So nothing has changed here at Tidewater yacht services. People come and go. the faces and the boats change, but here life just goes on from day to day.

  I felt welcome coming back here. The people here at Tidewater yacht service have always bent over backward to help me with whatever I have needed. I thank you for that.

 Mary Lee looks smaller and smaller when you park her in big company. That is her second from right in 5th picture down.  Hi Leora. Leora is my neighbor from Thompson Falls, Mt. She is 88 years old and reminds me of my Aunt Dorothy who is 86. They are two of my favorites. Hi Dorothy.

I was up until about 2 am. trying to stow everything. I would feel pretty good about what I accomplished if I didn't have two 40 pound boxes, two 25 pound boxes and a few 10-15 pound boxes of gear arriving on Fri.  I know I won't be keeping it all but I wanted the chance to decide while I was on boat. It will be easier to decide what goes or stays when I am looking at a pile on the floor and can see what room is available. I am used to being prepared for any eventuality. I am going to have to modify that behavior and learn to prepare for the ones most likely to happen or those most severe.

So there I was crawling onto the Greyhound bus in Corpus Christi, Tx. Somehow I should have known my bus ride would not fit in with the ordinary. The first several hours were not horrible. I met some new people and even though the leg room, or should I say lack of it, left a little to be desired. I usually meet so many people in a crowd that I have trouble keeping the names straight. I met some very good people on the bus and I enjoyed conversing with all.

   I think Mike was the one going to pick up a car for his daughter. It turns out he had never ridden a greyhound and was hoping for some tips from a seasoned rider. I was not much help. Other than the ride south from Idaho to Corpus Christi, I had not been on one in many years. We decided that the seats in the new buses, while looking comfortable, tended to hurt your tailbone after a stretch trying to lay back and rest. Mike had brought a pillow to put behind his head and ended up sitting on it. Apparently it helped.

  In top pictures. Bus depot in Richmond, Virginia. A lot of people had already loaded on buses before I used my quick wits to get a picture. The other picture was of a gal who was just going to the next town and didn't want to wait for however long the next bus was going to take.
  And saving the most important picture for last. This is Mary Lee sitting in a different spot than I left her but still my pride and joy. I need to get power and water in her. Clean up some messes I left in my rush to get going. I am extremely  sleepy from bus ride.  but I need to get a few things done and get a shower. The later I can stay up and the sounder I hope I can sleep tonight. I will take a day or two to rest and then it will be time to get serious.    Gotta get moving, I am falling asleep here.

   Well it is almost time to leave Corpus Christi, Texas. I have met some nice people here. Stayed in a motel that would remind you of living in the bush. Have eaten all the McDonalds and Jack in the box I can take. Do I have a favorite? One reminds me of the other as far as burgers goes but McDonalds has a lot more salad/healthy choices than Gak in the Box. Will I ever eat at one again. Let's not test that yet.
  

There were 4 people standing there waiting for the kitchen when I tried to take first shot. The workers are nice and store is clean but food is not very fast coming out of the kitchen. I see this every day at this restaurant.

But I keep coming here everyday to work on computer. Got my ears lowered professionally this week.

I have a printer for onboard and the program to allow me to use my own pictures and make my own post cards for my computer illiterate friends and make my own boat cards. The program is still smarter than I am. I may need help with it.

This is a sad thing to see. I really wanted to get going last fall. I can fix it this year.

Mary Lee is not going to be spending much time tied to a dock in a marina once she is fixed.  

This morning, Thursday. July 26, 2012.  Found me helping load up guns and tools to go to auction. The guns were hunting rifles that I had worked on and some worked on by friends. I may have shipped off the last gun I will ever completely redo myself. I didn't even take a picture.
  I know I have to get rid of the things that will get ruined if kept in storage. I have mixed emotions about some of these things. It seems to be rather costly to trade one life for another. not in just a monetary way but letting go of things that once meant something as they will not fit with the new life.

 The people at uhaul have been most friendly and helpful. They have even been great about letting me stand around office cooling down.  I hope I don't get in the way too much. Not everyone was here for picture day but I meant well.

