Pages


Monday, February 21, 2011

Crusaders Challenge



Rachel at Rac Writes has set The First Crusader Challenge:
So I must tell you in  300 words or less:

· one secret
· one lie
· one interesting quirk
· one annoying habit
· one of my better character traits, and
· one of one favourite things in the whole world.

And I must include the  words, “bloviate,” “fuliguline,” “rabbit,” and “blade”.   No this is not a joke.  After looking up the words the following story came to mind.  I hope you enjoy it more than I did!
Oh and don't forget to check out the other Crusaders who have taken on the Challenge here!

When I was young I sailed the seas like fuliguline.   I competed in races around the south of Ireland in a GP14, the “Rubber Duck.”  When the races were over my fellow sailing competitors gathered in the pub and would bloviate on the day’s events.  There were many a tall tale and a boisterous sing song.  I had no fear of the seas.  I relished the wind and sea spray in my face, the exhilaration of hanging out the side of the boat as the wind caught the sails and the spinnaker.  My head just brushing the waves until that fateful day.  It was the three point harbour race.  We were ahead by a hair as we rounded the Black Rock.  The sail flapped, the boat keeled as we tried to tack.  But alas it was not to be and the boat capsized.  He landed on the Black Rock; I landed in the water and tried to disentangle myself from the ropes.  I turned and that is when I saw them.  Sharks fins just a few feet away.  I felt like a rabbit trapped in a foxes den.  
 “Grab the boat and turn it over,” he shouted at me. 
“ Sharks,” I screamed back at him, “Sharks! “ 
“Grab the ropes and turn the boat,” he shouted.  “They won’t hurt you, they are only Basking Shark, they only eat plankton.”
One of the large barnacled bodies passed right by me.  Thankfully I was wearing my Atlantic Ocean wetsuit or my skin would have been cut to ribbons.  I righted the boat and managed to climb in. 
“Now,” he said, “Ease her over here.” 
 I looked at him and if I had a blade I would have run him through. 
Turning the boat into the wind, “Swim,” I said, “After all they are only Basking Shark, and they won’t hurt you.”

Something about this tale isn’t strictly true, can you guess what it is? Will reveal the little fib on Wednesday, 2/23.       Ooops went ten words over!  HeyHo!

o!

32 comments:

Val B said...

eh which one was the shark?

Ann said...

HaHa Val, I am still trying to work that one out!

Nicole said...

*lol* love seeing how another fellow crusader has a shot at it :) Nice one!

The Arrival, only .99c on Amazon
www.damselinadirtydress.com

Misha Gerrick said...

hmmmm.... I don't know... I think you didn't glare at the shark.

Len Lambert said...

The sharks? LOL. Love this, Ann :)

Talli Roland said...

Haha! Love this passage, Ann! :)

Brigid O'Connor said...

That was tricky, Ann but well done!!
I would say you werent wearing the Atlantic wetsuit? Only kidding, the shark?

Denise Covey said...

Ripping yarn, a real ocean-going crusading tale. I don't think you were sailing the seas like figuline when you were young.

Denise:)

Zan Marie said...

I think you went in the drink, but maybe no sharks. Just guessing. Good post.

Danette said...

Great story! Hmmm, I am going to guess that the shark didn't get quite that close. Frightening nonetheless.

jen said...

These have been a blast to read. And I'm a sucker for anything with a shark in it!

Fellow crusader, swinging by to say hi, and follow so I don't miss anything!
The Survival Mama

Old Kitty said...

I would like to think you knew they were gorgeous basking sharks and totally harmless!
:-)

Take care
x

Ann said...

The truth will be revealed....stay tuned!

Talei said...

Oh that was quite wonderful Ann! Bravo! I'm not sure which is true but I enjoyed reading this piece. ;-)

J. Summerset said...

I have no idea what the lie is...maybe the thought of stabbing someone is the lie? You seem pretty nice.

I gave you one of the stylish blogger awards b the way if you don't already have one.

Lydia Kang said...

All I can say is, you get points for putting a basking shark on your blog. Big, bio-geek points!

Jemi Fraser said...

I'm going to guess you did let him back in the boat ... after a few more minutes with the safe little sharks :)

Lana Banana said...

the "rubber duck"?!?! ROFL! i loved that. LOVED it.

in fact, if i win the lotto, i'm SO naming my yacht the rubber duck.

and, hmmm, let's see . . . do sharks get barnacles? i think not . . . i smell a lie!

Colene Murphy said...

Ha! Interesting! Can't wait for the truth bit!

Lisa Potts said...

So much about that story disturbed me, I don't know where to begin. The very thought of sailing makes my stomach churn. My guess at the lie would be the name of the boat.

Susan Fields said...

Great entry!

I think the lie is that you were a little afraid of the sea.

Samantha Vérant said...

Ha! Just realized you're on my side of the world! Though in different groups...we can crusade together! As for your lie???? Maybe it wasn't a shark at all...

Manzanita said...

That was one shark of a story, Ann. I learned a couple of new words, too.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

great shark story. I'm guessing your skin wouldn't have been cut to ribbons?

Unknown said...

I'm sorry I missed signing up for this but I am so glad to see so many blog buddies joining in the fun!! These posts have been an absolute blast!

Anonymous said...

Great First crusader challenge.
I think the lie is: 'I had no fear of the seas'.

I'm putting my answers up tomorrow for mine. :O)

Olive said...

Hehe, great story:) I would have to say the shark too?

VR Barkowski said...

Great story! It better be the sharks that weren't true.

Anonymous said...

No idea what the lie is. :)
Hello fellow Crusader!

Unknown said...

Hello fellow crusader! I am a tad bit late, the whole house has been sick all week. So, I just thought I would pop in and just say Hi! :D

I just don't believe your raft was called the "rubber duck" LOL

Theresa Milstein said...

How did I miss your post? The last time I checked, your previous one was up. So sorry, Ann!

Witless Exposition said...

Oh wow, this one is hard to pick out! Love the last line of your story, though. :)