOnTech

Fun Incorrect Sea Stories About Old Ironsides from the Days Before the US Navy's Ban on Alcohol aboard Ships-- the USS Constitution's 126,230 Gallon Bender of 1798

( woops! this is an old story and it's about as true as romantic yarns about relationships between sailors and mermaids.  but as the saying goes: the difference between a fable and sea story is simple: one begins"Once upon a time" the other leads with: "No Shit,"--jmf!

 

The U. S. S. Constitution (Old Ironsides), as a combat vessel, carried 48,600 gallons of fresh water for her crew of 475 officers and men. This was sufficient to last six months of sustained operations at sea. She carried no evaporators (i.e. fresh water distillers).

However, let it be noted that according to her ship's log, "On July 27, 1798, the U.S.S. Constitution sailed from Boston with a full complement of 475 officers and men, 48,600 gallons of fresh water, 7,400 cannon shot, 11,600 pounds of black powder and 79,400 gallons of rum.

" Her mission: "To destroy and harass English shipping."Making Jamaica on 6 October, she took on 826 pounds of flour and 68,300 gallons of rum.

Then she headed for the Azores, arriving there 12 November. She provisioned with 550 pounds of beef and 64,300 gallons of Portuguese wine.

On 18 November, she set sail for England. In the ensuing days she defeated five British men-of-war and captured and scuttled 12 English merchant ships, salvaging only the rum aboard each.

By 26 January, her powder and shot were exhausted. Nevertheless, although unarmed she made a night raid up the Firth of Clyde in Scotland. Her landing party captured a whisky distillery and transferred 40,000 gallons of single malt Scotch aboard by dawn. Then she headed home.

The U. S. S. Constitution arrived in Boston on 20 February 1799, with no cannon shot, no food, no powder, no rum, no wine, no whisky, and 38,600 gallons of water.

In case you’re wondering: that’s 126,230 gallons of distilled spirits and 64,300 gallons of wine.

Makes you wonder if the Constitution’s ship’s company was in the mood for strong drink when she birthed in Boston. This also serves to define the phrase “drunk as a sailor”

Thanks to fellow retired technology journalist and one time Lt. USNR  Jim Brinton for this factoid. -- Jim Forbes on 09/04/2009.

Fresh Guacamole and Orange Juice-- Post Firestorm Comfort Food

Fire Blogging Comfort Food, Escondido Style    

A couple of minutes before noon I was struck with a compelling for something I rarely eat. Guacamole.

     Guac and a glass of fresh squozed orange juice sounds particularly yummy today as smoke from the Witch Creek fire gets dispersed out over the sunny Oceanside coast.

     So off I went to my favorite abandoned grove, ruck held in place casually by a single strap. Senor Perro leading, stopping to spy a couple of fat and (and to his discerning eyes, "tasty") yellow belly ground squirrels darting in and out of their fire proof dens on the edge of the grove. I sorted through a dozen Haas avocados blown to th floor of the grove by the recent Santa Anas and the winds of the Witch Creek fire before settling on two plump specimens, ripe enough to strain their hard skins. I dropped them into my ruck, and started trudging home, Sr. Perro sneezing ahead at the end of his 12 foot leash.

     Our next-to last stop was a heavily burdened Valencia orange tree down on the street at the base of my hill. I yanked six big oranges, dropping them carefully in with the 'cados. We had one more stop to make, in the remains of my garden which has two evilly ripe peppers still attached to the bush.

     Then onward to  the house where I  mushed up the two avocados, minced some onion and a slice of fresh chili pepper, and drizzled the juice of about one half of a Mexican lime from my neighbor's tree. then smash it all up it all up in a Mexican Terracotta soup bowl with a fork and season it with two generous pinches of garlic salt and white pepper and  I let it age while I juice the six oranges and then pour 12 ounces of fresh squozed goodness into my iced mug, and start my Sunday film fest of  Late For Dinner, Amazing Grace and Eurotrip.

     Damn, this is some great guacamole and there's nothing better than fresh orange juice from oranges that someone else grew.

     Life is pretty fine, here on my little mountain top in rural Northern San Diego County. Firestorm smoked Haas avocados. Yum yum--Jim Forbes--10/28/2007