Hey Transatlantic Tom

[cruiserking]

Transatlantic Tom,

 

I posted this earlier today to your Atlantic Ocean book search thread but, it never registered as a new post.

 

During my weekly perusals through maritme writings at the local bookstore I came across something that perhaps might interest you. It is newly in paperback and titled Great Waters, an Atlantic Passage by Deborah Cramer. I have not read it, though googled the author and came up with the following. Should you give it a gander let us know if it's sea-worthy.

 

Great Waters

An Atlantic Passage

By Deborah Cramer

 

A remarkable scientific meditation on and spiritual exploration of one of our least appreciated natural resources—the Atlantic Ocean. Not since Rachel Carson has a writer been able to give voice so compellingly to the ocean—its mythic history and its precarious future. In the course of an ocean voyage, Deborah Cramer weaves the details of the history and science of the Atlantic into a brilliant tapestry that documents our many-faceted reliance on the sea, our betrayal of that bond, the changing landscape of the ocean floor, and the threatened life of its inhabitants. Bringing together the scientific research of physical oceanographers, geologists, biologists, and chemists from both sides of the Atlantic, Cramer presents a devastating report of the environmental damage inflicted on these waters. From the decks of her sailing vessel she describes with vivid passion the intricate and fragile web of marine life, the visible disappearance of schools of fish plundered by the competitive fishing industry, and the changing rhythms of the Atlantic from the rough, chilly Gulf of Maine to the calm, weedy currents of the Sargasso Sea. 20 line b/w drawings, maps.

 

"If you've ever walked the shores of this great ocean...wondering what lay beyond—this fine book will let you know."—Bill McKibben, author of Long Distance: A Year of Living Strenuously

 

Cruiserking

[Transatlantic Tom]

Cruiserking:

 

Thank you for this information. I shall look into it. I may end up giving a "book report" after all. It's been a long time since I last did one of those !!

 

Tom

 

PS Each time I see one of your postings I look with envy at the fact that you've been lucky enough to sail aboard the Elizabeth, France and the Da Vinci. I don't know that I'll ever get the chance but I'd love to get an hour with you, say in The Chart Room, and hear some stories. Wouldn't it be wonderful if the French Line and the Italian Line were still operating ???

[cruiserking]

Transatlantic Tom,

 

Look forward to your book review of Great Waters if in fact you crack it.

 

I was rather a wee sprout during my sailings on the France and Leonardo Da Vinci. My most vivid early memories are of QE2 circa 1970-1. However, I will be happy to take you up on a chat in the Chart Room to speak about favorite ships or the results of the latest QM2 refit.

 

Cruiserking

[Transatlantic Tom]

Cruiserking:

 

With regard to the Chart Room adn drinks, we'll do it !! When, I don't know, but I'm an optimist !!

 

Also, I neglected to mention being impressed by your sailing aboard Rotterdam too. I have to say that your taste in ships has been quite classic. Did you have parents who were inthe tradition of sailing to/from Europe ?? How did you come to sail on these greats ??

 

I spent much of my youth sailing out in the Pacific, to and from Hawaii aboard the ships of the Matson Line and the Pacific Far East Line,both based in San Francisco. Great ships and priceless memories.

 

Tom

[cruiserking]

Tom,

 

I suppose it was my experiences on these classic ships as a young lad that has fostered my appreciation of the more traditional ships like QE2 and QM2.

 

My dad was in the Travel business, also a ship fan and we frequently travelled on the big liners out of New York City. At whatever point we do have our chat in the Chart Room I will try and persuade my father to book a passage as well. You would probably be interested speaking with him. I quiver at the notion that he has sailed on some of the greats like the United States, the Queen Mary and The Mauretania.

 

Just peering through a fabulous book I picked up at an ocean liner memorabilia show in New York City last year. Grand Luxe - The Transatlantic Style - by Malcolm Brinnin and Kenneth Gaulin, 1988. I'm sure you can pick it up online somewhere. It is a gorgeous, oversized coffee table book with some truly outstanding paintings and photographs of all the most beautiful liners, SS France, Mauretania, Queen Mary, The Normandie, Leviathan, The Rex - you name it. Thems were the days...

 

Cruiserking

Jonathan

[Transatlantic Tom]

Jonathan:

 

Now you've tempted me even more with the additional prospect of meeting someone, such as your father, with the experience of sailing on those three magnificent ships you mentioned. I know that it would be a delight for me to meet the two of you someday aboard either QE2 or QM2.

 

I see that you are counting down to the QM2's Independence Day trip next summer. That is one that my wife and I have been looking at. You never know !!!

 

If you feel up to it, you can contact me at trtrapp@stkate.edu and keep in touch. Otherwise, we can look for each other's postings here on the CC Boards, when the right voyage comes along.

 

In the meantime, I will most definitely take your advice and look for that book. It's one that I don't have and it sounds wonderful !!!

 

Tom