Spring Valley Lodges

With the 4th of July right around the corner of our Semiquincentennial, be sure to get this wonderful flag (or any of our others) and fly it proudly!! These United States of America is 250!!!!

Semi Quincentennial 250 Flag | Spring Valley Lodges Celebrate the United States of America's 250th birthday and show your pride with this wonderful flag. These flags are made of polyester so the color retention is fantastic and will not fade as quickly as a cotton flag. Size is 3x5. Note: If you choose the two flag option, please use quantity of one....

Have you ever wondered where the phrase "between the devil and the deep blue sea" comes from? Its origins lie in one of the most terrifying jobs aboard a wooden ship. The "devil seam" was the topmost wooden seam on the ship's outer hull, connecting the deck planks directly to the hull sides. Because it was located right at the waterline deck edge, caulking this seam to prevent leaks required a sailor to hang over the side of the ship in a simple rope sling, suspended directly above the churning ocean. Working in this highly unstable position meant the sailor was physically trapped "between the devil and the deep blue sea," where a single slip of the rope or a sudden wave meant falling into the freezing depths.

Sailing a fleet of dozens of merchant ships across the ocean at night was a logistical nightmare. Without any lights, ships would easily lose contact, drift off course, or crash into one another in the dark. To prevent this, the lead warship in a convoy flew a massive, candle-lit lantern from its elevated stern deck, known as the "p**p lantern." This lantern was so large a man could stand inside it to change the candles. By following this single, powerful beacon, the entire fleet could sail in a tight, organized formation through the pitch darkness, while all other ship windows remained completely blacked out to hide from lurking enemy privateers.