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The Best Years Of Our Lives Voyages On The Xenophora

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Chapter One

In the late 70's we built a restaurant which was designed for fast food and a chain called Ranch House. We got it into full operation and one day he spotted a 25 foot Columbia Sloop sailboat, which was a must have. This little boat was a great way for the family to relax and get away from the business for while. These were days before cell phones, so we had total peace and quiet on the boat. We would put the hibachi grill on the back deck and prepare dinner, listen to pretty music and anchor up one of the creeks off Largo sound for a few hours. Sometimes we would take a day and go out for day sail and occasionally stay anchored out for the night.

Trip 1-0n Columbia

We decided on a trip over to Bimini; well this was a really a slow boat to China. Every time we left the dock the weather was sunny and calm and beautiful but let us get offshore and always a big blow would come up. We left the dock for Bimini about 2 AM. Most all day we had been busy loading food and supplies and friends gathered the night before for a bon voyage party, so not much sleep that night, this was an odd hour to be leaving out on a long trip. I wanted all of us to get showers before leaving, so we went home to do that and ended up with all plumbing backed up and overflowing onto the floor. Many towels to mop up this water, my desire was to leave all laundry clean. Back to the dock we went and got aboard. Skip steered till about 8 AM then told me and our sons Tim and Rob; Tim at this time is about 11 and Rob is seven. He told us, "the sails were set and to keep going in that direction" and he was going down for a little while to get a some sleep. About three hours later Tim says 'mom the wind has changed and we need to change the sails.'

I knew I did not know much about sailing and did not think an 11-year-old would know anything. I seemed to forget that he and his Dad took many trips and he knew a lot. Shortly Skip wakes up and sees we are almost back to our original starting place so he adjusts the sails and we head out again. All day we sail upon rolling seas and Rob is throwing up now it turns dark and at every wave crest we look quickly around in all directions for the red flashing tower of Bimini. Nothing insight. Meanwhile, the Loran readings say we have arrived at Bimini. Obviously it is not working, so at 10 PM and we turn about and headed back toward Miami. We can see the glow in the sky from all of Miami's lights. The seas roughen up even more and the wind has really started to blowhard and rain was coming in under the Bimini top. I got Skip a raincoat and tried to get dry clothes on him. He thanked me and said now go back downstairs and stay dry. Then I heard him talking to himself and went up to see if he was all right. Over my left shoulder I saw a strange iridescent glowing light and asking "what is that"? And he replied "I do not know but I am glad you see it also because I thought I was starting to hallucinate." He turned the boat in the opposite direction from the light and as hard as the wind was blowing, the sails flapping furiously and the boat bobbed up and down on the big waves and did not want to come about in any direction. After a few minutes the boat finally turned. We sailed along beside this strange light for about an hour. It had the appearance of a white sandy beach with coconut trees. This blocked out the horizon with the glow in the sky of the lights of Miami. Later this light just disappeared, and we continued to sail along. Then it reappeared on the opposite side of the boat, and later just disappeared again. About 8:30 AM we tied up at Pier 66 Marina in Fort Lauderdale Florida. We got off the boat and checked into the hotel. Got showers and went to bed for a few hours sleep, about 35 hours had passed since any of us had slept. We awoke feeling much better but very hungry, so we dressed and went to the restaurant to eat. The pier is famous for its rotating bar at the top and we went up and watch the boats going out to sea. We only knew the strange lights we had just witnessed and felt that if we had continued sailing into the very strange lights we would not be here today. That was our experience with what is known as the Devils triangle. We left Pier 66 and started for Key Largo. We stopped for the night at Key Biscayne State Park. Skip, Rob and Tim walked away to find some parts they wanted and I was left on the boat. We were anchored with the stern of the boat to the dock. I noticed the anchor seem to be dragging; so I went forward picked it up and pitched it out as far as I could; which naturally was not far enough. The boat kept getting closer and closer to the concrete seawall. So I sit on the backend of the boat with my legs stretched out touching the sea wall holding it off. It starts getting dark and misting rain and I start crying and wondering just how much longer they are going to be gone. I needed some help. They return and begin to laugh at me. I had to then confess I tried to start the alcohol stove and start our dinner and got the curtain on fire and to put it out I poured water on the stove. So now Skippy has that mess to deal with. Finally all is settled, dinner is over and we get to bed for the night. Come morning we head out again for Key Largo. It is raining and I am steering the boat, while the boys are inside and Skip is sitting against the doorway and he says, "why don't you come over here and get out of the rain?" Gee whiz, I just don't know why ; I'm just a dumb female trying to help and learn, I have made so many dumb mistakes on this trip already.

