Dat Lurka Posted June 11, 2013 Report Share Posted June 11, 2013 I'm still alive out here. constantly tormented by my urge to continue exploring this world. I have been thrown into the life I was seeking, that is, a simple one. Over two months have passed since the accident that claimed all but my life. Left with what possessions I could carry in a pack, and the heavy fines having emptied my wallet, I was reliant on the goodwill of others in matters of food and shelter. It wasn't long before my charisma and ingenuity provided me with the odd income, and more importantly, friends. Just a few days after leaving the hospital, still sore as hell, I find myself on a walkabout through the city. It was a Friday, specifically it was Gallery night. All of the bayfront and roads ten blocks north are roped off. Downtown becomes one massive party. Amongst the masses of drunken Floridians are a dozen bands, and several streets are covered with the tents of merchants and vendors. I was in no mood to join the crowds and decided to continue my hike north. I found myself in an old neighborhood of brick roads and Victorian homes that was familiar to me. There I came across a man by the name of Stark. He entertained me with good music, wine, and intelligent conversation. This continued for a few days. I was happy to have made a friend that shared my interest. Specifically, we constantly talked of sailing. The sole reason I had returned to Florida was to acquire a sailboat. We made plans to sail his boat which had to be moved from where it was docked in a canal on the sound side of Gulf Breeze. The next day we drove out to where the boat was docked. I took great interest in the small boat. It was a 1969 Cal 25 that had been modified with a raised cabin. At 6'4" I could stand upright within the boat. We motored out the canal and raised the sails. Finally, for the first time in 12 years or so, I was sailing. I took the helm and navigated us the length of the big island where we turned northward to cross the Escambia bay. Our goal being to set hook in Bayou Chico. As we crossed the bay, we were presented with a beautiful sunset and a spectacular display of dolphins leaping from the still frigid waters. We were making way with the sails wing to wing. The wind could not have been more perfect as I set point for the mouth of the bayou. We were about a mile out when night fell. The lights at the top of the high bridge that arched over bayou chico became my heading. With no power aboard the small craft, and the moon hidden by clouds, we had not but a small lantern to light up the cockpit. It couldn't have been more serene. All the anxiety and misery that had tormented me was long gone. All I had to think about was navigating the small craft through the dark narrow channel, with great chance of either grounding on the sandbar to my left, or smashing into the rocks to my right. Yet there was no stress, no worries. From hereon was convinced that I would spend most, if not all of my life, as a sailor. Forever seeking adventures and treasures on the shores of lands I had yet to encounter. I have since resided within Bayou Chico. For a short while I stayed on the Cal which I had arrived on. I have since acquired a 1969 Newport 30. It is derelict, having been abandoned afer Hurricane Ivan in 2004. Sometimes I feel that I am also a wreck from Ivan. I laid claim to the vessel and have resided in my small yacht for a good while now. It needs more work than most would ever bother with. (It's a Ratsun) I am often commended for my bravery or spoken of as crazy for taking on such a project. Regardless of the condition, it is a roof over my head. It spent many years grounded on its starboard side. The evening I moved aboard it had 2 feet of rainwater in the floor and bayou mud caked to the ceiling. I spent the night on deck. The next day I was hard at work pumping out the water and removing the rotten cushions, fabrics, and piles of trash. Amongst the contents where a large collection of mid 90's computer hardware and software, pornography, sex toys, and three cases of MRE's. It took 4 days to make the cabin livable. There is still floors to be scrubbed and the quarter berth has yet to be touched. The mast is down, having been wreck in the storm, and is laid behind the guard rail on the starboard side. It will be raised as soon as I acquire new turnbuckles, shrouds, and rebuild the port bulkhead which seems to be have rigged in an emergency. I have original sails, that I will be able to patch up well enough to use. The deck is separating from the hull in several places and I will be re-mating them with stainless hardware and a tube of 5200. Below the cockpit is a Universal Atomic 4 paperweight that used to be an engine. I have plans of replacing it with a massive flywheel and a pulse driven motor. But that's just me dreaming. Besides making residence in the wreck, I have made friends in the area who have given me steady work as well as assistance. I may abandon my boat soon for I have been invited to be crew aboard a friends boat, the 1925 John Alden Schooner by name of Venus. As soon as it is back in the water we will be sailing to Miami and maybe on to the keys before venturing to Central America. I'm tired of typing and will be back someday to continue. I leave you with a picture of the Venus, for what is a thread without oics. Peace be with you -Dat guy 6 Quote Link to comment
MikeRL411 Posted June 11, 2013 Report Share Posted June 11, 2013 "A massive flywheel and a pulse driven motor", sounds like a Buda Diesel setup! These were used in the "Monterey Fishers" and a maveric used to parallel the "official" yatch club races in the Monterey area and embarass most of the entries with one. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted June 12, 2013 Report Share Posted June 12, 2013 Good to hear your fine brother... Quote Link to comment
r0p0doe Posted June 12, 2013 Report Share Posted June 12, 2013 awesome man :thumbup: Quote Link to comment
Ranman72 Posted June 12, 2013 Report Share Posted June 12, 2013 good luck on your new journey Quote Link to comment
