Rounding out Race's 10th birthday celebration was a trip to Mill Valley for lunch at the Buckeye Roadhouse and then to the Bay Model in Sausalito where the Lady Washington and the Hawaiian Chieftain were docked. Learn more about the ships at http://historicalseaport.org/. Race and Rockwell had burgers and fries at the Buckeye; Dean had a grilled chicken salad and Elizabeth had a grilled chili-lime chicken sandwich. We then went to the Bay Model and the boys had a good time with the interactive displays. The tide was coming in and it was cool watching the water slowly climb up the model's shoreline. At 2:00 we boarded the Hawaiian Chieftain for a 3 hour tour (doesn't that sound ominous). The weather started getting rough... Well actually the weather was hideous, windy, but at least the rain stopped right before we boarded. We chose the Chieftain since we had cruised up the Sacramento River on the Lady Washington a few years ago. We left the dock and headed out into the bay. When the Lady Washington came out we reversed course and the battle began. We crossed in perfect position to exchange broadsides, our pair of port side 3-pound cannons roared and the Lady Washington returned fire with her starboard 3-pound cannon and a stern mounted swivel gun. Hard over went the helm and the Chieftain pivoted for a shot right down theLady Washington's unprotected stern. We had won this round and bid a temporary farewell to the Lady Washington with loud laughter and taunts. The battle continued, long periods of jockeying for position and brief moments of terror punctuated by the bangs of cannon and black powder smoke. The decks ran with blood and screams could be heard form below as the ship's Surgeon practiced his gruesome trade (alright, I admit it; I made up that last part). We battled all the way around Angel Island tacking and wearing ship to gain an advantage. Singing and taunting the enemy, but all to no avail. Both ships made it back to port. Crews and passengers were cold from the salt water spray and the unrelenting wind, but all aboard were oddly satisfied that they had had a truly great adventure.
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