I consider myself to be fairly well-read but for some reason, I had missed this classic until my step-son gave me this book as a Christmas present. This book truly is a marvel. I don't know what took me so long to take notice of it (which I may never have done if not for Cory). I want to re-read it with a glossary and a diagram in-hand. So many of the phases and nautical components are still incomprehensible to me. It's funny how Dana makes the same basic comment early in his narrative. What would be a good source for descriptions? I'm pretty well versed on the sails, masts, and yards, with aid from pictures. It's the various call-outs for running rigging and the various activities related to belaying the rigging that has me bewildered.
Can you imagine California, 200 years ago, when it was just a remote province of Mexico? Imagine seeing the location that would become San Francisco, before there were barely even any huts to make up a settlement! It is so fascinating to read about this! I can't imagine why this wasn't on the required-reading list during my schooling. On the other hand, at my age, I'm always ecstatic to come upon something unexpected and so astonishingly interesting for the first time. I'm grateful to my step-son Cory for giving me such a pleasant discovery to wind down the year and begin anew.
Can you imagine California, 200 years ago, when it was just a remote province of Mexico? Imagine seeing the location that would become San Francisco, before there were barely even any huts to make up a settlement! It is so fascinating to read about this! I can't imagine why this wasn't on the required-reading list during my schooling. On the other hand, at my age, I'm always ecstatic to come upon something unexpected and so astonishingly interesting for the first time. I'm grateful to my step-son Cory for giving me such a pleasant discovery to wind down the year and begin anew.