Gray Harbor Historical Seaport Authority has a couple of ships in town at the moment: The Lady Washington and the Hawaiian Chieftain. The Lady Washington is better known as the H.M.S. Interceptor from Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl. The organization hosts tours and does excursions on the old ships, and some of those excursions are mock sea battles.
This seemed, to us, to be a good way to spend a holiday afternoon. And we were not wrong. There were canons fired, ropes pulled, sails hoisted, rigging climbed, sea shanties sung, t-shirts sold, and complicated sailing maneuvers performed by the crew of our ship against the crew of the other. We were on the Lady Washington, since once the kids found out about the Pirates connection the Hawaiian Chieftain might as well have been made of poop, and not of the deck variety.
I already posted some pictures to Instagram, but since I took 500 and only posted 8, maybe you want to see some of the others. So here: I’ve curated a special collection just for you.
Emily takes selfies just in case I don’t take enough pictures. She hasn’t actually met me.I take selfies because I can.Erin belays while hoisting.Ship stuff.“So many fish to impress with my rendition of “Part of Your World”…so little time.”“You know who’s stupid? The people on the Hawaiian Chieftain! What dorks! What imbeciles! What…they’re sailing right behind me, aren’t they?”Sweet dance moves.The enemy.The captain regales Erin with a story in rhyme. She bails after 10 stanzas.Erin was probably the crew’s favourite passenger, against their will.The Captain and Tenille.Erin belays more hoists.She is legitimately helping the crew hoist a sail here.She is wondering what would happen if she just let go when they weren’t looking.Adrian was hopped up on Drammamine, so was not nearly as active as First Mate Erin. He kept a low profile and mostly hugged Emily. Adorably.More ship things.Enemy ship, spotted through the ship things!This is Tarzan. He was in charge of firing all of the guns. He was awesome.“Oh no! There’s no way for me to get to that ship and charm them into submission!”The enemy, through more ship things.Now they’re just playing. Ooh, look at me sail by you. Ooh, can’t catch me.Sneaky little bastards.Adrian was not impressed with Tarzan’s accuracy, or decibel levels.But Tarzan was pretty great at using that stick thing to light the powder.Captain Cool As A Cucumber.Captain Skeptical.Did you forget the enemy, or ship things?Here. I’ve made the ship things the focus of this picture of the enemy. On purpose. This is art.Dingbat.Proof that I’m not on a boat called the Hawaiian Chieftain.Seriously, Erin was like an extra hand on this boat.Super interested in whatever is going on up there.Tarzan. Because shut up, that’s why.Emily has jokes.Adrian has adoribosity.And they both have adoriquadiquacity.This guy is about to jump off the ship, all swashbuckly.“SWASH!”Captain Dork Hat. Sorry, Battle Hat. He called it his Battle Hat.
Erin has already asked how old she needs to be in order to join the pirate circus.
3 thoughts on “The Traditional Easter Pirate Battle”
Love how you used the word “curated,” matey. ;)
WOW! For once I’ve actually done the same awesome thing you did! These ships were here in the San Juan’s a few years ago. Alas, I didn’t take as many beautiful photos, but we have the memories.
Also we had a visit from the orca “J pod” I’ve followed since I was about 8. They didn’t seem to mind the battle and followed for quite awhile. Then later that evening we were out on our deck overlooking the sound and they came through again. Your post reminded me of one of the best days ever.
Seriously…your photography is amazing.
**If you’re looking for a family destination that will provide GORGEOUS scenery, come up to the San Juan islands.
Erin can join my pirate crew. All women. We have a captain, a quartermaster, a figurehead, a mermaid, a unicorn, a porthole licker, and a therapist. She can be whatever she wants (except the positions that are already filled).
Love how you used the word “curated,” matey. ;)
WOW! For once I’ve actually done the same awesome thing you did! These ships were here in the San Juan’s a few years ago. Alas, I didn’t take as many beautiful photos, but we have the memories.
Also we had a visit from the orca “J pod” I’ve followed since I was about 8. They didn’t seem to mind the battle and followed for quite awhile. Then later that evening we were out on our deck overlooking the sound and they came through again. Your post reminded me of one of the best days ever.
Seriously…your photography is amazing.
**If you’re looking for a family destination that will provide GORGEOUS scenery, come up to the San Juan islands.
Erin can join my pirate crew. All women. We have a captain, a quartermaster, a figurehead, a mermaid, a unicorn, a porthole licker, and a therapist. She can be whatever she wants (except the positions that are already filled).