09/05/15
Southport, NC
Posted by Bill

Happy birthday to my wife and best friend!

9/4/15
Southport, NC
Posted by Bill

If you read this blog on a regular basis, you know that one of the coolest parts of a cruising lifestyle is the cruising/boating community. I have written about it several times and it continues to renew my faith in mankind. If you don’t follow the blog, here is the cliff notes version: People watch out for each other. It doesn’t matter how long you have known them. Everyone is willing to share, give, help and loan, just about anything that you might need, especially in an emergency. It is definitely a “pay it forward” community, and everyone knows what it is like to need help when you live like this.

The people here on D dock have been an amazing example of this, and we have taken advantage of the use of cars especially (since we don’t have one). Matt and Shirley have given us a standing offer to use a car any time we need it. Our friend Greg gave us carte blanche use of his truck that he leaves here (he is here mostly on the weekends only). Friends Mark and Jane have offered to give us one of their cars any time we are in need, and so have friends John and Mary Ann. I always hate asking, even though they have put the standing offers out there, but when we really need a car…we take it. Most recently, John and Mary Ann’s son Patrick left for college and they offered the use of his truck while he is away. Knowing that we would do anything to not have to ask for it, they brought it to the marina and gave us the keys. They (like our friend Greg) actually said we are doing them a favor because cars do better when they are used, which may be true, but I suspect that they highlight that to help us feel better about it. These are true acts of kindness that must be talked about, along with the countless other things, from sharing fish that were caught to giving up a spare part to help someone in need.

I also include “people taking you out for a ride on their boat” as one of those acts of kindness and friendship. Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a fanatic about being on the water, and I rarely pass up a boat ride! Today our friend Rick took us out on his fishing boat. It was a beautiful day and we rode up the Cape Fear River, through Snows Cut, up in to the Masonborough area, and back.

Pulling out of Southport Marina:

Cape Fear River:

It only took a couple of hours or so to make the trip in his boat…a trip that would take us all day in ours! A fun thing to do on a hot day.

Many thanks to our D dock neighbors, and all the others who have helped us along the way!

There is another side of all of this that makes the kindness of the cruising/boating community work. Most people we know strive to be self sufficient. They would never expect to freeload or take advantage of each other. There are exceptions like everything else…but the exceptions are rare. I believe that it provides a base level of trust where people can feel open and free to give. Not so in our society at large today. If everyone starts with a “pay it forward” mentality, and an act of kindness, perhaps we can transform society at large. Let’s all start today!!

8/20/15
Posted by Bill

I saw this article on the ASA web site and thought y’all might like it!! Click here

8/6/15
We finally got off our butts and made the decision to go north to Ohio. It was pretty much a last minute decision and we rented a car for 3 weeks, leaving on the 6th. If you follow the blog you know how I feel about coming back into the “real world”. Crazy pace, crazy people…where the hell is everyone going so fast to? It used to be a normal everyday thing that we were a part of without any thought to the contrary, but now I just hate it.

We survived a 12 hour drive and stopped at our friends, Kurt and Sharon (from Byrd Ketcher), northern base camp along the Ohio River in Kentucky. We traveled the Bahamas with them and Sofia Jeanne, and then came back up to Southport where they rented a car and drove north to this spot for the summer. Here they have some property on a small lake off of the Ohio River, with a dock, a pole barn and a small building they call the Crab Shack. They live on a 60 something foot boat tied to the dock and have set the Crab Shack up to be a great guest quarters with a full bath, bed, and small kitchen set up. It is perfect for guests!

Crab Shack:

Boat:

We did some catching up, had a great dinner in town, and of course did some partying while we watched the Republican candidate debate. The next day we took a ride on their pontoon boat, took their 4-wheeler on a ride through the logging trails nearby, and then had a major party until 3 AM outside the crab shack with their friends Jack and Laurie. A good time was had by all!

Pontoon ride:

On the Ohio River:

The 4-wheeler:

Next is a drive to Columbus for a few days, and then up to our house at Lake Erie. We still have that place and we need to decide if we are going to keep it or get it ready to sell.

08/03/15
Southport NC
Posted by Bill

It has been so damn hot here with a heat index of over 95 for an extended period lately. Some days we can borrow a car and go to the beach, but today we took the dinghy to the sand bar in the Cape Fear River. If you follow the blog you may remember a previous post that talks about where it is.

We grabbed our beach chairs and motored over, cooling off in the water and just chillin’.

Before we left to go back to the marina, we waited for some “big boys” like this one to pass.

They can generate a pretty good sized wake that could flip our dinghy!

Welcome relief from the heat!

7/2/15
Southport NC
Posted by Bill

Happy birthday to Diane! Hope you have a fun “season”! See you in a week.

6/30/15
Southport NC
Posted by Bill

Today we had a visit from our good friend Andy. He was down from Columbus, OH visiting his parents in Myrtle Beach, and made the trip up to Southport to spend the day with us. We haven’t seen him (or any of our Ohio friends for that matter) since our last trip home last November. It was really great to spend time catching up and drinking a couple of beers!

Note to all of our northern friends and family…we really look forward to these visits, please look us up if you get close to us. Thanks Andy!!

6/28/15
Southport Nc
Posted by Bill

Happy birthday to my Mom! Wish you could be here to see all of this, you would love it. Miss you !

6/21/15
Southport NC
Posted by Bill

Happy 50 to my “little” brother Andy!! Hope you got that ditch dug out!

6/17/15
Soutport NC
Posted by Bill

Happy birthday to our grandson Wrigley! Wish we could celebrate with you. Have a good day!