I got an email the other day from Capt. Dennis Dugas. He was stuck in West End Bahamas (poor baby) like getting stuck in the Bahamas is a bad thing. He was waiting for a weather window to head over to the Sea of Abacco. He loves it over there and someday we’ll lose him totally to the Bahamas.

The staff had a good weekend with diving. Dave Rumbaugh, Lindsay Kuc, new ranger Derrick (don’t know his last name yet sorry) and world traveler Joe Schriner (heading to New Zealand shortly) dove 4 tanks in two different days. I was fortunate enough to drive the boat with Capt. Carol diving as well. We hit the Eagle, Trench, good old Alligator and Captain Grumpy (there’s a debate who it was named after).

Friday I had friends from San Diego come in, Harry and Sharon Chilton. Harry and I used to do triathlons together back before the knees gave out a million years ago. He is a great guy and good friend; I hated to see them leave. They were homesick though and had been gone for nearly two months and eager to get back. Capt. Carol has some friends here as well, Gary and Larry from Arkansas. Great people and amazed by the water here.

Sea Base staff as well as the help of some of the captains (Luke, Michel, and Hans) flipped the remaining rooms of the Thomas building. It is a seriously big job getting all of the dorm type furniture out and the hotel type furniture back in. Cleaning is a big chore as well because nobody brought their mommy to clean up after themselves (pigs). But it is basically done thanks to everyone’s efforts.

Time to get back to work, Capt. Steve is already missed, I really don’t do this very well. The weather is nice, it is still hot and we have storms trying to make it over. So far so good.

I’ll try and post more tomorrow.

Capt Rich

Capt. Steve
Aboard S/V Escape (for a few more hours)

The first Labor Day in the United States was celebrated on September 5, 1882 in New York City.^[1] It became a federal holiday in 1894, when, following the deaths of a number of workers at the hands of the U.S. military and U.S. Marshals during the Pullman Strike, President Grover Cleveland put reconciliation with the labor movement as a top political priority. Fearing further conflict, legislation making Labor Day a national holiday was rushed through Congressunanimously and signed into law a mere six days after the end of the strike.^[2] The September date was chosen as Cleveland was concerned that aligning an American labor holiday with existing international May Day celebrations would stir up negative emotions linked to the Haymarket Affair.^[3] All 50 U.S. states have made Labor Day a state holiday.

But I guess I don’t understand the concept of “federal holiday” and “state holiday”.  A lot of people will be working today.  Me, maybe you, military, police, fire and EMS personnel, restaurants, lifeguards, amusement parks, theaters, hotels, motels, botels (hotels where you can dock your boat), gas stations, grocery stores, retail stores, and on and on.  So a “federal” holiday means the top dogs and “non-essential” personnel get a day off?  The banks are closed.  Mail delivery is interrupted.  You can’t see a doctor unless you go to the ER.  I think my barber is closed.  But aren’t barbers generally closed on Mondays anyway?  It would be interesting to know what percentage of employed US citizens work on Labor Day.

Don’t get me wrong.  I certainly appreciate that many people do get the day off.  I just think it’s weird that the federal and state legislatures take the time to debate this, declare it a non-working day, and then so many people are working.  I know, let it go.  Tell us what’s going on at the Florida Sea Base.

Everyone was off yesterday.  I saw Capt. Rich for three minutes, Capt. Carol for two minutes and had an unofficial business meeting with Paul Beal, the General Manager, at his residence for about 30 minutes.  I don’t think I even saw any other staff members.

I have been selected to represent the Florida Sea Base at the Sam Houston Area Council’s celebration of the BSA’s centennial on 08 – 10 October.  I was a Cub Scout in that council back when they recorded dates in Roman numerals.  I think it was in MCMLIX through MCMLXI. The “SHAC JAM” will be held at the Texas World Speedway on Highway 6 south of College Station, Texas.  Do not confuse the Texas WORLD Speedway with the Texas MOTOR Speedway north of Fort Worth.  In the mid to late 1970s I went to the Texas World Speedway to watch races.  It was billed as the fastest oval track in the world due to its outrageous banking in the corners.

The cars could go full throttle from the green flag to the checkered flag.  Brakes were an option.  The best day I had there  was a double race.  The stars were “King” Richard Petty (my personal all time favorite) and local Houston hero A.J Foyt.  The first race was a 250 mile sprint in stock cars.  The second race was a 250 mile sprint in Indy cars – same drivers.  It was incredible.  I left sunburned, dehydrated, deaf, and grinning from ear to ear.

