Birthdays and Berries

My friend Marta's birthday is tomorrow and we had planned to get together to do something for it yesterday. We didn't decide what to do until Saturday. I had wanted to go blueberry picking and she decided she'd like to join me. Then her friend Gema wanted to tag along. So we all got in the car and away we went to Sauvie's Island. We arrived at the blueberry farm only to find it closed. It was sad. We then headed to a few other blueberry farms and ended up at the Pumpkin Patch in their berry fields. The blueberry bushes were thoroughly disappointing, so we headed for the blackberry bushes which were loaded with berries, some ripe, some not quite yet. We still left with lots.

We had to pass this glorious wheat field on the way to the berries. The sound of the field of wheat waving in the wind reminded me of a combination of ocean waves and a rainstick. It was beautiful. I loved it.

Loaded (and thornless) blackberry bushes.

Arches of blackberry bushes.

Marta ventured over to the blackberries after she'd had enough of the raspberries.

Lots o'berries and this wasn't even half of them.

Gema dividing up her loot.

View across the wheat field.

We stopped at the marionberries on the way back to check out. They were definitely stickery. 

 Black and white wheat.

It was a glorious day to be out in the fields and the only disappointment was the lack of blueberries... :( sad day for me. Next year, though, I vow!

PT 658

I had never heard of a PT boat. Apparently they were sort of a big thing during WWII. I decided this past weekend to go to Milwaukie Daze here in the Portland area. Truly, I was a bit disappointed. The saving grace was that I got to tour the only remaining PT-658 boat that can be in water. It is housed here in the Portland area and the volunteer group that manages it opened it for tours. I got in line and waited....and it was worth it. (Forewarning: there are loads of pictures...some will be captioned...some not.) 

This was the sign at the site...

With the boat behind it!

There was a momma duck and babies hanging out while we were hanging out.

 Machine guns.

 One of the docents (is that what they call folks who give tours on boats just like museums?).

 These boats weren't made to spend much time out at sea...they were short range boats that went from a base and returned not too long after that so they have few supplies.

 Torpedos...they were impressive. One of the tour guys said that the way they worked them was to turn them on then unhook them and roll them over the side of the boat and hoped for the best. At the front of the boat is a torpedo aimer (yes, that is my technical term) that you will see a picture of later. Something about directing 16 tons of dynamite...I think.

 The men that were usually on these boats were 19/20 years old and the most 'crazy' of military men as these boats were sort of known as a way to a sure death. 

If you look closely in the picture below you can see one of the 'beds' that the men had available to them.

 On deck gear. There are no rails or anything on these boats...I can't imagine what it would be like on the seas.

Below you can see two of the three engines...they use airplane fuel...expensive stuff they say. They were going to be filling the boat in the next few days and it would cost upwards of 6,000 dollars...I know gas prices are high, but with that bill none of us should complain.

 Engine from another view.

Torpedo mechanics...

Engine...

Steering wheel...they should have a fancier name...

The chart room with original charts...

Through the door mid-picture is the officers cabin area.

In the picture below in the upper right corner you can see the torpedo site to aiming...very rudimentary for today, but not in those days for this type of work. 

 The boat and then me and the boat from a distance.

Random things I learned: I like railings on boats. It was hot this day and the tops of my feet got sunburned a bit. JFK spent part of his military service time on a boat almost identical to this one. It was called PT-109 and sunk, he saved surviving crew and became a war hero. Jimmy Dean wrote a song called and about the PT-109 aka "Big John." I learned more, I'm sure, but can't remember right now. It was a nice time and I was glad I was able to see this impressive piece of history.