Doug Kerr
Well-known member
A couple of weeks ago, we had a lovely visit from two wonderful friends from the Netherlands, Eveline Bernard and Gerrit van Dalfsen. I had worked with Eveline for over ten years as we tried to put into good shape a software application whose publisher was not doing a very good job of that, but I had never met her in person.
When she heard that Carla was to appear in a play at our local community theater, and that in fact my 80th birthday would occur during the run, and that a week later I was to receive my engineer's ring at New Mexico State University (more about that later), Eveline decided that this was all too much fun to miss, so she and Gerrit decided to visit us here in Alamogordo, N.M.
They were here for almost two weeks, and we had wonderful adventures together, and as well they did many wondrous things on their own. They are both, like myself, retired telephone engineers, so having three of them in the house at the same time was quite an experience for Carla! (Just kidding, guys!)
But shortly after they got home, I learned that they had gone on a sailing trip on the IJsselmeer, a large inland lake in the Netherlands that is part of what once was the famous inland sea, the Zuiderzee.
Eveline took this shot with her trusty smartphone and sent it to me from on board, and I thought I would treat you to it:
Eveline Bernard: Kempen from the IJsselmeer
It shows the charming and historic town of Kempen. I think we see left of center the Bovenkerk, a large gothic church dating from the 12 century.
I'm no sailboat fan, and certainly no expert on rigging, but still I was fascinated by the wonderful view on this shot of their boat's mainsheet, with a lovely fiddle block with integral cam cleat (I think!).
I don't know the name of that knot at the becket, nor do I ever remember seeing such, but I can see how it works, and it is very clever. It seems to be a basic overhand knot with the free end then tied in another overhand knot so it cannot slip through. Perhaps one of you can fill me in on all that stuff. I'm just a telephone engineer.
Best regards,
Doug
When she heard that Carla was to appear in a play at our local community theater, and that in fact my 80th birthday would occur during the run, and that a week later I was to receive my engineer's ring at New Mexico State University (more about that later), Eveline decided that this was all too much fun to miss, so she and Gerrit decided to visit us here in Alamogordo, N.M.
They were here for almost two weeks, and we had wonderful adventures together, and as well they did many wondrous things on their own. They are both, like myself, retired telephone engineers, so having three of them in the house at the same time was quite an experience for Carla! (Just kidding, guys!)
But shortly after they got home, I learned that they had gone on a sailing trip on the IJsselmeer, a large inland lake in the Netherlands that is part of what once was the famous inland sea, the Zuiderzee.
Eveline took this shot with her trusty smartphone and sent it to me from on board, and I thought I would treat you to it:
Eveline Bernard: Kempen from the IJsselmeer
It shows the charming and historic town of Kempen. I think we see left of center the Bovenkerk, a large gothic church dating from the 12 century.
I'm no sailboat fan, and certainly no expert on rigging, but still I was fascinated by the wonderful view on this shot of their boat's mainsheet, with a lovely fiddle block with integral cam cleat (I think!).
I don't know the name of that knot at the becket, nor do I ever remember seeing such, but I can see how it works, and it is very clever. It seems to be a basic overhand knot with the free end then tied in another overhand knot so it cannot slip through. Perhaps one of you can fill me in on all that stuff. I'm just a telephone engineer.
Best regards,
Doug