Oh yeah.  Sea Base news, not recollections of an old man.  Let’s see.  Weather!  We had some weather yesterday.  It was mostly sunny and HOT.  We had a thunderstorm about 22:00 to 23:30.  Today’s forecast from the National Weather Service:

Labor Day: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 90. Southeast wind between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Tonight: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 81. East wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Tropical Storm Hermine was born overnight.  That’s the system on the Campeche Bank I mentioned yesterday.  It is NOT forecasted to make hurricane strength and should make landfall tomorrow near the Texas/Mexico border.  The remnants of Gaston are still threatening to return to Tropical Storm status, but haven’t made it yet; maybe tomorrow.  Another wave has emerged from Africa but it’s WAY to early to know where it’s headed.

College Station (where the SHAC JAM is being held) is the home of Texas A&M University.  My dad taught fire fighting at the Fire Sciences school there for a few years while serving as the Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC) of the fire department at Carswell Air Force Base.  My dad wanted me to attend A&M.  I applied and was accepted.  But I decided to attend a smaller university where I didn’t feel so overwhelmed.  My dad was thrilled that I went to college (and graduated) but I know he was disappointed that I didn’t attend A&M.

Anyway, the Sam Houston Area Council serves about 600,000 of America’s youth (according to their website).  They send several crews to the Florida Sea Base every year.  The SHAC JAM is advertised as the second largest BSA Centennial celebration – second only to the National Jamboree.  So maybe I will see some friendly faces while I’m there.  Maybe I’ll see you on Saturday, 09 October.

I hope you are one of the lucky ones who gets to enjoy a day off today.  The work load will be light around here.  I’ll try to stay on topic a little better tomorrow.

Capt. Steve
Aboard S/V Escape

Traffic in the Florida Keys is as thick as molasses.  I ventured to the Publix grocery store in Marathon yesterday and lucked out.  I don’t plan on leaving the base today or tomorrow.

Megan Ware – please go to the post of 02 September.  Click on the comments.  Someone is trying to get in contact with you.

Yesterday was very slow around the Florida Sea Base because everyone was off.  Lindsay Kuc assisted me with a BC/regulator sale.  Teri Wells has working plumbing in her sailboat, including a head (toilet) and water heater.  She was beaming yesterday.

I cleaned/reorganized some of the v-berth and galley on Escape yesterday.  I found a few food related items that were out of date (2007) so I threw them away.  But I also found two packs of sugar free Kool-Aid®.  The powder was a solid block.  I mixed up one 2 quart pack and drank it.  Yuck!  It reminded me of lemon flavored cold medicine made with brackish water.  I trashed the other pack.

Okay.  That’s enough.  I obviously don’t have any more news.  Enjoy your Sunday.

Capt. Steve
Aboard S/V Escape

The Florida Sea Base is located a little northwest of the center of the Florida Keys.  Generally speaking, it is a rural area.  There is one road in, US-1, and that road dead-ends in Key West.  Most of the “highway” from the mainland (about mile marker 125) to the end of the road (mile marker zero) is only two lanes wide.  There are a few stretches where the speed limit is 55 but the vast majority of the way the limit is 45 mph.  Drive time from Miami to Key West is over three hours.  The drive on a holiday weekend like this or during spring break is closer to SIX hours or MORE.  Getting out of Key West will be worse.

I went into the Galley early yesterday morning and started preparing for breakfast.  Thank goodness Capt. Martin Ivy showed up – he actually knows how to cook.  Anyway, I declared the experience a success.  We made hash-browns, bacon and cook-your-own-eggs.  It seemed to be a good morale booster.  Then I went over a little before lunch and caught Capt. Martin already in the process of making “Philly Cheese Chicken Sandwiches” (his name, not mine) for the staff.  So I put together a salad and again the troops were well fed.  I went back at 17:45 an no one was around so I assume they are eating out tonight.  That’s fine with me.  I had a great salad an some grilled, marinated chicken for dinner on the boat.

For those of you interested in the Divemaster Academy I have added FAQs to my LINKS page.  It is a work in progress.  If you are a DMA graduate, or former staff member I am interested in your input.  I will add questions as they are received from this year’s candidates.

