In San Francisco, we spent the lion’s share of our free time at the National Park in Fisherman’s Wharf, which is a bunch of historic ships moored permanently at the Hyde Street Pier. Of course we spent the most time on the Balcuthla, a full-rigged sailing ship who had gone around the Horn a dozen times! We actually got to take a guided tour of her, which was splendid.

In the course of this tour, I learned a delightful piece of etymology! On sailing ships, of course, fresh water was at a premium, so it was doled out in measured amounts at specific times of day. All the sailors would gather ‘round the locked water barrel (the ‘scuttlebutt’) to get their water, and trade news. Hene, the word ‘scuttlebutt’! How’s that for primitive water-cooler gossip!