entry from SEAFARER

The Rock of Gibraltar

When I was in high school, one of my favorite subjects was history. This class  seemed to be in my best interest because of my fascination with pre historic places especially in Europe. I had read plenty of history books at the municipal library during these schooldays. It was exhilarating to gather a lot of information about so many interesting places around the world. But the ones that are appealing to me is Mount Vesuvius in Naples, Italy due to the movie of Pompeii, University of Barcelona since our national hero (Jose Rizal) had attended this institution during his prime and certainly the Rock of Gibraltar, the entry way into the Mediterranean Sea from Atlantic Ocean. Though every time I walked into the library I always scan through these pictures of points of interest-it was occasionally the place where I spent my past time. In fact I always dream to see this places if I have the resources and privilege but it all seems to be hopeless.

One shinning morning in the middle of summer at pier 12 of US Naval Base, Norfolk, Virginia, I witnessed some of the sailor’s wives, children, friends and relatives waving goodbye to their love ones. This might be sad departure for few of us but it doesn’t seem affect me since no one else came by to see me leave. Based on the information I had heard that we will be out of the continental United States for almost eight months but I had been away from my motherland for almost two years so I could care less and I was single.

After the ship departure ceremony, suddenly I heard the dragging of chains on the bulkhead of our ship and after a short while the blowing of boatswain mate whistle signaling the ship was pulling out of the pier fallowed by the announcement of "the ship is underway". One more time on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier I turn around and look back at the shore of eastern Virginia while we were in transit out of Chesapeake Bay. I would have thought of saying goodbye America but I never contemplate on not coming back. Perhaps in one hour of steaming I caught a sight of Chesapeake Bay Bridge and tunnel that links the islands of both Virginias, which is the shortest way to New York City. I perceived the flashing of light on one of the island light tower that signals the ship was out in the open sea.

On the second day we have been pre occupied working on the recovery of our aircraft and the real challenge of using my skill they taught me in Aircraft Maintenance School came into reality. With full enthusiasm, I had the opportunity to work on A-6 Aircraft for almost 16 hours to fix the discrepancy on the fuel system. Out in Atlantic during summer, the night is a bit chilly and through the day it was great like being on the beach of Hawaii.

The routine on the following day had never change but there were plenty of flying sorties aboard the carrier USS John F. Kennedy, often times touch and go. My guesstimate was there were copious amount fuels being consumed with this evolution. And the more discrepancies noted by the aircraft troubleshooters that were added to our workloads, I came to appreciate the development of my skill in Aircraft maintenance in expeditiously fixing higher priorities.

On the fourth day before dusk as I stared into the horizon an Island was sighted. With curiosity I went to the ship library to check the latitude and longitude of our location. It appeared that we were near the vicinity of Azores. With amazing view of the Island within a mile distant, I would have thought a volcano had extended beyond the surface of the ocean. But my interpretation was wrong I believe because for some conviction of many historians, the land mass was the apex of the lost continent Atlantis. I wonder what inhabitants were in the Island then I came to find out they are not Spanish but Portuguese. Nothing is more wonderful than to find smooth harmony in this soaring above the ocean land mass region where at first seems so sedate. From any of the standpoints rare peaks, pinnacles, spires can be seen thrust into the sky and the emerald green colored landscape.

The ship had to anchor out in Rota, Spain on the fifth day for the turned over of command. I never read about this city in the western end of Spain but I went ashore and ponder into the shoreline near NAS Rota for four hours. I never had time to stroll in the city skid row due to time constraint. I made it back to the ship in time for supper.

The next day we got underway heading into Mediterranean Sea. It could be more than two hours of seafaring; the ship was in the passage of the strait of Gibraltar. How vividly my first site of the rock of Gibraltar on the starboard side of the ship comes to mind, I never thought I will never make it this far. My pose was in disbelief then I came close to the Rock for real and no longer a picture. This was my first Mediterranean cruise and I broke down tears with full of elation to see both continents (Africa and Europe) that come to an end near the Rock of Gibraltar.