On my way

The adventure starts this morning

Like Peter, Paul, and Mary sang I’m leaving on a jet plane. I fly New Bern to Charlotte and then directly to Havana. I should be there by noon if all goes well with the flights. My next post will be from Cuba.   

All ready to go

Less than two weeks to go before my big adventure visiting Cuba. Sue always said to me before I left on one of my adventures be prepared for anything and make sure you come home to me. Well I can’t come home to Sue anymore but I can be prepared. 

I’ve been to my doctors and got clearance to go.  I’ve got all my meds lined up. I’ve got someone who will watch the house and take care of MrA, our dog. I’ve got all the parts for the 1929 Ford.

Now all that is left to do is put everything in the suitcase and jump on a plane.  I can’t wait to see Nely and Roxy with their wonderful car and explore Cuba. Hopefully l can go to several car club meetings and meet the owners of some of the wonderful cars I saw the last time I was in Havana. I am looking forward to spending time with the citizens of Cuba and learning about Cuban culture. 

Planning

Well I am a little closer to leaving on my grand adventure.

I spent yesterday afternoon with my friend Richard from the AACA, Antique Automobile Club of America, ordering parts for my friend’s in Havana 1929 Ford. Today my travel agent and I went over my plans to do a little sightseeing in Jamaica before I head to Havana. The apartment I am taking in Havana is available on March 14th. I making lists of things to bring and starting to layout stuff to pack. I’ll up date you when I gat a departure date. 

The next chapter

Three and a half years ago Sue and I moved to New Bern North Carolina. I started this blog to chronicle my adventure of sailing Cachalot down from Boston. It was a grand adventure shared by my friends Richard Terry and Jeff Gardiner. 

Sue and I quickly adapted to retirement. Sue joining the garden club, an exercise class, and writing for the local paper. I joined several men’s clubs and volunteered at Tyron Palace both as a consulting arborist and the Town Crier. Both of us joined Fairfield Harbour Yacht Club and Cape Lookout Power Squadron. We lead a wonderful retirement both busy at home and traveling. As with any journey there were a few bumps in the road. I had both knees replaced. Sue had several hiccups in her medical health too. But there were wonderful vacations back to New England and cruises. Just one of the highlights of our retirement was sailing the Star Flyer from

Barbados and the western Caribbean then through the Panama Canal. 

This wonderful retirement ended six months ago. First I collapsed after a New England vacation and spent almost three weeks in the hospital with congestive heart failure. Fortunately I have recovered. Next Sue was diagnosed with heart disease not just the afib we knew about. Just two weeks later she was scheduled for open heart surgery.  The surgery which was scheduled for four to six hours and called routine lasted fifteen hours. Despite all the hard work of the doctors and round the clock care of the nurses Sue passed away December 15 2017.  I lost the love of my life and wife of forty-four years. 

Now it is time to start a new chapter of my life. For years I have been saying to Sue “let’s go do ......” and she said that doesn’t interest me but you just go and do it and I’ll hear all about it when you get back. Well I’ve decided to just go do ..... Hopefully Sue is watching and giving me her blessing. I won’t be able to come home and tell Sue all about my adventures but if you follow this blog you will be able to learn all about my bucket list. 

My first adventure is off to revisit my friends in Cuba. I’ll keep you posted about my plans and travels. 

Pirate for a day

I got up this morning and it was very hot with no wind and I decided I could not sail so I went to Beaufort North Carolina to participate in the pirate invasion.  It is a family fun day with pirate reenactors where you can participate. 

A lot of local people come by boat.

 

It was a fun day for everyone and I had a great time.

Friday

We all got up early this morning and Jeff and Rich took off in the rental car at 6:15 to head back home in Boston. Sue and I headed back to Oriental and coffee at the Bean where we met our good friends.  During the day Jeff sent several text to inform me of their position on the drive home. I received the final text at about quarter of 12 that Jeff had arrived home safely after dropping Rich home safely. It is said that if you arrive home with the same number of people you left with and they are still friends you had a great sail. This was a great adventure and a great sail. I would like to thank my friends Rich and Jeff for all there help in making this a safe passage. While thanking people I have to thank my wife Sue for all of her support and encouragement.

Day Twelve - Thursday, August 8

It was quite a trip we stayed up late last night and this morning we all slept in. Sue had cinnamon buns and cereal for breakfast while I made the crew real brewed coffee. This was a treat as both of the crew love that morning cup of coffee. In the morning Rich worked on a job estimate while Jeff helped Susan with her computers. Then I took them on a tour of Fairfield Harbour in Susan's golf cart. Later in the afternoon we toured downtown New Bern where Jeff has wanted to move for years. We visited Mitchell's hardware which is a unique store that has forgot that the 21st-century has happened. We were all impressed with the variety and depth of their stock,  they have everything you could possibly want in a hardware store. We visited one of the old churches in new Bern center and viewed some magnificent hand-painted windows in the church from the 1800s.

 Later in the afternoon two of Jeff's Masonic friends drove two hours from Raleigh to join us for dinner. During the course of dinner conversation we learned just how small a world it is. One of Jeff's friends is in charge of the entire state of North Carolina State Parks which is my educational background. All of Cachalot's crew along to the United States Sail and Power Squadron and Jeff's other friend, a woodworker, makes presentation ship's wheels for the past national commanders of USPS. We had a great meal at Capt. Raddy's restaurant and really enjoyed the conversation with Jeff's friends.