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Blue from West Oz - On Liberty in the US
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Join Paul "Blue" Hartridge (a submariner from Western Australia) as he
travels around the US visiting boatsailors and other folks of equally
questionable character.
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| Blue - the Early Years
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Thanks to Blue's mate Ian, here are some "early" photos of the lad when he was
young and "somewhat" handsome (OK Pod, I know, that's really a stretch, eh?)
Ian says these photos were taken in 1988 at HMAS Platypus (Submarine base) in
Sydney on the occasion of HMAS OXLEY's 21st Birthday parade (click on the
images to view full size):
(Left: Blue on Deck, next: Ian, Dave Coleman, Blue ( l to r))
More photos from yesteryear:
(R to L) Karl, some bloke in white, Lionel, Blue and Kaffir, circa 1990ish
(photo from POD).
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| Leg 1 - Oxnard, CA - 2/17/2004 -
POC: Jon Krup |
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Jon Krup: Blue (Paul) arrived this morning at LAX at 0715 from Auckland N.Z. He
is alive and well, and well-fed, but suffering from jet-lag. Sorry about
posting so late. We just got back from dinner.
Blue: G'Day, Mates: Glad to be finally here, and starting my journey. Looking
forward to meeting the rest of you. Next stop, Ron G. in San Diego on Thursday.
Then on to Flapper in Tucson. It was a long tiring flight, and a long lay-over
in Auckland. Ric, you asked my last name. Hartridge. Jon showed me the Bash at
the Ranch tape. Looking forward to seeing your ugly mugs in person, now that
the shock has worn off. To the guys back in Rockingham: Hi!
Click on photos for full-size view:
G'day Don, Here is a picture (above) of an evening meal with Jon Krup -
Minesweeps, his friend Leon and myself. Had a nice Mexican meal. Spent a nice
two days with Jon and Leon. Flying to Tucson tonight to see Flapper, then train
it out the next evening to Sacramento to see John396 for a day or two then up
to McKinleyville to see PEP, from there, Seattle to see Ric, yourself and a few
others.
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| Leg 2 - San Diego, CA -
2/19/2004 - POC: Ron Gorence |
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 G'day Don, I arrived here in San
Diego today and Ron Gorence was dutifully awaiting my arrival. He took me to
Ocean Beach to 'my' pier which is the scene of my foolishness back in 1985 when
after quite a few drinks, I decided to tightrope the pier railings.....needless
to say, I fell, approximately 35 feet, breaking my right shoulder blade.
The other photo's are taken at tonight's get together here in San Diego, at a
Mexican eatery. One picture is of myself in the foreground next to MaryAnn
Gorence and 'Sharkey'. The other is of Myself, Ron Gorence, Sharkey, Jim Fox
and Mike Hacking.. A great night was had by all.....Thanks to RonG and everyone
that turned up tonight.
It turns out that Jim Fox was on the USS Seadragon back in 1982 based in Pearl
Harbor...this boat was the 'host boat' to HMAS OTWAY...and guess who was
serving on Otway back then?...yup, me! So way back, 22 years ago, Jim Fox and
myself actually met one another at some stage! What a small world indeed!!
Cheers mate, Blue.
PS. I have a couple of pics from my time with Jon Krupp in Oxnard but unable to
download them at the moment, will send them whan I can.
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Click on photos for full-size view:
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| Leg 3 - Tucson, AZ -
2/20/2004 - POC: Bob "Flapper" Parker |
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Don, I'll let Blue provide any input on his visit to the Sonoran desert country
separately. Attached is a picture of Blue and myself (below) taken today from
up in the Santa Catalina mountains on Tucson's North side. Regards, Flapper
(Bob Parker).
Click on photos for full-size view:
  
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