   I am going to be busy today and tomorrow finding lost chart books, finding bedding and other things that need to get to boat. I have today and tomorrow. I head for boat on greyhound Saturday at noon-thirty. Will arrive in Baltimore at 7:30 am. on Monday. I am anxious to see friends at tidewater yachts. I like the folks working there. I find them to be regular down to earth people like all the other people I like.
  I can not wait to get out on boat. I have about a week worth of work to do and the day Mary Lee splashes down I am pulling out. This is what I am trading the old life for. I notice when I am thinking of boat the other things I am going through to get there don't seem to matter.

  I will be back to Corpus Christi to finish up storage unit and do a few last minute things in December or so.

  I think I may change plans for the next season. I want to go back up the intracoastal and spend early spring in the Chesapeke. From there I want to make my way to Maine. I would like to try my hand at lobster eating and just sight-seeing the Maine coast. Once I head back south, I should have boat well tested and set up the way I want by this time, I want to make my way to the Carribean. Of course all plans are subject to change if I want. I just need to have a vague idea of what I want to do.
  Have to remember not to carry windlasses in duffle bags. Back is still giving me trouble from that. It is now on day 3 of wishing I was smart enough not to do bonehead things.

I have been selling things on craigslist trying to at least downsize storage unit. Yesterday I sold an anchor windlass to Jim Mazur of  Sheboygan, Wi. Jim is refitting a 35 ft. sailboat and preparing to move aboard sometime in the near future.  I sold him a good windlass and was determined to carry it to ups and find out shipping costs

   My google map said it was 1/2 mile and it was only 94 degrees. I put it in a duffle bag with a shoulder strap and took off. I was just going to find out shipping costs and wait for check from Jim. I realized about 1/2 way there that If I even made it to ups I would not be able to carry it back. Not only was it killing my back but it had begun to feel like it weighed 70 lbs. It also had several protruding parts that were not forming to any part of my body. Not exactly one of my best ideas. :-)  When we put it on the scale it was 43 lbs.  I boxed it up and shipped it. I know most people would not have but Jim was going to trust me by sending a money order first.

  I know I should not be so trusting but I won't change who I am. I treat people the way I expect to be treated and let the chips fall where they may. Of course I don't trust everyone I come across so openly but I leave it up to what I call my "shit detector" When it goes off, it is usually spot on.  I think this is why the honest people I meet mean so much to me. They allow me to relax and just enjoy myself

  I also sold a sewing machine to a gal named shirley yesterday. She was wanting to get a machine to send to her mom in the phillipines. The amount I offered it for was much less than I had paid and in the end I let her have it for even less. I wasn't going to but it was so entertaining to listen to her make a deal. Shirley, I would have paid to have you take it in the end ;-) It was the most entertainment I have had since arriving in Corpus. I hope your mom enjoys it. Tell her you got it for a song and a dance :-) I used to sell cars for a living and was not bad at it. I also lived for yard sales and pawn shops. I know all about making deals. I really was entertained by Shirley

 When I have surplus I share it. When things tighten up I still pay my way. I just go a cheaper way. Fate seems to look out for me. Things always work out for the best even if not exactly how I planned.

  I would not trade my life for any I have ever seen. I still cannot believe I am on the cusp of an adventure I first thought of close to 20 years ago :-) 

I can not believe how much my energy levels are coming back. I am walking as much as 4 to 6 miles a day in the heat. I can tell my calf muscles are not completely rebuilt yet and it does hurt my back. I don't care. I will just keep pushing every day for the rest of my life.
  While taking nutrition so seriously last winter I quit drinking just to make sure I was giving myself every edge possible while rebuilding muscle. I really have always enjoyed a good drink and probably will always. However, I am beginning to think it was the years of pain pills that allowed me to drink such large amounts of spirits without much ill affect. I don't have that now. Now I have to be careful how much I drink or it could easily be overdone.
  I come from a strong willed family. No alchoholics or drug addicts in the bunch. We quit doing things when we want to.

