Back to Boating

In our 30+ years of coming to Selma AL, we've never
seen this many confusing road signs at any intersection
anywhere else.

As we’re in Selma after the burial, our thoughts start drifting back to boating.  The Admiral says “Why don’t we run down to Gulf Shores/Orange Beach AL to look at marinas for this upcoming winter.”  So we “run” down there – to the tune of 200+ miles each way – and looked at 3 marinas, one of which just might work for us.  Even though we’re not sure where we’ll cruise the remainder of this summer, we’re thinking that next summer we will go back to the Tennessee River to see more of it.  So we want to position the boat to head north up the Tenn-Tom next spring.

The economy in Selma ain't very good, so a guy's gotta do
 what a guy's gotta do!

Entering one of the marinas in Orange Beach AL
by car

Two antiques inside a classic

On our trip from Orange Beach to Chattanooga (to care for Sue’s mother), we spend the night at our good friends Ken & Betsy, who have recently returned to boating (as the saying goes, “The best boat to have is a friend’s boat!”)  Their new boat is a real classic – a fully-restored 1946, 17-foot, all mahogany, Chris Craft run-about, with the original engine.  They invited us to go for a spin on the lake, and boy, did it ever turn a lot of heads!  It is an absolutely gorgeous boat that only very few folks can say they own.

We’ll stay in Chattanooga a couple days before finally heading back down to the Keys.  By the time we get back to the boat, we’ll have been away a whole month.  Starting to plan now for our next trip, departing after July 4^th, hopefully to the northern Bahamas for a quick 3-week tour.

Back south at Marathon FL, this is the swimming pool
at the resort/marina our boat is staying at.
Hope we can join our boat soon!

R. I. P.

Sue’s Uncle Dallas passed away on 6/16/16.  We had been at his bedside continually since we arrived in Ohio on 6/6.  After he moved into a hospice facility, we did what we could to keep him comfortable, and we were able to communicate with him when he was awake & cognizant of his surroundings.  Sue worked tirelessly during those 10 days to assist her uncle however possible, and definitely earned her stripes as a martyr.

I note several ironies in her uncle’s passing.  He was born in Cleveland OH, lived a full life around the country, yet died in Cleveland 87 years later.  He was buried in Selma AL (of all places) because many other of Sue’s relatives are there already.  Her family chose Selma to live, because of the Air Force base which used to be there.  So not only do we periodically travel to Selma, but we also frequently pass through nearby Demopolis AL (where we must have a boat slip with our name engraved on it, because it seemed that we spent a month there one week).

Sue & I are executors of her uncle’s estate, as well as trustees, so our work may just be beginning.  We accepted those responsibilities because Uncle Dallas had been so nice & helpful years ago to Sue & her siblings, as well as to our own children as they were growing up (although one might question whether one of our kids ever grew up, or just got older).

We have driven over 4000 miles during the past 3 weeks, and are now in Chattanooga to look after Sue’s mother in an assisted living facility.  After a couple days, we’ll head back to our boat in the Florida Keys, which has been enjoying a wonderful time in paradise.

Summertime in Ohio

Yes, the weather is cooler up here than down in the Florida Keys, but we really didn’t plan to be in Ohio this summer.  However, when the nursing home called to say that Sue’s uncle had gone to the emergency room in critical condition, the apple cart kinda got upset.

We monitored his condition from afar for about a week before deciding it was time to rent a car to drive to Cleveland Ohio.  The “short version” of the story is that he has been moved from ICU into a hospice care facility, so we will remain here until we are no longer needed.  Sue’s uncle has been in declining physical condition for a few years, so this series of events is not totally unexpected.

I want to say thanks to our friends from the Power Squadrons who have helped us out immensely as we made this trek.  First, Don & Shirley from the North Strand Sail & Power Squadron (Myrtle Beach area) are babysitting our boat down in Marathon FL, making sure it is still floating right side up.  Thanks also to Ken & Betsy, and to John & Susan, all from Chattanooga Sail & Power Squadron for putting a permanent welcome mat at their front door for us to spend the nights along the way, and for being a good listener when we needed someone to talk to.  Their hospitality allowed Sue to spend one night with her mother in her nursing home in Chattanooga as we drove through town.

To those whom have been reading this blog regularly, I kind of apologize for not posting the past 2 weeks, but when family duties call, this “pleasure boating” comes in a distant second.