October 1975, I had returned to Newport after our year on the Isle of Wight, to close on our first house, that became another adventure. Bernadette and I had never taken a honeymoon; sailing and work had interfered. We had been booked on the France, however a strike prevented her sailing and eventually led to her being scrapped. Bernadette was returning from her family in France along with everything had had living in England aboard the QE II. Unbeknownst to her I booked on the QE II, only I was boarding in Southampton, while Bernadette was boarding in Cherbourg, along with our two dogs who had spent the year in France as England had such strict laws governing animals.
She was truly surprised. We had the good fortune to have been placed at a table with an Australian couple returning home after a career in the foreign service.
I had a letter of introduction to the Captain; Mortimer Heihr from a mutual friend who had taught navigation together. Hence we were included in many on the events that would normally be reserved for first class passengers. I met the navigator, who had just concluded the first Whitbread round the world race. Otherwise life aboard was not that interesting.
About a day out of New York we encountered Hurricane Gladys, We lost the forward cargo doors . We had to turn and run before the storm, which made us three days late into New York. During the storm all the swimming pools were emptied (free surface) and all food service ceased. We brought the dogs to our cabin. I have photographs somewhere of the waves. I was the only person wandering around. I watched all the movies.
There is a silver lining to every incident in life,Bernadette had been trying without success to become pregnant. Isabelle, our first child was conceived on this voyage.
