Friday, October 20Why would we make two stops in L.A. ? Some people have asked. The short answer was Long Beach, the home of that grand old lady of the seas, Queen Mary. Both Charlie and I had sailed on her during our youth, he in 1959 and I in 1962. We had to see what had become of her. As kids we weren’t interested the décor or the history. As adults we were amazed at what we hadn’t appreciated then. Of course we weren’t allowed in the beautiful art deco bar.
Edie, the shuffleboard patterns are still painted on the deck, but the ping pong room is gone! Charlie’s favorite part was the engine “room” of course. Finding a propeller in its own water box was a thrill, too.
The radio room is still is use, operated by the local Ham club and usable during emergencies as a communications base.
We also toured her dockmate, the Scorpion, a Russian sub retired in 1994.
Most amazing fact: Submariners were allowed one shower per week. They had the luxury of hot salt water for one whole minute.
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