Two men in a boat!

Alan and Brec first met in Tahiti in 1999, as each was on their circumnavigation. There after they kept bumping into one another, until they met again on the island of Rebak in Malaysia in 2001 when they attempted to sail across the Indian Ocean in company. It took them 9 days to get as far as the Nicobar Islands as the winds were contrary. When they heard that the Monsoon had changed, they turned back and took only 3 days to return to Rebak, where there was a small marina. Here they remained until 2002 when they successfully sailed in company to Sri Lanka. They finally parted company in Gibraltar where Brec sailed west across the Atlantic to get back to the USA and Alan North to get back to Germany. Thus their friendship was forged for life. Now in 2015 they were going to sail together! We bears did wonder how two solo circumnavigators would get on in one small boat!!!

Brec has a lovely 27ft Pacific Seacraft, which he sailed round the world on, called OTTER.

The weather for this venture could not have been better, sunshine galore and winds from the west to blow us up Long Island Sound as far as Martha's Vineyard. Once there the wind turned to come from the NE and so gently blow us back again.

We soon found our place on board from where we could observe the antics of the humans. Brec had a friendly little dog called Pugsly with whom we quickly became friends.

On day one the humans went shopping to victual the boat and so set off late morning for the Thimble Islands. It was indeed a lovely sail with balmy winds. Once the wind vane steering had been set, the humans just relaxed and enjoyed the sail and each other's company. Neither of them likes to steer much, which is an odd quirk for single handers. Brec made sandwiches for lunch and it has to be said he is the world's best sandwich maker. So much so that Alan refused to make any and left it all to Brec! As the sun set we picked up a mooring amongst the Thimble islands.

Alan then cooked the first evening meal on board, which they washed down with a beer or two. We bears have to say that we have seldom seen two men get on so well together. They laughed a great deal, about themselves or about the stories they told each other. The next day they set off early and sailed to the mouth of the Connecticut River and stopped in Saybrook Point Marina. At 100$ a night for just 27ft, we have to say it was not cheap, but the facilities there were excellant.

It being the 15th September Brec now surprised Alan by getting Sandy to come to the restaurant where they were going to eat! The two Morgans further surprised him by turning it into a pre birthday party and sang a song as the dessert was brought out with a candle! You could not wish for better friends than these two, and a better "two for one deal" has never been made. A good time was had by all, yet poor Sandy had to drive back to Milford after the event, while the two men could just crash out on board.

The men were up at dawn and set off for Block Island in more beautiful weather, but sadly little wind so it was a motor sail most of the way. Here we picked up a mooring and launched the dinghy to get ashore. Alan loved this for it gave him back the feeling of being a live aboard again, just like the circumnavigation.

Brec now showed Alan the place from where he had set off for his circumnavigation and it was the place to which he returned, four and a half years later. Brec's family and friends gave him both a farewell party and a welcome home party at this spot.

It being now Alan's birthday the men went to a nice restaurant overlooking the harbour for another celebratory meal.

The next day in no wind, but hot sunshine we went to another island called Cuttyhunk where we picked up another mooring before going for a walk ashore.

Here Brec went for a swim and to check on his anode on the prop.

The summer season was over and so there were very few yachties and tourists about when the humans went ashore for a walk. There is a school for just two children we understand who live on the island all year.

The end of the day was rewarded with a beautiful sunset. The next morning, however, was foggy!

We set off quickly in the hope we could avoid the worst of the fog. It was not to be, as we made a mistake in navigation and ended up on the rocks off a tiny island called Gull Island!!! We were firmly on the rocks and so Brec rowed out the bower anchor and Alan pulled us off by the time he was back on board to stear us away from danger. Without further incident we motored on to Martha's Vineyard.

We anchored close inshore and motored in the dinghy ashore. The harbour was full of interesting sail boats and one beautiful schooner even picked up its mooring in the harbour under full sail! A great sight to see. We stayed here an extra day and the humans went ashore and hired bicycles to tour round. The day was really hot and poor Alan even suffered a bit of prickly heat. However, this did not stop him having a lot of fun. In Oak Bluffs there was a fair and the USA's oldest continuously operated carousel. If you catch and find a brass ring as you go round you get a free ride.

The houses on Martha' Vineyard are lovely and many are near the water's edge and have their own jetty. Alan jokingly remarked that what he know wanted to find was a woman with a house, jetty and boat in lovely Connecticut.  Brec said he should put an advert in the papers saying as much, but adding, "send pictures, of boat house and jetty!" This joke kept the pair of them amused for days. And they say bears have small minds!!!!!!

Our next destination was Newport. Here Brec had a friend, called Nannette who had arranged for us to get a berth at the Newport Yacht Club.

The annual Newport Boat Show was on its last day and still in full swing when we arrived. Nannette took us to a great yacht club restaurant on Goat Island for dinner where we saw Steven Spielberg's yacht, but not the man himself.

