Out of drydock after repairs and going to be re- floated this morning. The oldest commissioned navel vessel afloat in the world (The British ship HMS Victory (Nelson's ship at Trafalgar) is the world's oldest commissioned naval ship but she has been in drydock since 1922).
She is docked in Boston and it is a great day- trip to go see her on a motorcycle, though riding in / through Boston on a motorcycle is an acquired taste (most aggressive drivers I have ever seen, they would scare a NY cabbie). Where she is docked is a decent area to park a bike and walk around the ship and area a bit although I suspect that would not be true on any dates she is going to be 'worked' such as making ready to sail, having any events on her decks, etc.
The ship itself is pretty slick with lots of history and a nice presence. She is fully crewed by US Naval personal, all actively enlisted or commissioned, although on 'special duty', and her crew wears the 'uniform of the day', circa 1813 or similar. She is towed around Boston harbor fairly often, then docked the 'other' way so she weathers evenly. She is fully capable of and has been sailed under her own power as recently as 2014, and is scheduled to sail again in 2018.
Lots of history and fun facts go with this ship: She is the only commissioned US Warship that has sunk another ship (sorry Mike, it was one of yours during our relationship's.... er, rocky period). Her hull was originally covered in copper sheet, imported from England, although it is often erroneously stated that Paul Revere provided that copper sheeting; his company was not yet able to produce the sheeting when the Constitution was build, although fasteners and nails made of copper were used in the original construction, produced by the Revere Copper Company, and he did provide the copper sheathing used to replace the original during an 1803 refit. George Washington chose her name and was President when she was ordered and built.
Brian
