OCR Text |
Show SALT FLAT NEWS, OCTOBER, 1970 5 Cap n Long Jim Silver and His Rollicking Dinner Cruise By Virginia Laugh tier The atory I am about to tell you ia completely true. None of the names have been changed, because everybody was innocent. The only culprit was a practical joker the Great Salt Lake. It started on a beautiful, dear, fall day, when four df us decided to take a dinner cruise on the world-famou- inland s salt sea. The Islander was to cast off at that evening and we eight-thirt- y were to be aboard. Romantic notions filled my a sea painted head 9nge by the setting sun, the gentle rolling of the waves, islands on the misty horizon, a full moon lighting our journey as we glided gracefully into port. Nature, however, was a jester that night, and romance and beauty stepped down. By late afternoon dark clouds had drifted over the valley, and, as the four of us drove toward Silver Sands beach, we occasionally lost the meandering road in the darkness. In a small moment of panic, we wondered if we would get to the salty water before we intended, for often the only thing our headlights could find was marsh. We looked for a glimmer of sun or moon, but found everything above covered with massive, rolling clouds. A light fog began to settle around us as we approached the dock. Once before I had been on a dinner cruise on the Allegheny; the ship was quite large. I must have been back there in thought, for I neglected to duck as I stepped through the cruiser door. Therein, with a knot on my forehead and sixty people stifling giggles at my grand appearance, began the fun. Within a few minutes we were seated, and the cruise began, but not without a warning from the captain. The clouds, it seems, were not the only portent of bad weather. The lake had be- -' come choppy and there was rough going ahead. As soon as we left the channel, the sleek, white cruiser began to rock back and forth as each wave played its slap-dasjoke on the bow of boat. the Several young couples were obviously delighted at this new clamor of excitement, while a few older ladies peered worriedly out the windows, hoping to fix a stem grandmotherly eye on the culprit somewhere out there in the black night. Soon, because - there was little to see outside, the passengers began to rode . . h happily along with the boat and focused their attention gladly on each other. There was lighthearted chatter all around. We were the victims of the same practical joke, and we seemed to draw together. ' Captain Jim Silver came down about then to warn us that it might get rougher, but by that OR: Can hardier souls had ventured to make their way to the top deck to see if any scenery was visible. By the time I got out the sliding glass door and up the small ladder, there were about twenty passengers on deck. The rocking of the boat was intensified up there and few dared to try standing, but half crouched Anyone time, we were prepared to brave any storm. Even trying to stand up and walk was an adventure for us landlubbers, but as it proved out the crew was not used to such rough weather themselves. "The Great Salt Lake is normally very calm, our captain explained, as he handed the microphone to a pretty young girl. Taking a firmly balanced stance, she began to rock and talk about the history of the lake. She did well under the circumstances, but it was much like hearing a lectur&while riding on a roller coaster. Her brows were arched in a high curve, which gave her face a look of surprise it was highly appropriate and every time the boat nosed deeply into the curve of a wave, those brows shot up a little higher. It was hard to concentrate on the statistics about the Salt Lake, but I believe she said it was pretty salty. I agreed with that. While this main event was going on and the boat was rollidling somewhat playfully over the choppy sea, we caught a side show. Over to the left at the front of the cabin was the galley. If the passengers and crew had a hard time staying put, it's easy to imagine what was happening to the trays, forks, napkins and the two stewards who were preparing to serve the dinner. A bright orange curtain was pulled around to conceal the work area, but as the boat careened through the waves, the curtain would occasionally come flying open. Somehow they managed to hit tiie salad with the dressing every time. I think it was just luck. But it didnt hold out, for the captain came down shortly to announce that dinner would be a little late. Half the accoutrements of the meal were scattered over the floor of the galley. By this time, a few of the See along the deck or worked their around the way people who had given up moving at all and were clinging fervently to the first spot they had gotten firm hold to along the rail. I chose the latter method of travel and after several excuse mes and shared, apprehensive giggles hand-over-han- d at the common predicament, I made my way toward two of my friends. They looked cold and windblown, but they had found seats, and, they thought, a little security. Looking around, I discovered that all the other chairs were taken. I had to maintain an upright position somehow in order to look at the view, so I grabbed one. hand from each friend and planted my feet firmly apart (the way the captain told us). With survival taken care of, I felt it was then