Brec and Nannette had a discussion about who was taller and so they had to have their pictures taken to see! Then it was off to her house for showers and sundowners.

We stayed another day here to view the sights. Alan got up early and bought some Bagels for breakfast. A first for him as he had never had them before.

The men went by water taxi to view a fort.

 And here Alan found some bottles which reminded him of Pat and Dan's song "100 bottles of beer on the wall."

Brec was suddenly desperate as he had got down to his last roll of paper towels which was a jumbo one. He uses at least one normal roll a day for cleaning and things and by the time the trip had ended he had Alan doing the same! So more had to be bought before we could set sail again!

We set off for Stonington and the Wadawanuk Yacht Club with Christine, another of Brec' friends and a good time was had by all. Mind you on arrival she had a couple of her girl friends come on board and the boys felt a bit like monkeys at a zoo being looked at!!! These two women then went off to a party.

Brec, Alan and Christine first had a drink at a bar and restaurant called the "Salty Dog" where a lovely young barmaid wore a t-shirt which said "good dog"!! Then it was off to another pub for a meal. It was here that Christine's friends came to pick her up. They were well tanked up from their party and voices got a bit loud during a political discussion. Which just goes to prove the rule that officers and gentlemen should not discuss money or politics in the "Mess"! 

The next day was a short one, but with interesting navigation as we motored round to Mystic Seaport. Christine had arranged a berth for us at the Mystic Downtown Yacht Club.

A good time was now had by all of us as we also toured the Mystic Seaport museum.

The following morning another of Brec's friends came by and took us to a diner for breakfast. 

She also took us shopping for more paper towels and other less important things like victuals! Then we set off for a place we shall call Brec's beach. 

 On the way out of the Mystic River we saw that Americans need golf carts to get to their boats on the jetty. Boy are they idle!!!! But it really is a pretty place to live.

When we got to Brec's beach we anchored and rowed ashore to go and visit his brother.

How cool is that????

After this nice visit we set off for Fisher's Island where we picked up a mooring for the night.

It was a very early start in the dark to sail to Port Jeferson on Long Island, where we picked up another mooring amongst some sand dunes, where we had lunch. After which we motored into the port for fuel. The tide was out as you can see.

Having got fuel we motored round to the town wharf where we made up for a run ashore.

Here it was Alan who'd ought the boat alongside and Brec who went ashore with the lines, one of the rungs on the ladder gave way as he leapt ashore and he scratched his arm. Dr Alan administered first aid, but his plasters were so old they had no stick and so Brec got out some green tape. He wore this green badge of courage with pride for the rest of the voyage.

Back on the mooring by the sand dunes we had anchor beers as the sun set. 

In the morning we were back at the port were we made up on a jetty next to some tugs and the ferry terminal to await Sandy who was sailing back to Bridgeport with us.

A full American breakfast with eggs sunny side up, bacon and pancakes with maple syrup was called for, Alan said. There were so many pancakes Brec had to help him eat them!

When Sandy arrived we set off without further ado for home in a stiff breeze.

 It was a cracking last sail of a superb voyage of two weeks. During it,  the men talked and talked, laughed every single day, sometimes so much, it hurt, Alan said! The men learnt from each other and Brec was kind enough to let Alan bring the boat alongside, or to a mooring, most of the time which is proof enough he trusted him with the second love of his life and one that had carried him round the world. Someone did call them, "the odd couple" which perhaps sums up their relationship, for not once did either of them tire of being together! In fact they will admit that the two weeks together on OTTER were better than either of them had dared hope for, before it began!!!!!

In the New World!

We have come to the New World with our BBF to visit his friends in Milford and Canada. The flight over was as tedious as all long distance flights, and being stuffed inside his rucksack we did not see anything!

To our delight we found a new friend in our room when we arrived. He's called Carter! For the first couple of days we have been taking it easy and not rushing around trying to see and do everything touristy. Brec, Alan's BF has been heavily involved in his High School's 50th reunion, so it has been Sandy that has been taking Alan around town. She asked him whether he knew he was getting two for one, with Brec? Which made us all smile. 

The weather here is so much warmer, we can hardly believe it is September, for the temperatures are up in the high 20's with over 50% humidity making it warm and sultry. 

Alan took a walk along the beach closest to the house where we are staying and enjoyed his favourite pastime of beach combing. 

Where we are is on the North side of Long Island Sound in Connecticut, so the houses on the beach above face south. Many, if not most of the houses here fly the Flag.

And some are getting ready for Autumn or Halloween.

The shops too are full of stuff one might need to decorate for Halloween.

Brec and Sandy have given Alan the use of a "tank" to get around, so he took it into town with us to take some pictures of Milford and get an ice cream. 

The Truck we have at our disposal, built like a tank.

We were fascinated by this 1936 built research submarine we found on our way to "Scooby Doo's" ice cream parlour. We think Alan was smitten by the young lady serving!