Boat 2-31'Allmand

We went to the Miami boat and sail show. There we saw a John Allman 31 foot Sloop and liked it very much. This boat had some comforts, room and privacy. It had two bedrooms, a bath, and a small kitchen. The draft was shallow, 3'10", which would make it easy to get into quiet and calm anchorages for a night. We did a lot of traveling on this boat. Very happy with this pretty boat so had cushions specially made and covered in red velvet. Our first trip was to the Berry Islands in the Bahamas. Skip's high school reunion had just come around and one of his best buddies from Connecticut came in for it and wanted to take a trip with us on the boat. I got everything needed for the trip all loaded aboard and the morning of leaving I told skip that all food and things you will need are there and I will fly over and meet you. There was that Devils triangle memory still in my head. But when I went with them to untie the ropes I stepped aboard and this was the most beautiful trip imaginable. We even sat in the cockpit and played cards and they did not blow away. We came in on the north end of the Berry island chain and checked out every island in the chain. At Chub the friends decided to fly home. Time now for this country girl to learn to swim and to steer a boat and be there to help my hubby. At this time I learned there were beautiful things to see in the ocean, gigantic golden corals and beautiful colorful tropical fish and millions of sea shells on the sandy beaches. This quickly became my favorite pastime and today I have a really pretty shell collection and memories of each beach they were found on. Some shells may be tiny, however, each one is a jewel. The first day after it is just the two of us we went out onto a grassy area and Skip is going to get some conch for dinner. He comes up and says, 'do you see all those conch?' I said 'no'. So he goes back down and starts standing them up and now I can see the pretty colors on the lip of the shell. Later we go and I see a beautiful's cluster of staghorn coral. We go back to Little Harbor and meet two of Florence Darville's sons; Chester and Jimmy. Florence has just left the island on a small sailboat to do some shopping, we saw this boat sailing along the coastline as we were enroute. We spend about two weeks here and got to know the boys pretty well, as they gave us tours around their home island. Most nights we had the boys for dinner on the boat.

Time to go home for a while and take care of some business. Then we are off for the Exumas. At one time there were a lot of plantations on the island and it was interesting to see what was left from those days. The settlement of Georgetown was a gathering spot for boaters. The hotels cater to the boaters and have dinners to bring the people in. The grocery stores special order fresh strawberries and the library has a book exchange. The boaters get together and have volleyball tournaments on the beach or a late evening campfire. It is a fun island. We are now very close to the Jumento islands so decided to cruise down that way we went to the very last island in that chain which is called Ragged island. It was a slow day sail across very shallow water. Thankfully Skip can read water depths so we dodge coral heads and did not run aground. We anchored for the night in a basin very full of breeding nurse sharks. There were so many you could walk on their back to shore. The next day on our adventure to ragged island we discovered the hose had broken on our water holding tank, the boat only carries 65 gallons of water and all of that was in the bilge. Upon arrival at the island harbor, which was very shallow we just stuck the boat in the mud. The man in charge of the island cistern said it was all right for us to get all the water we needed and would not allow us to pay anything for it. He said this was God's water and one cannot charge for God's water. We got that job done gathered up our wet towels and dirty clothes and located a lady that would wash them for us. We walked to the local bar for cold drink, sat down at the small table and started talking with the locals. One good-looking guy comes in and is so fashionably dressed in tan buckskins, beautiful alligator boots and a Stetson hat. He has a scabbard of alligator with a Pearl handled machete. He asked if he might sit with us and turn to chair to sit straddling it facing us. Before long, he finds out that we are from the states he says "I have a brother in the states and you know him." Oh yeah! Turns out his name is Ozzie and he plays basketball with the Harlem Globetrotters. Several months later we have the opportunity to meet Ozzie and the whole team at the New Orleans world's fair. Skip and Rob went fishing with some of the guys one day and had a most enjoyable time. On the island there are a lot of goats just wandering around. Skip asked if he could buy one and was told these are here to keep the island clean but if you past Johnson key on your way out you can stop and get one. Again there is no charge for the goat. We stopped and got one and it was most enjoyed for several days we had goat burgers, goat stew. The island beside Johnson key had a Haitian man in his grandson living on it that were put on the island of the Bahamian government to take care of the island. Most surprising to see a big bull on the beach which started pawing sand as I walked toward him, so I decided I should turn around and go back where I came from. Ragged island is an island with very friendly and most generous people and we enjoyed our time there very very much It would be a lot of fun to see the handsome young man again some day and tell him we got to meet his brother and had a nice visit with him and the whole team.

