Posted by Robert Thompson on December 15, 2000 at 21:33:40 from 193.195.0.102:
I am now home after a wonderful trip to Tokyo, one of the highlights of which was meeting members of the Arthur Ransome Club. I must publically thank Satoshi and Mikako Tarashima for looking after me and introducing me to Japanese restaurants! (the food I coped with, but I really struggled with that excruciatingly painful way of sitting cross-legged)
I was invited to the ARC's November meeting which was intended as a recreation of the scene in The Big Six where those villains George Owdon and Ralph Strakey are photographed casting off the Cachalot.
I met Satoshi-san at Takadanobaba station and we travelled out to the banks of the Tamagawa river, buying edible supplies on the way. Gradually more and more members arrived and added to the supplies (Roger would have approved) as others lit camping-gas stoves as well as a distinctly non-Susanish wood fire. I found myself grasping a billy-can lid which seemed to be full of water - when encouraged to drink I discovered that it was sake! The next drink to arrive turned out to be Guinness, I don't recommend the mixture.
As it became darker Satoshi-san and his helpers prepared the flash powder, the flash pan and the old camera. In typically methodical fashion all sorts of powder strengths were tried from mere fizz to a good healthy whhuummmph! The Owdon/Strakey volunteers pretended to push off a boat, and we were also all photographed in a group.
The splendid results are available on Satoshi-san's web page- you will see that he has super-imposed an image of the Cachalot!
Thank you so much, ARC members - I will never forget my visit.