ON THE COAST

Greg / partly cloudy....60/85
02/19/2012  Kemah,  TX

The Day Before We Leave South Carolina for the Bahamas

Due to a sudden change of plans, Dahleen and I found ourselves with a couple of extra days before having to report to Ft. Stockton to work.  So.....we decided to take the southern route all along I-10 and stop for a day or so in Kemah, TX.  Kemah is a sailing community SE of Houston and we wanted to visit the marinas and look at some boats.....we wanted to get our sailboat fix satisfied (temporarily).  It brought back great memories of the time that we spent in Charleston Harbor at the City Marina and it gave us a chance to see if there were and sailboats for sale that might fit our needs/wants.  We really didn't have any luck finding anything there for sale (we were looking for B-473 and B-423), but we did enjoy our time there walking the docks and looking at all the boats.  The only negative about Kemah that I noticed in the short time we were there was that I was obviously much loved by the local mosquito population.  I don't know what it is, but they love my fresh, white meat.  Dahleen will never be bothered by the flying syringes, but they stick me like a pin cushion.  Same thing with the 'no see ums' in Charleston....fly right by her and attack me.  I guess I am just so much sweeter than she is they can't resist.  Anyway, I will have multiple itchy reminders of our visit to Kemah for a least a week or so.             

CUT SHORT

Greg / bone chilling cold, damp
02/19/2012, Anderson,  SC

                                                                Sampson Cay Marina




Well, our time at home got cut short.  A base manager from Anderson, SC called me and asked if I could work this weekend, so we packed up on Friday and headed out again.  I told Dahleen that I felt like I needed to go back to work to rest.....we have both been working hard around the house from daylight till well past dark (in between Dr appointments).

I worked both Sat and Sun day shifts at the Anderson base and didn't get a flight......the weather was horrible.  I did enjoy the crew that I worked with and want to thank Andrea, the base mgr, for the gift card.  It was an unexpected, but a very thoughtful and pleasant surprise.....you're a jewel.  I hope to get to meet you sometime and thank you again, in person. 

I wouldn't mind coming back to the Anderson base and working a full 7-day hitch or more.  It is a pretty cool place to work, compared to the bases that I have been working at in West Texas.  Don't get me wrong, I love the flight crews that I have been fortunate enough to work with out west, but there is nothing to do and almost no places to eat in Pampa, Seminole, etc.  Anderson had a great Thai resturant that we ate at two of the three nights we were there (Thai and Spice is the name, I think).  We both love Thai food and both nights the food was exceptional, in our opinion.  Then, we ate a great meal at O'Charley's our last night.

We will head out in the morning West Texas bound....this time to Ft. Stockton.  We are looking forward to a different environment after spending almost 3 months in Seminole.     

PLODDING ALONG

Greg / Clear, chilly....28/68
02/11/2012, Tyler, TX

Mike and Lynn in the Exumas - 2006                                                           

As we plod along trying to get things ready to sell, rent, or otherwise dispose of, we find it difficult to do so while traveling 22 days a month.  When we do get home, we have a multitude of things to take care of, like: grouting the backsplash that Dahleen laid around the cabinets in the kitchen, installing the storm-door going out on the deck, replacing boards/re-making the deck, motorhome maintenance, motorcycle maintenance and vehicle maintenance.  It is a good thing that we have decided to rent out the house....if we could only get rid of our stuff and 'git ur done'. 

I have begun consolidating our pictures from 3 cameras, multiple CDs, 3 computers, and 2 phones.....what a job!  Pictures from multiple BVI sailing/scuba trips, Honduras mission trip, Katrina relief mission trip, Charleston sailing trips, ICW sailing trips, our time in Coconut Grove (Miami), Bahama sailing trip, all our family pictures, Bama football pictures, multiple motor home trips, etc......you get the 'picture' (pun intended).

The first step is to get them consolidated into event specific folders, and then, in most cases, grouped again by date or location.  It is a slow process made worse by the desire to browse throught them and reminisce. 

We saw pictures of our good friends, Mike and Lynn Brown (sv Wombat of Sydney) who have been cruising for about 8 or 9 years.  When we met them in the Bahamas, they were planning a circunavigation.  About a year later they left and have most recently been in South Africa on their way back to the U.S. after 5 years in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.  We called them and talked to them for a little while a couple of days ago....we can't wait until they get back to South Carolina and we can go visit them.  We had a blast with them in the Bahamas...Mike was a helicopter pilot (in Vietnam, 2tours) and also joined the SC National Guard when the returned, so we have a lot in common.  Lynn is a former school teacher who is the sweetest southern girl with that awesome South Carolina drawl.

Memories of times like those are what motivate us to get our things together, save our money, buy a boat and get back to cruising.  It would be great to get back out there and cruise with Mike and Lynn before they retire to land again. 

EASTBOUND TO EAST TENNESSEE

Greg / Clear, chilly....28/68
02/9/2012, Seminole, TX

Monahan State Park, between Ft. Stockton and Seminole

After a several months in Seminole, TX, Greg finished his night hitch (shift) for the week here.  Last night I got the motor home ready to travel for when he got off work.  We left Seminole at 0900 hrs. with some cold temps, but lots of sunshine and clear, blue skies.  Greg had not slept after working all night, but he still chose to drive as far as he could before stopping for sleep.  While driving we discussed how to liquidate our furniture and house hold items, working toward our goals to buying another boat and sailing the Caribbean ……..and beyond.

It took us 2 ½ days to drive from Seminole to Tennessee… Our first stop was in Chattanooga to visit Greg’s parents and spent the weekend with them at their house.  Then, we went to our home in Knoxville, and started working on packing and deciding what we were going to sale, give away, or keep in preparation for cruising.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SIS!

Greg / Clear, cold...27/43
02/05/2012, Seminole, TX

MOUNTAINS AND MOTORCYCLES

For one month every year my sister, Karen, and I are the same age. Don't worry, Sis, I won't tell how old I am.

For the last couple of years, she and her husband, David, have joined Dahleen and I on a motorcycle riding vacation. We combined riding the bikes with various other activities like tubing in Helen, GA; renting jet skis on Lake Chatuge (NC/GA border); rafting the Nantahala River in NC, and playing miniature golf and watching shows in Pigeon Forge, TN. We love riding the mountain highways in N. GA, NC, and E. TN and have enjoyed their company immensely.

We hope they will join us in the Caribbean in the future because they are fun to be around.