Sandy took us to the Norwalk Oyster Festival on Saturday where we had some interesting things to see and the humans had beer and lobster for lunch. Alan was a bit disappointed by it, as he was hoping to see fishing boats and to see and hear how they farm oysters and catch lobsters, but there was none of that. It was obviously a place to bring children and just chill over a beer and some interesting things to eat. 

On the way home Sandy showed us the various murals that Brec had painted on houses in the town. they were really stunning.

We have to report that Milford is a very duck friendly town as they even have a place where ducks have priority on the road! 

It beggars the question if ducks can read and know their highway code?

The Baltic Four

"

We came to Kiel, Germany with our BBF to sail for a week with three of Alan's old comrades.

Jamie is of course a circumnavigator, but for Hanna Bear it was a first. We bears slept in the saloon and were witness to much merriment and laughter.

The comrades had all sailed with each other before and had of course served together in the Royal Pioneer Corps. They were in alphabetical order, Bob, Charles, Colin and T-C!

This is them some 23 years ago. There is of course a fifth person, Dick, who took the photo and was unable to join the Baltic Four this time.

Colin was our skipper for the week, mainly because the others did not want the job, but a very good job Colin made of it. It could not have been easy for him either, with a crew who's experience would have made a weaker man go wobbly at the knees. Charles is an RYA Yachtmaster Examiner, for example, Bob is a very experienced yacht racer and TC has been about a bit.

The trophy cupboard at the BKYC which has a couple of trophies with Charles' name on them. T-C was helped by Bob and Dick in 1988 to sweep the board in the Whitsun Regatta, so his name is there too.

Generally the conversation on board was such that each took the mickey out of the other and each gave as good as he got. Often it was done with side splitting laughter and a more enjoyable time could not be imagined, by mere civilians, for this sort of camaraderie can only be found amongst servicemen who have bonded over their service and time.

                          The Gorch Fock seen in Kieler Fiord on our first day. 

A couple of posers!

                                         The Baltic Four, posers all!

It did not matter that the weather was not the best for sailing, so that we only visited, Damp, Marstal, Aeroskobing, Marstal, Strande, Schilksee and back to the BKYC, and were storm bound in Aeroskobing so took the ferry to Svendborg for the day. It was the company and the conversation which made the week so enjoyable for all. So much so that they have agreed to meet annually in future and Charles has kindly agreed to host it all on his lovely old 100 sq. m. Yacht RAGNAR R. Alan has been designated to organise it and so he will be writing to the others, including Dick to find the best suitable time for August next year.

Some Post Camino thoughts!

It is one year to the day, that Hanna died. (30 July 2014) You cannot wipe out 25 years, three months and six days of relationship in the twinkling of an eye, but the Camino has taken my grief and mourning away. You could also say that I had laid my grief at the foot of the Saviour and or Saint, which is also true.

I don't believe in coincidences. There is always a reason for these events. I met many nice people on the Camino and some of them have become new friends for life. In their own way they helped me over my grief and loss. Some of these friends shared their own loss with me. Was this a coincidence, or were we sent to meet and help each other? I shared much of my life and adventures with Hanna, with Lisa, as we walked. I only hope I didn't bore her. Either way she is a true gentlewoman for she never complained. These conversations helped me to come to terms with my loss and in the end enabled me to think of Hanna without tears or too much sorrow.

I have kept in contact with these new friends and others I have met along the Way. One did admit to me that he had fallen in a bit of a hole after the Camino and had found it difficult to take up his old life again. I understood this, as it had taken me almost five years to settle after my circumnavigation. I had gone to England after the Camino, to visit friends and comrades before returning home, so did not fall into any hole. But neither have I any intention of just picking up where I had left off. 

I have not learnt anything new about myself on the Camino. I knew who I was and what I am capable of, before I set off. There are some who did not believe I would make it all the way to Santiago, but would give up before, for one reason or another. 

Since returning early to Germany and my home, I have started to get rid of stuff that cluttered up my home and my life. Six full large bin bags of suits and clothes and three large sacks of paper, the contents of old files and correspondence. This is only the tip of the iceberg I need to dispose of, but it is a start and will be a continual process from now on, so that when the time comes for me to move into a care home, the move will be easy to perform.

I have tried to get Hanna's family round my dinner table, but it has been easier getting 12 friends to come than  three couples together. We are unlikely to meet before Christmas now.

I went to pay my respects, to Hanna this morning and while sitting there, was "chatted up" by a widow woman. Not unattractive, for her age I have to say, and we had a very pleasant conversation. She had even walked two Caminos, she said! Was this a coincidence on this day of all days? She was clearly lonely and would like to have someone to care for again!!!!! So she said.............. I no longer have  a need to go daily to the grave, so it will be interesting to find out if I ever see her again!

There is a passage in the film, "The Way" where the son says to his father, "you don't choose a life, you live one"! Well this is what I am doing. Catch me if you can!