Join us as we cruise aboard the WWII Liberty Ship, SS Jeremiah O’Brien on a delightful day-long journey on the inland Sacramento Delta waterways from the Port of Sacramento and across the San Francisco Bay where we will berth at Pier 23 located near San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf.
               A same-day charter bus return, two meals, beverages and entertainment are included in the price of this approximate 8-hour cruise.  A continental breakfast is served upon boarding and a delicious catered BBQ luncheon is served on the main deck in the afternoon.  Dance to 40’s Big Band music on deck, tour the engine room as well as the rest of the ship, shop in the ship’s store, wander up to the Flying Bridge, make new friends and exchange war stories with old ones. 

COST:  $175.00 per person

DAY / DATE / TIME:  Sunday, April 9, 2006 – we will depart from the Port of Sacramento at 9:00am

ARRIVAL BACK TO THE PORT OF SACRAMENTO:  Approx 9:30pm that same evening

PLEASE HAVE YOUR PAYMENT IN FULL TO ME NO LATER THAN APRIL 1, 2006 IN ORDER FOR ME TO MAKE THE REQUIRED RESERVATIONS AND GET YOUR TICKETS.   ANY MONIES RECEIVED AFTER THIS DATE WILL BE RETURNED TO THE SENDER.  

MAKE YOUR CHECK OUT TO “SACRAMENTO FaGOWEES” AND MAIL IT TO ME AT:
Jim Van Riper
Nostalgia River Cruise
P.O. Box 7045
Citrus Heights, CA 95621-7045 

AN ADVANCED WARNING:

Please be forewarned in advance that this is NOT a modern luxury cruise liner.
It is a restored WWII Liberty Ship.  This ship has NO facilities for the physically handicapped,
and climbing from one deck to another involves the use of steep stairwells and/or ladders.

 A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE SHIP:

            Jeremiah O’Brien was born in Ireland and immigrated to Maine.  He fought on the side of the United States, capturing several British warships and using them against the British naval forces during the Revolutionary War.  After being captured by the British, he was transported as a prisoner of war to England, where he promptly escaped (or just walked out unopposed) from his prison camp.  He escaped to Australia and immediately returned to the United States to continue his fight against the British navy, thus becoming the first ever U.S. Naval war hero.  The Liberty Ship SS Jeremiah O’Brien was named after him.

Before WWII, shipbuilding in the U.S. was not a major industry.  But with the German U-Boats sinking ships off the east coast within sight of land, England on her knees, and the Japanese conquering Asia and the Western Pacific, it was essential to build a large, strong US Merchant Marine to carry combat supplies and materials to the Allied fighting forces.  Eighteen shipyards built Liberty Ships, and one-third of the building workforce was women.  Without these ships, the Allies simply could not have won the war. 

The WWII Liberty Ship SS Jeremiah O’Brien was built in 56 days in Portland, Maine and was launched on June 19, 1943.  She is a 441-foot cargo ship veteran of the Normandy invasion.  She is fully restored and maintained in her original condition, and is operated by an all-volunteer crew.  She is as functional today as when she served as a key component of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Bridge of Ships’ during WWII.  The SS Jeremiah O’Brien is a mobile museum and is the only vessel present at the invasion of Normandy in 1944 to return fifty years later for the 50^th anniversary of D-Day in 1994.  The ship is registered as a National Historic Landmark, and her triple expansion reciprocating steam engine is registered as a National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark.

Of the 2710 Liberty Ships originally build during WWII, only the SS Jeremiah O’Brien (located in San Francisco) and the SS John Brown (located in Maryland) still exist in their original as-built condition and configuration today.
 

Social General Meeting for April will be held on
Tuesday, April 25, 2006 at 6:30 pm at the Oriental Buffet.

Trip, Trips and more Trips

DAY / DATE:       Saturday, July 8, 2006 – 11:00 am
LOCATION:       Rancho Seco Recreational Area – Picnic Site # 2-C
YOUR COST:     Adults:  $12.50     Children under 16:  $ 2.50      Children under 5:  Free

There is also a $5 entry fee at the park ($4 for seniors and disabled), but that entry fee will be reimbursed to you at the picnic site upon showing your paid receipt.  Signups must be made no later than July 1^st to receive your entry fee refund.  Contact Jim at 916-721-0892, or e-mail at p2forever@surewest.net

  Come and join your brother & sister FaGowee’s at our 3^rd Annual FaGowee Family Picnic.  This year’s outing is being combined with our Annual Luau.  The Luau has traditionally been a fundraiser to help support your race team, and this year is no exception.  Rancho Seco Recreational Area is located adjacent to SMUD’s former nuclear power plant.  There is a 160-acre fresh-water lake, large lawn areas and a large clean sandy beach.  R/V and tent camping sites are available for those who might want to come earlier or stay longer.
Note: If you want to camp, you must make your own reservations.  Reservation information is listed below on this page.  Some of us will be staying in the campground for the weekend.

 THE CLUB WILL PROVIDE:  BBQ pork ribs and hot dogs, the sandwich buns and condiments, potato salad, macaroni salad, baked beans, a sheet cake, a variety of soft drinks & bottled water, the plates, cups & eating utensils. 

YOU NEED TO BRING:  Your friends and family (yes, your kids and grandkids are welcome).  Bring your own adult beverages.  If you would like to bring your favorite side dish to share, I’m sure it would be greatly appreciated.  Bring your ball gloves, bats and a ball for a softball game, your horseshoes, your Frisbees, your swimsuits, your kayaks or canoes and your fishing poles.  

ADDITIONAL THINGS TO DO: Rancho Seco Recreational Area offers everybody a wide variety of things to do for their enjoyment. 

1. Cast a line from one of the six fishing piers.  The lake sports bass, bluegill, red-ear sunfish, crappie and catfish. SMUD also stocks the lake with rainbow trout, November through March.  (Fishing enthusiasts 16 years and older must possess a valid California fishing license to fish).
2. There are two boat-launching ramps.  Bring your own kayak, canoe, rowboat, sailboat or electric motor boat.  (Gas-powered boats are not allowed on the lake.)
3. Pedal-boat and kayak rental is available from May through September. 
4. Depending on the wind conditions, windsurfing is allowed.
5. There is a roped-off swimming area along the 36,000-square-foot sandy beach.  Lifeguards are on duty.
6. There is a General Store available May through September for your incidental shopping needs.
7. 18 R/V campsites are available.  Each site has a BBQ, fire pit, picnic table, drinking water and electrical outlets.  There is a $15 per night charge for R/V sites and reservations are required.  A sanitation dumpsite is available at the park.  Call 916-732-4913 to make your R/V reservations.
8. 20 Tent lakeside campsites are available.  Each site has a BBQ, picnic table and drinking water.  There is a $10 per night charge for Tent sites and reservations are required.  Call 916-732-4913 to make your tent camping reservations.
9. Also available for your convenience:  Coin operated showers, washer & dryers, fish cleaning stations, 3 public restrooms, horseshoe pits and a recreation room are available for overnight campers.

DIRECTIONS:  From Sacramento, take Highway 99 south to the Twin Cities Road/Highway 104 exit.  Go east for 15 miles on Highway 104 to the Rancho Seco Park exit.  Take the first right after passing the two towers to the park entrance.   We’re looking forward to seeing you there.  “AFFAFFA”