While doing ELINT OPS off China we were engaged by several Communist Chinese Osa Class Missile Patrol Boats and chased out of Chinese Waters. I was on the EW equipment at the time and the sound of a STYX missile fire control radar is the most bone chilling sound I've ever heard. The STYX missile has a 99% kill rate.
While on board I also had the opportunity to sail directly through a Typhoon in the South China Sea. This was also an adrenaline pumper. The waves were breaking over the bridge of the ship.
Visit the AGC Alliance to view other ships of this Class
The road above is typical of Mexican roads away from major highways. I traveled one up into the Mountains of Northern Baja to find an Alpine paradise with aspens and trout streams that the locals call Cielo Alto. One place to check in up there is the National Observatory. On one trip a friend and I were met at the gate by a masked man armed with an AK-47. He told us that the National Observatory had been siezed by the Revolution and politely asked us to return another time.
We had many adventures but one of the more memorable was swimming with the sharks. Rose was barely a snorkeler but she dived right in. A guide chummed in a bunch of Black Tipped Reef Sharks and these swam right by us as they circled the guide for the chum. We could about touch the beauties. Not maneaters to be sure but certainly a thrill for novice shark swimmers like us!
