Back in the 80's, the first mate and I worked as crew for the Moorings. We loved the job and our guests. But we'd often get the same questions (week after week) from our guests, especially from first-timers, so I decided to have a little fun. For example:

Someone would notice the smoke rising from the behind Pockwood Pond. "What's that smoke?", they'd ask, while we were sailing up the channel. I started telling them "That's the West End steam train, and it's right on time too!". (I figured it was better than telling them that it was garbage burning at the dump.)

I got away with it for the almost two years. But then one cruise I was caught out. We happened to have a train buff aboard, and he got all excited. "A steam train", he said, "what kind? Must be narrow gauge!...We have to stop and check it out!". I sheepishly had to come clean.

Cap'n Kev