The wind picked up a bit last night and switched to the south.  I was hoping to pull my jib down today or tomorrow but it looks like the wind won’t cooperate until Sunday at the earliest.  I should have done it yesterday.  Could of, would of, should of.  The jib needed some TLC before our trip this past spring, but was damaged more during the crossing from the Bahamas back to Florida.  There’s a good chance that the sail is toast anyway.  It came with the boat so I have no idea how old it is.  It isn’t cut properly.  It’s probably time.

Hurricane Earl is now a threat to Friend of Sea Base Rich Kuras in Massachusetts.  I spoke with Rich briefly today.  He is a long time BSA volunteer, father of Past Staff Member of the Year Laura Kuras (who will be back on staff in less than 2 weeks), married to the beautiful Cheryl Kuras, annual spring time volunteer at the Florida Sea Base and GENUINE nice guy.

Fiona is down to 30 mph winds and a slight a nuisance for Bermuda.  Tropical Storm Gaston is being counted out by some folks.  But the National Hurricance Center is giving him a 70% chance of redevelopment over the weekend and the wave behind Gaston has a 30% chance of development over the weekend.  ”Rollin’, rollin’, rollin’, though those streams are swollen, keep them doggies rollin’, RAWHIDE!!!”  [From a 60's TV theme song if you don't recognize the words.]

PLEASE CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

I’m going to make some coffee, listen to some iTunes and wait for the wind to settle back down.  This is a good opportunity for me to do a little organizing and packing for my trip home.  I hope you have an enjoyable weekend.

Capt. Steve
Aboard S/V Escape

Capt. Rich was a huge help today with the seasonalization of the 2011 budget.  It really is much easier to do with two (or more) people instead of doing it alone.  Lloyd King of the National Office was also a big help in getting me started.  It’s hard to remember how to use this software when you only do it once a year.  Mr. King is the BSA’s Microsoft Forecaster® guru.

It looks like Hurricane Earl is starting to fizzle.  That is great news for the northern US Atlantic coast states.  Hurricane Fiona is going to stay well east of the US.  TD Gaston apparently floundered yesterday but the National Hurricane Center says this the storm may regenerate.  We’re not out of the woods yet.  The wave that I mentioned yesterday should become more notable in about 2 days and another wave will spill off Africa 2 to 3 days after that.  Busy, busy.

Locally the weather is gorgeous.  Except for the tiny but potent cell that hit us at about 02:10.  I poked my up to see if everything was okay topside.  A couple of night fisherman had found temporary refuge at our fuel dock.  As soon as conditions allowed I saw them heading back out, soaked but in good spirits.

Lindsay Kuc sold two sets of scuba gear and one regulator yesterday.  She was born for retail sales.  She also painted in the Thomas Building for much of the day.  Dave Rumbaugh slaved away working on scuba tanks all day.  He is a hard worker.

I’m headed in early today but to the Galley, not the office.  We are without a cook currently so I went to the store yesterday and plan on helping the staff prepare some bacon, eggs and potatoes this morning.  It will be a nice change from bagels and cereal.  I’m hoping for hamburgers for lunch, but we’ll see what happens.

Capt. Steve
Aboard S/V Escape

The good news is there was no damage and the problem was very easily fixed.  And while I was on deck a dolphin visited with me for a few minutes.  By the time she left I was pretty awake.  So here I am.  Good morning from the Florida Sea Base!!!

Today is “seasonalization” day at the Florida Sea Base.  Spell check does not recognize “seasonalization” as a word.  But it is the next step in our BSA budget process.  The 2011 budget is set.  As with most budgets projected income and expenses are broken down into several accounts.  Seasonalization is the act of taking each account, whether it is income or expense, and forecast how much of the income or expense in each given account will be received or spent in each calendar month.  This means, for example, that we have to foresee during which month in 2011 a boat will break down and how much it will cost to repair it.  Not only are we expected to foresee when this will happen, we have to foresee when a bookkeeper in Dallas will actually pay the invoice.  What are the chances of “The Amazin Kreskin” pulling that off?  We also have to foresee when Troop 666 from Podunk, USA is going to submit their payment for their adventure.  Sure, we have deadlines, but some people don’t always pay their bills on time.  The nice folks in Dallas do not understand when we guess incorrectly.  I have sharpened my darts, hung the board on the office wall and will record the results in an accurate and professional manner.  One of my best days EVER at the Florida Sea Base involved Capt. Rich, Coach Carl G. Boyles (now of Northern Tier fame) and me setting in the office making wild guesses and laughing our tails off while seasonalizing the budget.  The sad thing is that was the most accurate seasonalization I have ever submitted.

