The Cruise

Some may think our cruise started in January, 2010. Well it did not. It actually started in 1959 in Merkel, Texas when I first saw Bear. There were no boats in sight in that West Texas town but we were cruising, so to speak, around the universe. Yesterday was our 42 nd anniversary, but counting the 7 years we dated before signing on permanently with each other, we have been on this cruise for 49 years. We have celebrated anniversaries in several home ports such as Merkel, Arlington, Fort Benning, Georgia, Los Angeles, Chicago, Canyon Lake and a few in between. Of all those years, we have been apart on our anniversary only one time. We added Charleston, SC. yesterday to the list. Who knows how many other ports will host an anniversary celebration? Time has taken its due from us but for now, we are still able to keep our vessel in the channel. Obviously, the past nine months have had their moments, perhaps the most active for us in decades. With Bear’s retirement and my oozing out of business, we have managed to challenge our carcasses, our spirits and our imaginations. Even as late as a year ago, we really did not think we would do this. Of course, we kept the story up to our cruising friends. All it really took was to have a friend or two and some relatives to exit the planet and we were motivated. So yesterday was our 49th year in the cruise and Bear has made it a true dream come true. No finer a shipmate ever existed. We would change very little of it if we could. Now, today we continue that cruise started in a dusty little town in Texas almost half a century ago.


The crew of Keeln Time caught up with us day before yesterday when they surprised us by calling only a few minutes before arriving at this dock. It was good to see them and we invited them to our celebration dinner last evening. We did what all sailors do: told stories of challenges, of places visited and of characters we have met along the way. They are motivated to move on to the Chesapeake as soon as possible since this is their second year trying to get that far north. Just as we have had our challenges, in their attempts to get north, they have been struck by lightning two times and had some family business ashore to change the plans. Ah planning, that is the scourge of cruising.

Rick, Vicky and Bear

Early this morning, a Moorings (charter Beneteau) came along side at the fuel dock. There were two old dawgs and a younger female with a British accent. They took on fuel in every type of container imaginable, including gallon water jugs. Given the amount of fuel they were buying, I had to ask their destination. The boat appeared new and had no radar, no solar panels or generators, in fact few signs of a pending voyage requiring that much fuel. The response was that they were heading today for Tortola. Yikes, this is hurricane season! We confirmed our plans to make it into the BVI, but “It might be a bit”. They suggested that we cut loose and go with them. They little suspected that after Vietnam, I have become a bit less inclined to slap the devil. As they pulled away, I bid them Fair Winds. May Mother and their skills deliver them safe to the islands. Who knows? Perhaps we will see them again somewhere. I sure hope we don’t read about them. As for today, I plan to attempt to put off tomorrow that which I should do today, not the least of which is the toe rail redo--- or not.

Update:  Noticing several other Moorings  boats at the Beneteau dealership just across the fairway, I moseyed over to ask some questions about how they are outfitted, mostly about the anchors.  One of the crews was getting ready to leave the dock and they confirmed the same destination as the earlier boat we witnessed.  The fellow told me that these are the first of 39 boats sold to Moorings by this dealer.  What economy slump?

Good Guys taking on fuel