View From The Top of the Mast

by 0 Bungy 0 Hedley 0

"View From the Top of the Mast" is a true story of the adventures of a young gal who broke the stereotyped mold of the all male world in the late 1940s and 50s by crewing on sailboats from California to Hawaii, Tahiti, and points beyond. She bought her first sailboat by weaving coconut palm hats at luaus. Lady Weldon Hedley, aka Bungy (as in bungee jumping) was raised in California right by the sea, where the sparkling blue Pacific was her private swimming pool. With her famous beachcombing dad, the family combed beaches from Mexico to Oregon. Many celebrities visited their home, which was constructed from driftwood. She met Gary Cooper, Jimmy Stewart, waltzed with Rudy Vallee, and was escorted to her senior prom by Raymond Burr. She even played a joke on Humphrey Bogart. "View From the Top of the Mast" is a humorous tale of Bungy's first twenty-two years of over seven decades of a life filled with the joy of living. Bungy says this book is dedicated to the reader who has a certain sense of adventure that is crying to get out. Buy it! You won't regret it!

336 pages, Paperback

First published July 25, 2006

Reviews

[Louise Borda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bungy was a childhood friend of my mother's and I well remember receiving holiday "cards" written on coconut shells from her south seas travels. It was fun to read about her childhood growing up in San Pedro, and hear some stories I had heard from my mother from a different perspective. I particularly enjoyed the stories of her crewing on sailboats as the only woman in all male crews back in 1950s. Overall an authentic and sweet book that I am glad to have read.

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!! Entertaining and easy to read. Thank you Bungy for signing it for me!

[Kim Kromas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Learning about the history of San Pedro and the lives these girls lived was so uplifting. A must read if you love beach living, the Hollywood life and real people.

[Sandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

After having met Bundy Hedley at The Corner Store in San Pedro, a friend loaned me this book along with Eli Hedley Beachcomber by Bungy Hedley and How Daddy Became A Beachcomber by Bungy's sister Marilyn Hedley. When I read View From The Top Of The Mast, I recognized some of the people mentioned because my father and step-mom have also mentioned them and one I even met when I was a teenager. This book was so interesting I didn't want it to end. I knew I wanted to own a copy for myself as well as her latest book, White Point, A Never Ending Adventure.