Megan BROYLE.  Ha!! I remembered to ask.  Our new Administrative Intern is Megan Broyle.  [I couldn't remember her last name yesterday morning.]  Megan is getting settled in.  She reported to Rob and Nancy for her first day of work yesterday morning.

Capt. Rich celebrated his birthday yesterday by moving furniture into Annex Rooms 9 and 10.  He let me help a little.

Tropical Storm Gaston is of concern for the Florida Sea Base.  Paul Beal, General Manager, has called a meeting for tomorrow morning to discuss battle plans.  Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.  I spent a little time last night making a list for preparing S/V Escape and my other personal interests.

And at the 02:00 update the National Hurricane Center identified another tropical wave of concern near the Cape Verde Islands.

SSTs (Sea Surface Temperatures) play a big role in hurricane development and intensity.  Here’s a great image from Weather Underground showing the current SSTs off the US east coast.  When you’re hot, you’re hot!

Water surface temperatures from AVHRR satellite data for the 6-day period ending August 31, 2010. Ocean temperatures of 26.5°C, capable of supporting a hurricane, stretched almost to Long Island, New York. Image credit: Ocean Remote Sensing Group, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory.

Interest in the Divemaster Academy continues to grow.  I have received 8 applications and received three phone calls yesterday from interested persons.  The maximum capacity for the DMA is 16.  Acceptance is competitive based.  Eagle Scouts, Gold Award recipients, Rangers and Quartermasters earn extra points.  The number of dives and QUALITY of dives is another major factor.  For example, 35 dives of 20 minutes each to a maximum depth of 60′ is not very impressive.  Hour long dives to 50′, 90 minute dives to 40′ , 15 minutes dives to 90′ are better quality.  Not just deeper dives, but dives showing significant bottom time.  These longer dives show good air consumption, comfort in the water, and simply more dive time.  A lot of time at 30′ generally beats a little time at 100′.  But some deep experience is needed as well.  Once you complete the Florida Sea Base Divemaster Academy you are a certified PADI Divemaster.  You could leave here and go to work anywhere in the world.  We can’t just train you for our needs.  We have to teach how to be a Divemaster.  There is more information about the DMA on my LINKS page.

Speaking of anywhere in the world, former FSB DMA graduate, Divemaster and Scuba Instructor Megan Ware is in Germany.  She wrote:

Hi Capt Steve-
I hope you’re feeling better. I found your blog a few months ago and have enjoyed keeping
up with the life and times of Sea Base. I’ve been living in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, a small
Bavarian town in southern Germany. I’ve been working for the Department of Defense Morale
Welfare and Recreation property Edelweiss Lodge and Resort as a civilian contractor.
Justin Wernecke is here working as well. I am planning a trip to Egypt next month and plan
to do atleast one dive in the Red Sea while I’m there.
I’m working to find a job for when I leave here so there is the chance that you might see my
name on an application again. Glad to hear that you had such a great summer season! I miss
Sea Base and the Keys!
Hope all is well for you.
Talk to you later,
Megan

Happy fahrvergnügen Megan.  (That’s one of the very few German words I know.)  I’ll be watching for your application.

Okay.  I’m headed back to bed for a couple of hours.

Capt. Steve
Aboard S/V Escape

Capt. Alex, Maya and Lenka departed at 05:00 this morning.  Capt. Alex has been my right hand man for the past several seasons.  It’s going to make my job much more challenging without him by my side.  He put up with everything I could dish out.  Alex is a friend and I’ll miss him.  He is taking a huge step in moving to Europe and starting a life with Maya.  Thanks for your contributions to the Florida Sea Base, for helping me with so many personal projects and for letting me pick on you.  You’re the best fake crier I’ve ever met.  Come back and see us if Maya will let you!!!

Dave Ball, world famous Scuba Instructor for the spring seasons aboard Schooner Conch Pearl, Divemaster Academy and National Jamboree, is an active Scouter in New Jersey.  Keep you eye on Hurricane Earl buddy.  If he forgets to turn right at Charleston, SC he could end up in your back yard.  All of these storms are wearing me out.  It’s the anticipation.  It’s like waiting in your room for your dad to come home and spank you.  You know it’s going to happen.  You know it’s going to hurt.  But you don’t know exactly WHEN it’s going to happen.