safe to look around. We were about eight miles out, and the lights from shore were the only bright thing in sight. Everything else was bathed in black mist so that only the crooked silhouettes of Antelope Island and the mountains in the distance were visible. Still, I was beginning to rather enjoy the mystery of this unexpectedly gothic scene, when I was splattered across the face with a plentiful spray of salty water. The waves were getting bigger and the splash of the boat was sending the salt spray flying everywhere. Suddenly all twenty people who came up the ladder one at a time, were trying to get down it at once. The older ladies were hanging on for their lives, and you could see on their faces (not to mention participate in) visions of going overboard and being lost forever at sea. Seeing the futility of hurrying, some just sat and laughed, and waited, and got wetter. By the time we all got down, the cabin was packed and closed tightly. Even the small drinking party had come in from the prow - of the boat, wet, happy and of that persevering steward. We unruffled, with another excuse had all worked up a hearty for a little nip. With some of the appetite by then, and the easy men aboard, it was hard to tell ride in was welcomed as an whether the rocking walk was opportunity to eijoy the meal. from the boat or the flagon. Soon we were drifting into But they took it rather well. I filled and calm (the way mean, if you cant stand up too port was all supposed to be). A few it steadily to begin with, what ladies powdered their noses. We difference can a few waves make? settled back with what was left of our cokes, coffee, or whatever, and relaxed at last, to the sweet island sounds of Tom Tongas guitar and Marios ukelele. I Finally we settled down in oui think it was that overpowering seats to watch the slides flashing Hawaiian smile that kept us all on the screen at the front of the even after the cruiser cabin. They were showing us together had docked forty minutes ahead beautiful views of the islands of schedule. We were lulled and colorful sunsets we had romantically through all the old missed by coming at the wrong South Sea standards. "Sweet time. But we couldnt even get Lelani was requested by a little lost in our imagination of what white-haire- d gentleman for his might have been, for the captain sweetheart of the last thirty interrupted us. We would turn years (one of the ladies who around early, he said, and head was powdering her nose as we for shore. Since we would then and we ended up the be riding with the waves, not docked), evening by singing along on into them, the cruise back would Bubbles. Tiny be smooth. But during the turn, he warned, the boat will rock I decided, as I ducked out even more as we come broadside the porthole, remembering the with the waves. He stood at the on my forehead, that alknot front to ride us through and though I wasnt at all sure where we gleefully prepared for the I had been, it had really been new experience. Ibe boat slowly turned and began to tilt deeply fantastic getting there. from side to side. The passengers by now were delighted at this joy ride and small cries of fun mingled with awe escaped from a few. But laughter took over as the boat careened and the orange galley curtain went flying open exposing our nautical-lookin- g steward balanc-middl- e of the galley with a stack of trays up to his shoulders MlSIC' C OM PAN Y held precariously in front of him and a look of bewilderment and surprise on his face. It was like a flash from a Charlie Chaplin movie, for just as swiftly the boat careened in the other direction and ended the "flic with an almost automatic swish of the closing curtain. Meanwhile, up in the captainb cabin, someone suddenly remembered the thirty six cup coffee maker that was' brewing away, and screamed, "Watch the coffeepot ... as it, too, succumbed to the wild rolling. A few people reached out with whatever free hand they had and saved the MARTIN pot, but not before it caught a An excellent selection of few unlucky observers with a Martin Guitars d coffee. splatter of The second turn, or tack, Unsurpassed tonal qualities found everyone prepared except Fine craftsmanship the steward, who was hopelessly For more than still trying to distribute those a century trays. But we soon were riding 65 South West Temple gently back toward the shore. Salt Lake City, Utah 84101 Phone: Though it was an anticlimax excitement the to of compared ACROSS FROM THE SALT PALACE going, coming back was pleasant. Dinner was served without a single spilled drink or unduly tossed salad, much to the credit fhe Sea? bell-bottome- -- -- half-brewe- 364-651- 8 ELINORS AYS Visit the Commercial Hotel where friends meet Hnar Bailiy, Mgr. ... eld fashioned Western friends hospitality. Enjoy a trip to: . ELKO, NEVADA fen hy note Rates from $950.$1800 plvfl i i tax FINEST ACCOMMODATIONS ENTERTAINMENT STAGE BAR A LOUN DINING AND DANCING COMMERCIAL HOTEL Oiir "FUN many fine like Travel 243 1. 4th PACKAOI" Bureau Sauth Salt Lake hundred-thousan- d Captain Jim Silver explains the intricacies of the control room of the to two of his guests on a dinner cruise, Mike and Kathy Henderson of Salt Lake City. dollar Islander represents enly e pertien ef the reem eccemmedatiens in Kike. SU3PBCKACK Phone J28-04- 31 Salt Lake |