Dat Lurka Posted July 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 6, 2013 The mast went up and the engine in on tuesday. Been raining since. Still got some rigging to engineer and the engine need to be lined up and shimmed. Maybe she'll be back in the water in another week. Looks like we'll be sailing to Porto Bello, Panama. Maybe build a pub and grill. 1 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted July 7, 2013 Report Share Posted July 7, 2013 A latter day Jimmy Buffett. Quote Link to comment
elmerfudpucker Posted July 7, 2013 Report Share Posted July 7, 2013 Safe journey Brother! Quote Link to comment
captaingamez Posted July 7, 2013 Report Share Posted July 7, 2013 "i said Brandy, Your a fine girl, what a good wife you would be, but my life my love and my lady is the sea" seriously I think your living my dream Quote Link to comment
spitznoz Posted July 8, 2013 Report Share Posted July 8, 2013 all i read was the title of the post and saw the picture of the sail boat im assuming your going on a boat for an adventure . cheers! stay safe :thumbup: :thumbup: Quote Link to comment
captaingamez Posted July 8, 2013 Report Share Posted July 8, 2013 why dont people read things? hmm, perhaps hes feeding the kitties...... Quote Link to comment
AutoArt Posted July 8, 2013 Report Share Posted July 8, 2013 I would love to wander the earth, no set schedule, as you are doing. Best of luck, safe travels, and I hope you'll keep us updated. Especially if you end up down in central and south America. ...and post pics, please, lots of pics. Quote Link to comment
SupDoc Posted July 8, 2013 Report Share Posted July 8, 2013 I dig your prose, brother. Sounds like you're going through a tough time, so just the let the winds be your guide for now. Hang in there and check in, when you can. Quote Link to comment
mrbigtanker Posted July 8, 2013 Report Share Posted July 8, 2013 Be safe and keep it off the rocks. Quote Link to comment
Dat Lurka Posted July 8, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 8, 2013 Just an interesting bit. On the 3rd I went down to the Palafox pier to meet with the folks aboard a Greenpeace research vessel by the name of The Odyssey. The crew was a mix of Ocean Alliance and Sea Shepherd members. Apparently there is a show on Discovery called Whale Wars that brings Sea Shepherds a lot of money and publicity. I've never seen it but it came up in conversation a few times. We brought them a couple donated boxes of produce to stock the galley. They're making runs through the gulf to collect samples of anything and everything to study the affects of the BP oil spill. Anyways, they were pretty cool folks and are out there for a good cause. It takes guts to go fight japs to save the lives of some whales. Out of a quota of 1300 sperm whales this past season, they bagged 103. They go as far as placing their boat between the whalers and fuel ships. So get out there and pick up some beach trash or something. They had just arrived from Antarctica where most of the non violent combat occurs. We were reminded of our recent research into hollow earth theory. My partner and I have mutually agreed to visit these coordinates 66°36'14.70"S, 99°43'11.11"E and jump down this hole Maybe we can hitch a ride down some time. Quote Link to comment
mrbigtanker Posted July 8, 2013 Report Share Posted July 8, 2013 Sorry love sailing but laugh my ass off when they get sprayed by the fishing boats or whaler boats for that matter.BP oil spill its all cleaned up to i worked for that company dont you watch the commercials come down to the south the gulf is beautiful.lol Quote Link to comment
captaingamez Posted July 8, 2013 Report Share Posted July 8, 2013 Greenpeace is evil. that whale wars show is the biggest waste in the history of time, they could be helping the hungry (which their doing the opposite of by killing whales), or helping the homeless, or saving actually endangered species. but their not, their wasting resources chasing down whaling ships, an industry that is going nowhere, there here to stay, why? people eat whales. plain and simple. If green peace started doing this shit to cattle trucks in the USA then it would not last very long before they were arrested, not only cause it would be stupid, but because the people of the USA wont take that shit, but Whales?, well we dont eat that here, so who cares!!. additionally according to what I read, the Norwegians are the largest culprits of whaling anyway, so the "sea shepherds" not even on the right side of the planet. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted July 8, 2013 Report Share Posted July 8, 2013 At one time or another I had a private talk will each my kids. I told them that after school if they ever get the chance to travel, even if just to the mainland or another city... take it! Explore! Before possessions own you... travel. Before you are invested heavily in a job or someone else.... travel. See how other people live, think and see their world. Travel and see the world from the other side and don't settle for less than the real thing. If you should find something worth staying for I will miss you but will understand. My partner and I have mutually agreed to visit these coordinates 66°36'14.70"S, 99°43'11.11"E and jump down this hole Maybe we can hitch a ride down some time. . Pellucidar .... maybe you'll meed David Inns and Abner Perry down there. 3 Quote Link to comment
Dat Lurka Posted July 8, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 8, 2013 Thanks Mike. Your wisdom is always welcome. Quote Link to comment
captaingamez Posted July 8, 2013 Report Share Posted July 8, 2013 whats in the hole , how did you find it? Quote Link to comment
Cahoon520 Posted July 9, 2013 Report Share Posted July 9, 2013 This thread reminds me of this video Quote Link to comment
captaingamez Posted July 9, 2013 Report Share Posted July 9, 2013 dammit you linked to a mobil version!!!! Edit: me no work with techmology Quote Link to comment
Cahoon520 Posted July 9, 2013 Report Share Posted July 9, 2013 There that should fix it. Quote Link to comment
captaingamez Posted July 9, 2013 Report Share Posted July 9, 2013 much better, haha hollow earth theory?, dont get me started, Phil Schneider and all what have you. theres something creepy going on under our noses, but I dont know if i wanna know what it is. Quote Link to comment
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