  So before the side track. I met a Man named Bob Stubbs. He bought some things from me here in Corpus Christi. Bob is 79 years old. I enjoyed talking to him and when I offered to buy him lunch he drove to the golden corral and bought me lunch. I hope I am in the shape he is at 79. Hi Bob. I enjoyed the company.
   So I have forgotten another more person on my list of supporters. Cheryl. I almost forgot Cheryl. She called a few minutes ago. What timing.  I met Cheryl in Dunnigan, California my first trip out in a semi-truck on my own. I have not seen her since I got hurt. I lived a bit out of her driving country. Cheryl has been a constant support group all on her own. When Things were as bad as they could seem to be, Cheryl would have some good words of reason and always a nudge to keep pushing. Thank you Cheryl.
   So you see. I am doing the work here but I owe where I am to so many people. I would have kept pushing but the people I have mentioned and many more have had a hand in my recovery.  I wish I had pictures of everyone so I could share you all with the world.
  My good friend Sally who was my payroll clerk when I first started driving truck. Keep getting better Sally. You are an inspiration to us all.

So now I get to tell you about one of my new hobbies. Well, besides dripping sweat all over Corpus Christi.  I don't have a real restaurant anywhere close. I am doing the best I can with McDonalds and Jack in the Box. I have sprouts and supplements back at motel to help keep diet as nutritious as possible.
   I started sprouting seeds in Thompson Falls last winter for the supposed health benefits. I am not kidding, I left no stone unturned trying to find a combination that kept me healthy while I felt like I was destroying my body and will to live ;-)
   I could not tell you how much I spent on supplements but I was on a 300 gram a day protein diet and everything I could find to supplement it. I wanted to rebuild muscle and I was willing to go to any means to make sure what I was doing in the gym was not for nothing.
  I started sprouting seeds with a jar just to see how it worked. You do not need a special jar. For smaller seeds like alfalfa and clover, even chia seeds (yes, it turns out they are quite nutritious seeds) you need a fine screen. You can used a piece of one of those old pantyhose held on with a rubberband over the mouth of a jar.

   You rinse them 2 to 4 times a day with room temp water and drain off excess. Sprout them 5 days. On 5th day put out in light for a few hours to get a little green. This is chlorophyl. They claim it is only a couple chemicals away from being perfect blood. You also get rna, dna, protein and I forget what else out of sprouts.
  These are mung bean sprouts in a half gallon pitcher. Mung beans need to soak for 24 hrs before draining off water and sprouting. They will triple or more in size in the first 48 hrs from when you first add water. This was a cup. I have already eaten 4 or 5 handfuls and it is just day 2 of sprouting. They are supposed to sprout to 25 times the amount you start with. You will swear this is true. Mung sprouts taste a bit nutty and are so easy to do.

Well here I am in Corpus Christi. It is hot but I am starting to get used to it. If sweating cleans out all the bad stuff then I am squeeky clean by now.  I am staying at the Modern Motel. It is the only motel in walking distance of the storage unit. I would never let a friend stay here.  The place is quite run down and dilapidated. The owners are rude and do not care. Motel prices are rather frightening in the summer here. Most times you are lucky to even get a room. I noticed a chalk outline outside one of the rooms. It is partially washed away so no telling how old it is. I hope it was a joke.

  So why did I not buy a vehicle to do all this busy stuff with? Pretty good question. I sold my pickup just before I realized I was not taking Mary Lee south last fall. When I was asked to caretake house in Thompson Falls, Roger gave me his 1978 project Ford Bronco to use. It runs great but I got used to walking everywhere. I needed to walk. Besides, If I owned a vehicle I would just have to sell it when I take off with boat anyway.

It is Monday morning in Corpus Christi. I am sitting at the nearby McDonalds Having an egg muffin and coffee. I have decided I will head to Baltimore on Saturday July 28th. I had thoughts of cleaning out storage unit so I would not have to come back. (best laid plans :-) It turns out Corpus Christi is also depressed about being here and it is slow selling things. I will make my way back here before next hurricane season and live on boat while I sell things. I have to much money invested in some of the stuff to just throw it out.

