Sails and the miracle they were in 1849
In my blog about sailing around Cape Horn, I mentioned that sailing ships in the late 20th century and the 21st century are made with...
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J.J. Wheeling
- Jul 10
- 4 min
Life as a passenger on a ship going around Cape Horn in 1849
And what of the passengers on a California-bound ship in 1849? What could they expect? First class passengers’ fare was around $150...
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J.J. Wheeling
- Jun 19
- 4 min
Sailors were an interesting crowd in 1849
So, what kind of people were sailors in the year 1849? The answer? A mixed lot. Typically, sailors were men who chose to make sailing...
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J.J. Wheeling
- May 13
- 4 min
Too much wind or not enough current, or both!— Sailing around Cape Horn in 1849
Having grown up in a world where engines rule everything, the idea of being at the whim of the wind is hard for me to conceive. I’ve...
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J.J. Wheeling
- Apr 29
- 4 min
Cramped and Crabby - Sailing Around Cape Horn in 1849
For this mountain girl, the idea of being surrounded by water for months is a pretty foreign concept. Perhaps was the case even for those...
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J.J. Wheeling
- Apr 19
- 4 min
The Pain of Theft
We spend a lot of time thinking about it in our busy, 21st century lives - security or the lack of it. We have to watch and arm our...
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J.J. Wheeling
- Mar 22
- 3 min
Smooshing History
Manuscript update: I’m happy to report that I have finished the manuscript for the newly renamed, “Zephyr’s Gantlet.” I now have it out...
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J.J. Wheeling
- Mar 18
- 3 min
First Blog of 2022
It’s been quite a while since I last blogged and there’s a lot to catch up on. This blog will be less historical and more biographical in...
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J.J. Wheeling
- Mar 18, 2021
- 4 min
Cornelius Vanderbilt and the ATC-Nicaragua Passage
As eluded to in the last, I was led to this “what the…?" moment by a friend of the family who has traveled extensively in Nicaragua. My...
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J.J. Wheeling
- Mar 14, 2021
- 4 min
Just how many options did a gold-crazed opportunist have for getting to California?
For many on the East Coast of the United States during the California Gold Rush, sailing around Cape Horn was a very popular option...
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J.J. Wheeling
- Feb 9, 2021
- 3 min
Truly, the first ones in California were the winners.
In our modern life of being able to communicate instantly, it is hard to imagine that historically, it could take as long as six months...
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J.J. Wheeling
- Jan 1, 2021
- 4 min
Civilian Ships and the Mexican American War
I’ve touched on the political and nationalism ambitions of President Polk when he took office, especially when it came to Mexico’s...
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J.J. Wheeling
- Nov 1, 2020
- 4 min
Lessons in Patience
Most of you know that I’m an organic farmer (although I recently learned I can’t use the “o-word” since I refuse to be forced down the...
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J.J. Wheeling
- Oct 12, 2020
- 3 min
New Technology - Morse Code and the Telegraph
Technology is everywhere. Most of us wouldn’t be able to function without it in our lives. As a late baby boomer, I remember the first...
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J.J. Wheeling
- Sep 23, 2020
- 2 min
Les "Couteaux de Chasse Pistolets" and Other Legendary Dumonthier Innovations
I’ve mentioned, in earlier blogs, my joy when I stumble upon a new idea or inspiration befitting my story’s time period of which I was...
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J.J. Wheeling
- Aug 20, 2020
- 4 min
Tudor Ice - Establishing the Ice Trade
I’ve written some pretty heavy blogs of late so I thought it might be refreshing for all of us to explore a lighter subject, one that...
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J.J. Wheeling
- Jul 11, 2020
- 3 min
Newburyport - A City of History and Architecture
A trip to Newbu
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J.J. Wheeling
- Jun 22, 2020
- 4 min
Another Visit : Lowell Mills
One benefit about having our children go to college out-of-state was the opportunity to visit them when they had a break and didn’t want...
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J.J. Wheeling
- Jun 5, 2020
- 6 min
Polk’s Presidential Campaign and Personal Motivations
Comparing the 44th American President with James K. Polk, the 11th , makes for an interesting study. Both share enormous ambition,...
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J.J. Wheeling
- May 26, 2020
- 3 min
Missing Friends – An early form of "Find My Phone"
I will likely never know what it is like to go somewhere without an understanding of what I am going to do once I arrive. Technology...
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