Rest

Bonnie re-adjusting to the slower pace on board.

Moving on

Said goodbye to my buddies Paul
and Ralph on Sunday and welcomed Bonnie back on board. She flew into Long Island from Denver where she had been visiting the kids. So good to have her back!!

After having some work done on the boat Monday morning, Bon and I set sail for Port Jefferson. Beautiful night at anchor there. Now we are heading to Block Island which is about a day's sail from Cape Cod. This lighthouse marks the northern end of Long Island Sound.

New York, New York

The past few days some great friends and I have
been cruising up the coast from Virginia to Long
Island. Paul and Ralph are both pastors and we've
been meeting and praying together for over thirty
years. It's been a wonderful week and today we
capped it off with a cruise through New York City
and then out into Long Island Sound.

Norfolk

This is my last day in the Norfolk/Portsmouth area. I'm really looking forward to getting under sail again.

One of the great blessings of this stay was reconnecting with one of my two best friends from high school, Colin McKinnon. Colin, Craig Goodrich and I were inseparable. Over at the girl's school they called us the "three C's". I loved those guys and loved hanging out with them. Lots of great memories.

I hadn't seen Colin in about thirty years. A planned reunion last year was undermined by jury duty. So spending some time with him and his family this past week has been a real treat. He looks terrific and has built a wonderful life here in Norfolk.

I was so happy to see what a great family and great life he has here. It was what you would hope for someone you care about and who played a big part in your own life years before. What a blessing!

Last night I left Heartsong in a marina and spent the night at the home of another great friend, Ralph Herbert. A real bed! And when a thunderstorm rolled through I didn't have to get up, shut all the portals and make sure the anchor wasn't dragging. It was luxurious.

Ralph just got back from a trip to South Africa, and later today another friend, Paul Gaug, who has been part of our pastors covenant group going all the way back to our years in Cleveland, arrives from Long Island. The three of us will spend the night on the boat, and then early tomorrow start our trip up the coast.

Norfolk

It has been in the nineties every day here. Today is predicted to hit 99 - a bit uncomfortable on a boat with no air conditioning. But more than compensating for anyone who loves boats is to be so close to so many different ships. This is the Enterprise, passing less than a hundred yards from where I'm anchored.

EDMARC

Members of FCPC will remember the Hogges - longtime members of our church - and Joan's care as a member of our pastoral staff. These pictures are of EDMARC in Portsmouth; the first pediatric hospice care organization in the United States and one the Hogges were instrumental in founding (named, in part, after their own beloved son Marcus). The Hogges went on to help us start the Pediatric Palliative Care Coalition; one of the great ministries of FCPC. PPCC has become a significant state-wide advocate even as it offers care and support for children and their families who require hospice and palliative care. What a wonderful impact Joan and Allen Hogge have had.

Heartsong

A picture of Heartsong in the water down in Portsmouth. A few hours later I moved to an anchorage in Craford Bay just across from the Nauticus Marine Museum in Norfolk. Benedict Arnold commanded a fort on the edge of this bay at one point during the Revolution.

I'm back at the Tidewater Marina in Norfolk.  Said goodbye to Bonnie and to our great friends the Bierys this morning.  Wally was my sailing buddy back in Cleveland, and we chartered together on the Nantucket Sound some twenty-plus years ago.  The four of us have had a great time boating down to North Carolina and the Ablemarle Sound.  Edenton was a high point; a wonderful community.

We had some engine problems approaching Edenton.  Actually, I miscalculated and we ran out of  fuel about a mile from port.  With a diesel engine, running out of fuel is a pretty big deal.  You have to bleed the entire engine of air before it will run again.  I made an attempt at it, but fell short, and this is where the cool part of the story begins.

A neighboring boater spent the entire morning making various contacts and working with us.  As a result of his efforts: 1) we got a loaner car to go and get five gallons of diesel; and 2) after the engine still didn't start and in spite of my best efforts at diesel mechanics, a technician showed up (this was a Saturday) and got our engine running.  And then he charged us next to nothing.  Jack and Bill are my new heroes.  Along the way, the people of Edenton were just plain great.

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Jack, a God-send when we needed a hand.

Funky Bikes

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> Here we are after just finishing our first long bike ride on our new funky folding bikes. They are so much fun. We had a great time exploring more of Roanoke Island. We didn't expect to spend several days here due to the weather, but it has been a real treat! We will be pulling out in the morning bright & early rain or shine. Love you & miss you all.
>

June 1

We passed into North Carolina yesterday. Today we are planning to sail down to Roanoke Island off the Outer Banks and spend the night in Manteo. A few equipment issues, but otherwise the trip so far has been terrific.