  I have been here a week. It has been in the 90's the whole time. A couple weeks before I left Idaho it was still in the 40's at night. I am starting to get used to it some but what a shock to the system. You don't need to know me to find me in a crowd. Just look for the guy who looks like he was standing under a rain cloud having heat stroke. This is the good side of storage unit. Heavy tools are/were on the right side. I think I am a horder. It will work out. I just need time to deal with it.

I know I am skipping over a lot but I am almost to present. The house I stayed the winter in was  good friend Rogers dads. He had passed away a couple years ago and the house sold as I was leaving. I stayed to help move things. A lot happened to me during my stay there. I am not the broken down man that moved in the first of December. I am strong again and my mind is clear. My big thanks to Roger for the opportunity to stay there. The significance of some things are not always apparent until hindsight kicks in. I have my life back.  Hi to all in Thompson Falls. Thanks for everything. See you again soon. This is my last night in Mullan Idaho before heading to Texas enroute to Baltimore.

I was several days recovering from first hike. I had trouble eating even for a few days. That didn't stop me. I made several more hikes while I was there. The second and 3rd hikes were longer but had the same affect. I noticed that the hiking on uneven ground had really loosened things up along my spine and given me a lot of my balance back. I was feeling pushed for time. I had already put off going to boat when I first planned but I knew I was starting to recover faster all the time and was reluctant to let go of the easy access to a gym.

  I put on 24 lbs of muscle while in Thompson Falls. Then Did a 14 day water fast to dump some of the excess weight and clean more crud out of my system. I ended up the same weight (220) but now my muscles were much stronger and harder than they had been.

  I am still not 100%. May never be, but I will never stop moving. Better to hurt and have a life than to lay around hurting and waiting to die. It was time to leave my winter home and get back to my life. I made some friends in Thompson Falls and I would like to get back to see them someday. This is sunset looking from Montana as I was leaving.

I kept working and gaining but I still felt pretty horrible most of the time. Of course I was still weening myself off pain meds. I had switched to a 10mg. Hydrocodone when I moved to Thompson Falls. These were much weaker than the Oxycontin I had been taking. I started with 5 a day and they barely helped.
  I kept cutting back, sometimes against my better judgement. I know it sounds like a broken record but it just felt like I would die of pain or exhaustion the whole time.

 But nothing on earth, including me, was going to stop me from getting healthy and back to boat. I was putting on the fight of my life and I had my mind made up.

 Spring came. I was still struggling but I was getting strong again. I decided what I needed was to start hiking. I got prepared and one Sat. I went hiking up a nearby forest service trail. I parked at the bottom.
 I took my time. The wood ticks were out in force and it was a strain but I made 3 miles before the phone rang.

  It was Barbara checking on me. I told her how far I had gone and she got concerned about me getting back. I thought about it. Decided she might be right. I know I have the ability to overdue it if not careful.. Good thing I headed back. I was in such bad shape over a mile from vehicle that if I sat down to rest I knew I would not make it. Made it. Felt so exhausted and hurt I wanted to puke. Had trouble getting in vehicle let alone drive the 2 miles back home. I took these pictures up around the 5500 ft. level. Thompson falls is about the 2400ft. level. It is down around the river but the digital image seems to wash out some in the bright sun

My first day at the gym I couldn't do more than 3 minutes on the eliptical trainer. all I could do for a time was wander around the gym trying different things and just kepping my heart rate up. I was determined.

 What happened was I started to pump in the right nutrition and push as hard as I could every day. Sometimes I went twice a day. It was a 1/2 mile walk each way and I always walked. Most days after I was done I would sit for quite a spell wondering if I was going to be able to get home. I went at the time of day when I mostly had gym to myself.

 It took me about a month to get to a point where I was pushing 45 min. on the eliptical and then another 45 on treadmill. the sweat would just pour off me. My back hurt so bad and I began to wonder what was wrong with my legs. They never seemed to recover. Not knowing what else to do I just kept forcing myself to go to gym every day.

 My incentive was to get back to my boat in the best shape I could and I sacrificed all to those ends.

