AHOY SHIPMATES

Vol 7 No 3

by

Pat Whittaker

Auaghh…mates, scalawags & lost boys!

T’was a fine, fair day for the treasure hunt. 

Captains & mates from far & near gathered at the Indian Village” to seek their fame & fortune.

Fair winds and good tides promised to all treasures only to be dreamed about. The ‘Black Ghost” with captain John Grundy and shipmate Stan Patterson, sailed into Pan’s Harbor. The “Kaloon Komet” with Chuck & Marilyn Gibfried sailed in strong on their tail wind. Not to be left in the wake, our newest pirates Mike and Rayanna Bramblett aboard “The Tradewinds” rode the tide in. Churning up the channel came the “Green Hornets” with guest shipmates Marsha and Dennis Tarmina. Bringing up by leeward wind was “The Sea Dog” with Captain Tom & Lady Claudia Gano, in a TF fashion. Then the “Blue Pearl” arrived, commanded by Bruce Obbink and navigated by guest Connie Bissenger, a formable duo at best.

With truce at hand, vitals were consumed at pirate speed.

Excellent hamburgers, chips, macaroni salad, soft drinks and cookies.

Then the Hunt began. Pirates now lurked about the forest threatening at every turn and island to steal that bountiful treasure. Five treasures were to be had all well buried about the Pebble Beach Forest and on the sand beach, plus one buried unmapped treasure to be unearthed.  Compasses were dispersed and checked for accuracy.

Burned maps were considered a vital necessity. Clues were then handed out by “Pan” at the safe harbor to map captains and their crews to such locations as: Shipwreck Gulch, The Canyon of No Return; Crows Nest, Hook’s Point, Hangman’s Alley, Lost Boy’s Forest and Pirate’s Loop. It was a challenge but one that our captains and mates handled with resolve and dignity. Unless, you speak of “Black Ghost”, John Grundy and Stan Patterson, who dug up just about the entire Spanish bay to seek their buried treasure. Or the “Trade Winds”, the Brambletts, who completely missed their first treasure only to have perseverance and fortitude to go back and retrieve what was rightly theirs. Doggedly determined Captains are we. Then there’s the “Sea Dogs”. They navigated all seven sea’s just to by-pass pirate haunts. Pan was anxious in awaiting their return.

Ahh, but by all pirate standards there was not a treasure missed or un-accounted  except one. It seems the “Blue Pearl” became hurried and left one of their treasures in the forest. They are trying to deny it but they were disqualified anyway by order of “Pan”. And at the end, it was the crew of the “Kaloon Komets” Marilyn and Charles Gibfried that spent the least amount (only 2 gold coins) to obtaining a shovel for their buried treasure that won. It was “Tradewinds”, Mike and Rayanna Bramblett, that doggedly kept the pursuit of treasure in front of them who came in 2^nd and a special treasure was claimed by “The Sea Dogs”, Claudia & Tom Gano, for their “in period attire”.

Pan and her pirates would like to thank all who came and participated.   It was truly a glorious day.

Please mark your calendar for Sunday, October 16, 2005 for a trip from El Estero Park, over the San Juan Grade pass to San Juan Batista for the Annual California Autumn Classic. We will send you a notice now and then a reminder after the first of the month. This is a nice drive and a chance to mull around with a lot of British car buffs. We will need you to let us know if you want to go so we don't leave anyone standing on the curb at the park.