Agree a wonderful amd most comprehensive record. Well done Stowaway and thank you!
I echo Mauretania's comment that this certainly merits its own area of the forum if possible.
Thank you! A labor of love...
though any inaccurasies I'm blaming on Cunard!
A very sad 1-yr anniversary for me today. 30 March 2008 was the last time I saw QE2 up close and personal. I traveled from San Diego to San Pedro near Los Angeles, about 2 hrs drive, to see her for the last time and say goodbye. Met a lot of nice folks standing around waiting for her to get underway and we shared all sorts of QE2 stories. I even spied one of my past stateroom portholes on 4 Deck, PORT side forward. I also recorded her whistle on my cell phone and have used it ever since as my ring tone.
I was a bit disappointed when she did finally get underway though. Instead of maneuvering forward and pulling into the berth just in front of my viewing position (an observation platform by the SS Lane Victory) to turn around, CAPT Mcnaught decided to back out of the harbor - about 2 miles of astern sailing. I would have liked to seen her pass within 250 feet (75 m for you SI folks) from us and watch her stern disappear into the distance but as it was, I watched her bow disappear around the bend in the harbor. Can't believe its been a year already.
I was one of those nice folks!
To the accompaniment of U2's "One Tree Hill".... a song about losing a good friend... please enjoy:
"I'll see you again when the stars fall from the sky, when the moon turns red over One Tree Hill... run to the ocean.... run to the sea..."
Oh, BTW, it was Captain Perkins that day, who explained to his passengers that the exit in reverse was by the order of the pilot, due to the close location on the opposite side of the channel of the berthed, and unfortunately named, tanker Ever Uranus.
I had the pleasure of being invited aboard for a reception and luncheon that day, and of course took advantage of the opportunity to spend the rest of the day wandering and chatting to friends who were still on board or who boarded that day. It was nice to see Richard Dreyfuss come aboard, proving that QE2 so close to her end could still attract the world's famous personalities.
Someone told me that Dreyfuss was asked by another passenger if this was his first time on a ship. He said "No, I was on one just recently... the Poseidon".
Actually, Dreyfuss had been aboard QE2 several times before.
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