I began to wonder if I wasn't overdoing it a little. So I put myself on a full weight lifting cycle. Wow! If I thought my back and legs hurt before, this was intense. But it is where my tendons and ligaments finally started to loosen up and I started gaining in mobility. This is where I met Jennifer Hinds. On mondays I had a training partner so to speak. On some days I would have Steve or Jill (the owners) in gym while I worked out. Steve and Jill also own Building Bridges. They have a home for troubled teens. I don't know much about that but from what I know of Steve and Jill, those boys are in good hands. I feel bad I didn't get more pictures. It just seemed like I had my hands full and I mostly felt to horrible to even do this blog.

As I fought each little battle. More and more my willpower began to shine. It took so much effort most days just to stand up and walk to kitchen for a glass of water. But you see, I have this boat that I must prepare for and get back to. But not just that. I need to be clear minded and strong enough to take care of it or it is hopeless. I started by walking to get mail every day. 1 mile each way. For several times I would get there and did not think I could make it back. But with no place to sit along the way I had to force myself.

 After a time I was walking up and down the streets. and as Thompson Falls is built on the side of the mountain overlooking the river. It really was up and down.  After a time I tried yoga. After a month the instructor told me one day after class that I was doing better but in the beginning it was bothersome to see how much I hurt to move.

  Shortly after that I joined bear muscle fitness. The local gym.

I know I am rushing things while trying to get blog caught up to present. I am leaving out much that I would like to share but as I get to a point where I am posting as it happens I will do better.

  So I had an engine problem and was unable to head south in November with the others. Something better happened. Sure, what could be better than heading south in my boat. Well remember that I am still in a lot of pain. fighting atrophied muscle and struggleing to get off pain pills. I also will be going solo.

  I will get to the good part but first let me tell you about how my winter started.  The first month I was so exhausted and hurt that just taking care of me was all I could manage. I really didn't and couldn't care about much else. I really missed working just for the companionship. I was to sick to care about even making friends. The house I was caretaking must have been between 4 and 5000 ft. of living space. when it snowed just the back alley must have been 200 feet of shoveling. I thought I was going to die shoveling it out. I didn't have to but I knew I had to keep fighting if I wanted my life back

just me left

So I hurried to get things done so I could also get going. The weather was good. In my big hurry to get going I made a novice mistake. I installed a piece on the engine I didn't trust. I made it just out of the marina and had to be towed back.

  As I sat and pondered the mistake I realized how hard I had been pushing. I was no where near well enough for a long trip south. I had given it a good run but my body was not well enough and I was still taking some pain meds to get through the day. After some thought and a conference with a friend, it was determined that I could stay on boat through winter and get engine done(I know how to build my own) or go house sit for him in Thompson Falls, Mt.  So Mary Lee came out of water.

A couple days later Lance and Mary left. Suddenly the Marina felt quiet. I was madly trying to get everything done so I could meet up with them along the way.

So my friends left

It was inevitable that it came time to leave. I was not able to leave yet. So first Steve and Linda left.

Shortly after Mary Lee launched (day or two) I met Lance and Mary from New Zealand.  Lance and Mary could easily fit into my home town but the accent would give them up. I really like Lance and Mary. I guess it surprised me a little to find people from other countries no different from the people here. They sold their home, bought a boat here and were headed to the Bahamas and then to the Carribean.
  I am glad I was able to meet them. Life is richer the more people we add to it.

still getting blog up to speed

 Hi again. So at this point I am still working my way through 2011. As the blog gets up to speed. I will have shorter posts a bit more regularly.

  So the next big event was getting the Mary Lee on the water for the rest of the maintainance needing done and to get away from climbing up and down the ladder.
  Little messy while I try out where everything fits but this is pretty much the look dockside.

So I have not made it to the rest of my new friends yet but shortly after I met Steve and Linda The Mast Confusion was changed to the Mary Lee. I had another name in Mind But My older Sister Mary was Fighting cancer and as she was much on my mind, with her permission I Renamed the Mast confusion to the Mary Lee

So there I was trying to keep working on boat projects. I went on a water fast to help clear all meds out of system. Those of you who have ever done a water fast know how rough it can be when your body starts discharging all the toxins in waves. Pretty rough.
  So during this time I had walked down to take a shower and being to exhausted and hurt to make it happen I went into the barbecue area to sit in the shade. There was a good breeze and It felt wonderful. I noticed another gentleman in a shoulder sling sleeping in the swing. I sat in a chair and found myself waking up sometime later. This is when I met Steve franco. It turns out he had taken a bad fall and Broke his shoulder of all things. We talked a bit and then went over so I could meet his wife Linda. They are the proud owners of Yesterdays dream.
  I liked them immediately, if they are not the salt of the earth then I want to know who is.