The sale of used scuba gear is going well.  We had a slight glitch in getting some of the orders in the mail, but Lindsay Kuc and Dave Rumbaugh got all orders received to date sent out via UPS today.  If your order was sent previously, it is on its way now.  And for what it’s worth, there should be no more shipping glitches.  Please remember we don’t ship items out very often.  It took a few days to work out the process.

A new Administrative Intern arrived yesterday.  Her name is Megan B.  No, B is not her last name, but I’m old, only heard it once and forgot it overnight.  I’ll try to remember to ask her again and post it tomorrow.  Sorry Megan.

Time to go to work.  It’s going to be wierd without Capt. Alex to pick on.

Capt. Steve
Aboard  S/V Escape

The radar is clear this morning but the wind is brisk at 22 knots from the east.  In the meantime, Hurricane Earl has turned into a Cat 4 beast.  I am relieved he is not visiting here.  Tropical Storm Fiona is on his heals and catching up.  Two scenarios are being suggested by the pros.  (1) Fiona will catch up with Earl and be torn apart.  (2) Fiona will slow down so as to not over take Earl and has a 25% chance of making landfall somewhere on the US east coast.  It is too early to tell.  And a new tropical wave, Invest 98, is following Fiona.

If there are any staff members reading this who have a Face Book account, would you please spread the word that Wednesday (tomorrow) is Capt. Rich’s birthday?  I am sure he would enjoy hearing from as many face book buddies as possible.  Or you can email him at Rich.Beliveau@scouting.org.

I received a VERY short email message from former Florida Sea Base staff member Seth Little yesterday.  Those of you who worked spring 2010 may remember that Seth was on his way to Alaska to be a bush pilot.  Seth did not say where he is or what he’s doing, but apparently he is still alive.  Teri Wells has taken possession of her Pearson 35 sailboat and is docked at Smuggler’s Cove Marina adjacent to the Snake Creek Drawbridge in Islamorada.  She is in the market for a used marine head (toilet) if anyone has a spare.  (I actually gave my spare to S/V Conchy back in the spring.)  Brittany Haury is easing through the PADI Instructor Development Course at the Florida Keys Dive Center in Tavernier.  Her Instructor Exams (the scary part) is this weekend.  Best of luck Brittany!!!

The number one medical complaint at the Florida Sea Base is ear discomfort.  Scuba divers, sailors, staff, all complain of ear pain.  I was given permission today to purchase a real-live, wall mounted otoscope.  I am working with our medical advisor to find the right unit at the best cost.  While we do not employ a nurse or MD on premises, we frequently have medical professionals among our participants.  Being able to make a quick assessment of whether a sore ear is just a troublesome outer ear infection or a serious internal barotrauma will help reduce the number of people needlessly sent to the ER.  This piece of equipment will be of great benefit to our participants and staff.

Capt. Steve
Aboard S/V Escape

I had a fairly productive day yesterday.  I was successful in replacing the idle pulley and belt tensioner pulley on my truck.  That took care of the grinding noise being generated by failed bushings.  I also replaced the throttle position sensor but that did not fix the issue I was having with the engine.  The problem almost has to be with the distributor.  Not the rotor or cap – I have already replaced them.  I will have to call Divemaster Kevin Wilson so he can remind me of what he thought needed to be done next.

Earl is now a hurricane.  If the forecast holds, we should get some rain and wind but not much more.  Hope for the best….

Capt. Alex Bergstedt has today and tomorrow to wrap up all things scuba.  He and Maya are heading for Valparaiso, Indiana to spend some time with Alex’s parents and then they are on to Slovakia.  Capt. Alex has done a great job for me for the last four or five years.  (I’m not very good with dates.  That explains my history grades.)  Alex plans to find a job in Slovakia so he can be with Maya.  Maya is working on her Master’s Degree in Business.  She does not seem to be enthused with returning to class.  I sincerely wish them the best of everything.

One of my chores for today is to spend more money.  I need to order air testing kits for the scuba liveaboard boats.  It was decided that the Florida Sea Base would continue to pay for quarterly testing of the compressed air on the boats, but we are going to have the vessel owners submit their own samples to the lab.  I also need to work on winter staff hiring and reviewing applications for the 2010 Divemaster Academy.

Capt. Dave Muenzel on S/V New Horizon was really stoked yesterday.  He is going camping for a week or so with his grandson.  You could see the excitement and pride in his face.  I have never seen him this happy about anything.  I hope you have as good of a day as Capt. Dave is having.

Capt. Steve
Aboard S/V Escape