October 2009 eBook all pages (free PDF, 36.6 - Latitude 38

ated breath
possible,” says Superintendent Dave Matthews.
But in an effort to offload unused
assets, the park’s 56-ft 1956 Marinet
landing craft will be offered up for auction
on December 9. If you’d like to take a
look at it, contact Gerald O’Reilly at (415)
435-1748.
In the meantime, don’t let the beautiful
fall weather go by without visiting your
favorite state park while you still can — 25
Bay Area parks are vulnerable, including
China Camp and Angel Island.
— ladonna
“Can I play too?” — When this five-and-ahalf-year-old
heard that Abby and Laura
were planning to solo circumnavigate, she
started brushing up on her nav skills. “I want
that record!” she was heard to snarl.
too young — cont’d
SIGHTINGS
to singlehand a 40-footer in 50-ft waves and hurricane-force winds?
And do Abby and Jessica really have the mechanical skills to repair
all the systems that will inevitably break during a nonstop attempt?
Don't get us wrong, Abby seems like a lovely girl and we wish her the
best of luck. We just don't want to see her teenage fantasy morph into
a horrible tragedy.
When our old friend Harry Heckel, Jr. completed the first of two
solo circumnavigations at the age of 78, we thought he got a raw deal
from the folks at the Guinness Book of World Records. They refused
to acknowledge it, stating that they didn't want to 'encourage such
behavior'. Now that the focus is on the younger end of the spectrum,
we're starting to see the wisdom in such an attitude.
— andy
October, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 77
LATITUDE / LADONNA