  I spent quite a bit of time with them and I will tell you now. I was so set on grinding through with my battle that I was forgetting to take time to enjoy what was in front of me. Steve and Linda cured this. Their company greatly enriched my life. Thank you Steve and Linda. I hope to be seeing you again very soon.

 I sorted through my pictures and the best I could come up with(that turned out) of Steve and Linda was taken the morning they pulled out.

So you have seen the picture of my overloaded pickup with uhaul trailer hooked up. Trip was difficult. I had to hire help to get it unloaded. Temperatures when I left Idaho were in the mid. to upper 70's. Was in 90's in Corpus Christi. What the pain didn't take out of me the heat seemed to. Uhaul manager was concerned about me getting heat stroke. Are you kidding? I am going to my boat. Neither sleet nor snow(wait a minute, I think that saying belongs to the postman) Well, you get the picture. Just let something try to stop me.

 So the unload was finished and I spent a night in motel before leaving for Baltimore. It was memorial day weekend and I wanted to get out of town. All I can say about the trip to Baltimore is at least I will never have to relive that one. It is about 1600 miles and The last 400-600 miles took quite a few days. I was hurt and exhausted. I could barely fight to get out of motels in mornings. I thought I was doing well to make 150-200 miles a day. But eventually I did make it.

  I will never forget arriving at tidewater yachts. I was so beat down I didn't know which way was up. I really considered that I was just not physically able to go through with it. I talked to broker and a few friends and decided that I would sleep on it. It took 2 sleeping pills to get through the night. In the morning I knew I was home. I just had to get in gear and make it happen.

I am back. I had actually planned to download a picture that showed more of my pride and joy but you get the picture. I bought Mast Confusion in April of 2011. I threw left cane on boat to remind me of where I was coming from. The trip back to Idaho was a bit more difficult. On the way out I had been taking advantage of being pushed through the large airports in a wheelchair. The pain was still pretty intense. I was taking 100 mg. of oxyconten a day and had trouble standing without a cane. However. I swore I was going to make this work. Barbara has known me over 10 years and she told me that I seem to have a knack for shoving myself into a corner just so I can fight my way out. :-) She may be right. She was the only one who believed I would pull it off.  So I kept up with the training. By august I started feeling like I could not stand myself if I did not get to the boat. Pack and sell, Pack and sell. Got down to a trailor load of stuff to haul to Corpus Christi, Tx. I figured I would get the boat there and be able to change a few things on it during hurricane season. Then head back to Florida and then on to carribean. Best laid plans right. So here is a view of what I am leaving in North Idaho. This is about 7000 ft.

Hi again. Last time I attempted to download a picture of mast confusion taken about a half hour after I paid for her. Not fond of name but that change will come later. I will attempt another download before moving on. I met some great people last fall while working on boat and I am looking forward to introducing them to you.

At the beginning

So I should go back a short time and tell what brought me to this point. In March of 2006, I got hurt. Quite badly. I took a bad fall and hurt my back in the worst way. I spent most of the next 5 years mostly in a hospital bed and when not there, in a recliner.
   To make a long painful story as short as possible. One day my doctor changed my pain meds. I got enough control of pain to start moving again. I needed a lot of help for the first 6 months.

  I had remembered laying in bed and thinking, If I have just one chance to get moving again, I will never stop. I will push everyday to get my life back. My friend Barbara Munn was my godsend. She put her life on hold and moved in to help. I could not have done it without her help. Thank you Barbara.

  So I never asked for a miracle I asked for a chance to fight my way out.

  So in mid April. I bought the Mast Confusion. A 33ft. Offshore cat-ketch. All that time I was laid up I decided If I got another shot at life I was going to quit dreaming about living aboard and go do it.