So I'm hopping a freighter to China...

[Rain Man]

Well, actually Vietnam. But I'll make a stop in China.

It just seemed like the thing to do. I'm in Oakland now waiting as they load cargo. I'm the only passenger on a 1,000 foot ship for the next 19 days.

Here's my ship: http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/...:CMA_CGM_RHONE. I got whisked aboard before I could take an exterior photo.

Since I'm the only passenger, I get the owner's cabin on the top deck. Here are a few pictures of my cabin area. I also have the use of a lounge on another floor, and I can share the crew's gym.

So if anybody needs me, I won't be around for the next few weeks as I sail my private 1,000 foot yacht across the Pacific.

[Hoover]

Got this video of the first time Rainman showed up in the officers mess.

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

I'm curious how deep the water is along the way. Can you go ask the Captain. you can tell him you're asking for a friend.

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by Hog's Gone Fishin

I'm curious how deep the water is along the way. Can you go ask the Captain. you can tell him you're asking for a friend.

The Aleutian trench is runs around 3000-3300 fathoms, so ~18,000-20,000 feet.

A friend told me..

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

Originally Posted by GloryDayz

The Aleutian trench is runs around 3000-3300 fathoms, so ~18,000-20,000 feet.

A friend told me..

That's some deep water! Hard to imagine water 3.5-4 miles deep!

PS , Rainman, be careful , you could drown in water that deep.

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by GloryDayz

The Aleutian trench is runs around 3000-3300 fathoms, so ~18,000-20,000 feet.

A friend told me..

Given where he is now (see attached), I'd say the soundings are good, ~1,500 fathoms, or ~9000 feet, beneath the keel!

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by patteeu

Has sea sickness been a problem?

Not at all. I brought some patches and medicine but haven't needed them. I don't know if it's real or placebo, but I brought some accupressure bracelets that said they stop motion sickness. They're very tight and have a little half sphere that presses into my wrist in a certain spot. I was wearing them and had no problem, and then at one point I took them off and immediately started feeling more movement. When I get faster internet access, I want to look them up and read more.

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Not at all. I brought some patches and medicine but haven't needed them. I don't know if it's real or placebo, but I brought some accupressure bracelets that said they stop motion sickness. They're very tight and have a little half sphere that presses into my wrist in a certain spot. I was wearing them and had no problem, and then at one point I took them off and immediately started feeling more movement. When I get faster internet access, I want to look them up and read more.

Is the ship fully loaded? I figure a ship that big will ride really well anyway, but especially if it's got a full load.

I was on a 580' supply ship. On the way from Norfolk to the Med at the beginning of a deployment we were fully loaded, and for the most part the Atlantic crossing wasn't a big deal. On the way back we were empty, though, and that's when shit got rough.

Of course, I'm sure the ship you're on dwarfs my old tub.

And the Pacific is called the Pacific for a reason.

[Randallflagg]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Not at all. I brought some patches and medicine but haven't needed them. I don't know if it's real or placebo, but I brought some accupressure bracelets that said they stop motion sickness. They're very tight and have a little half sphere that presses into my wrist in a certain spot. I was wearing them and had no problem, and then at one point I took them off and immediately started feeling more movement. When I get faster internet access, I want to look them up and read more.

Yep! They're called "Sea Bands" and you can purchase them pretty much everywhere...and I was skeptical as well. But they do work....Most of the Cruise Lines sell them - or you can buy them at Walmart - Amazon and the like.

Somewhere in the neighborhood of $6 for two of them. It's a hell of a lot easier than going to your Doctor and getting Scapalimine patches....

[Nickhead]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

That storm was uncomfortable, but we're in calm seas now. We will head south somewhere between the islands of attu and kiska and skirt the Russia coast for a while.

And 9,000 shipping containers clanking against each other in a storm is really loud and disconcerting.

i am guessing you are no longer a fan of wind chimes

[Mr. Plow]

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Nickhead

i am guessing you are no longer a fan of wind chimes

When the sea is calm, they sound like intermittent gunfire a block away. When it's stormy, they sound like a firefight next door. The noise is probably my biggest surprise.

The door to the bridge is locked today so I can't get our position. If I disappear, I was probably sold to the Russians or North Koreans, and tell this to the CIA.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Randallflagg

Yep! They're called "Sea Bands" and you can purchase them pretty much everywhere...and I was skeptical as well. But they do work....Most of the Cruise Lines sell them - or you can buy them at Walmart - Amazon and the like.

Somewhere in the neighborhood of $6 for two of them. It's a hell of a lot easier than going to your Doctor and getting Scapalimine patches....

So they really work, then. I'm not just imagining it. I'd much rather do this than take pills or do patches.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Frazod

Is the ship fully loaded? I figure a ship that big will ride really well anyway, but especially if it's got a full load.

I was on a 580' supply ship. On the way from Norfolk to the Med at the beginning of a deployment we were fully loaded, and for the most part the Atlantic crossing wasn't a big deal. On the way back we were empty, though, and that's when shit got rough.

Of course, I'm sure the ship you're on dwarfs my old tub.

And the Pacific is called the Pacific for a reason.

My guess is that it's not fully loaded, but it's not far from it. And yeah, this is a 300 meter ship that's wide (50 m?). So I would think it would ride better than a smaller ship. We were in smooth water yesterday and I couldn't tell we were moving a few times. Definitely rocking around today, though.

[mikeyis4dcats.]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

My guess is that it's not fully loaded, but it's not far from it. And yeah, this is a 300 meter ship that's wide (50 m?). So I would think it would ride better than a smaller ship. We were in smooth water yesterday and I couldn't tell we were moving a few times. Definitely rocking around today, though.

\

I'd be surprised if it's not, I think they'd have delayed departure waiting. They don't like wasting money, which is what sailing less than full is.

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by Frazod

Is the ship fully loaded? I figure a ship that big will ride really well anyway, but especially if it's got a full load.

I was on a 580' supply ship. On the way from Norfolk to the Med at the beginning of a deployment we were fully loaded, and for the most part the Atlantic crossing wasn't a big deal. On the way back we were empty, though, and that's when shit got rough.

Of course, I'm sure the ship you're on dwarfs my old tub.

And the Pacific is called the Pacific for a reason.

The subs I was on ranged for 292 feet to 314 feet, and none of them had much ballast. If the seas were rough we were getting tossed about! A couple of times we came up and were clearing baffles the boat started getting tossed about, there were a few times we decided to "wait til later", it just wasn't safe. One reactor fast insertion due to angles and you get it.... If the tea kettle ain't happy, nobody's happy. Unless the was something we just had to come up for, we'd just proceed back to depth and, well, hang out.

Just transiting to the dive point out of Groton cost the tax payers many a plate! The Weirdroom lost some of their china once, so we rented them some plates. All in good fun and helped with the MWR fund! The Chiefs would hide that coffee cup they claimed to have had, and not washed, since they were seaman-deuces making up the Ho Chi Minh trail back in the day. It was good to see them get off their asses and walk!

Good times...