[homer1958]

I woke up yelping in the middle of the night with a real bad nightmare.... here we were, back to where we started... it took a few minutes to realize it was a just a real bad dream. Reality set in and I then realized that the two 163 galllon fuel tanks were empty and all we have on board is cheap wine.... it probably will run on it though. After a job like this, there is not much left... it helps to be a bit nuts.... normal people would be way too smart to get into a project like this.. but somehow, certain captains like a rehab challenge... isn't challenge a big word for dumb thrill seeking adventure? Ya know, when I look back the the early 70's and compapre it to today... we really were a much more wholesome nation, one with deep values. For me, this represents the apex of America's good times... it just is not the same anymore.. but this old gal fakes you out... turn on a little Bacharach, Cole, Elton John "Honkey Chateau" or The Who "Who's Next," and Geez.. you could swear you're back in those days.... few divorces, jobs earned by merit not quota and a government that actually serviced and supported its own native citizenry first and foremost.

Batman, The Ponderosa, The Stones (Flint and Rolling) "Get Smart," Atrie Johnson finding every thing "Very Interesting" while Goldie bet "Sweet Bippies." You thought your parents were fogies because they listened to Como, Miller and Darcy... but I got to admit.. "Herb Albert's" Whipped Cream" appealed to all of us. Remember that Hottie jumping out of the wedding cake with the sultry whip cream finger polishing her lips?... Oh yeah, a bit racey for the times, but so cool. These were the days of "The Sound of Music," and Julie Andrews my first crush. I sure would like Mary Poppins to babysit me now, Oh yeah! I'd throw out my computer, big screen and microwave to have those days back.

We were so lucky many of us Americans and did not even know it... Remember? And, don't forget "Blood Sweat and Tears," a group that reminds me of this restoration. Was it worth it... Ya know, in retrospect "YES"... We preserved a great American product, a tradition built built by Chris Craft... a trophy to it's founder Christopher Smith, the father of marine mass production. He was to American Boats what Henry Ford was to American Cars. The Roamer represented Chris Craft's "Top of the Line" and what I believe to be America's greatest era.... as we kids turned-up the Beatles our parents demanded we turn those kettle banging bowl hairdo-headed Hippies off. Meawhile mom would secretly call her friends when Tom Jones hit TV and quivered housewives nationwide... "She's a Lady... oh Yeah Yeah She's a lady."

Little did we know that we were young in perhaps America's greatest days... This is what a Roamer means. She's a Lady, look under her hood and you'll find two big ones. She's classy, but understated... all there. Warm her up and she'll scream, let her cool- off comfortable to sleep on too... a nice comfortable sleeper. She earned her place in history and today performs as well if not better than a young gal. Who else thought so? F. Lee Bailey, Evil Kinevil and Bill Bixby.. they all spent many memorable nights on their Roamer.