Heading home we spent some time at staniel cay. One of the James Bond movies, "Thunder ball" was filmed here. The grotto is a beautiful place to swim. It is a rock shell and has a ledge around the edge. This makes a good place to sit and look at the pretty tropical fish. The movie company shot all the underwater scenes here.

Just as all work and no play is dull on the reverse, all play and no work is not good, so we pull anchor and head for Key Largo. Back to the restaurant and we have the idea that a nice dinner restaurant would be nice for the locals as well as the tourist. We get it tableside chef who would make people feel elegant being served in the dish room. We serve prime meat and it took off like a rocket. So now it all is going fantastic and making good money and a man comes in and wants to lease the restaurant. This we discuss and decide why work at the restaurant if the restaurant will make the money for us and we can play before age claims us.

Boat 3-53'Gulfstar

Next thing my water boy is getting restless and finds a broker to show him boats bigger than the Allman. He is flying all over looking at these yachts. He comes home from one trip to Massachusetts telling me happily he put a down payment of $10,000 on a 53 foot gulf star motor sailer. Upon which I reply' I'm not moving out of my house onto a boat.' Okay, so I can stay home and he is going off adventuring. I pout a while and think about being home alone and this is the early 80s before cell phones, so there would be long lonely weeks of worrying is he all right or in trouble and I would not be there to help him. Therefore my softness gives in to an adventure even though I am frightened. We married to be together to share and have fun. These years on the boat turned out to be some of the best years of my life, and yes there were frightening times for me, but such memories.

The boat he chose was in Oysterville, Massachusetts. Upon telling his parents, Herb and Donna, we were purchasing a bigger boat and planning to move aboard to live and travel, they were excited and wanted to go with us to bring it back to Key Largo. My parents were quite the opposite and thought we had lost our minds. They did give us great advice,' do not sell your house'. The way real estate property prices shot up we would not have been able to buy another one and get such a good deal as we did when we bought our home in 1973. We began packing and gathering items we thought we would need to bring the boat,. We waited for the northern weather to warm up, then packed trunks with cooking pans, linens, and warm clothes, made airline reservations for departure for May 5, 1984. All of Florida is warm in May and we thought it would also be by this time up north. Wrong! The five of us are excited and off we go arriving in Boston and rent a car to drive to the Marina. Skip gets the luggage and trunks into the car Grammy and grandpa and Skip are upfront and Rob and I are in a standing bent over position in the back. Grammy says to Skip;' stop this car right now and fix it some way so that those kids can sit.' Bless that sweet little lady or we would've had to ride that way all the way to the Marina and do not know how many miles that was. But it was over an hour's ride. Grampy was born and grew up in Boston and as we rode along he recognized a lot of familiar places. Even passed the home he grew up in and he pointed it out to us.

The boat was anchored out in the bay. Skip located the Marina workers to take him out to the boat and bring it over to the dock. Now is the moment of truth. I go down the steps to see a gigantic floral arrangement of birds of paradise and yellow mum's on the dining table. I think how nice of the previous owner to send flowers. Looking around the galley is nice for a boat. It has a gas range, microwave, refrigerator, freezer, a lot of storage drawers and a big cabinet for canned foods. Onto the back to the master state room and I see a big bouquet of pink sweetheart roses. No way, it is my adventurous hubby wanting me to see how pretty things are and not all the things that the boat needs to fix it up. Seems the previous owner had been told the best way to store the boat for the winter was to leave the hatches and the windows open so it rained and snowed inside all winter long. The mattresses were wet and the foam had started to fall apart, the cushions had tablecloths wrapped around them to hold the foam together. Anyway the heaters worked in all cabins and we sure needed them order to sleep on the wet mattresses.

Had a few supplies that we needed to buy for our trip back home and we figured we would never see Boston again and Rob and I wanted to see the Mayflower and Plymouth rock. So we made a 50 mile drive to see these historical sites. On May 8, we pulled out of the harbor aboard our boat and our new home and headed south.

At this time our Tim is serving his duty in the United States Air Force and stationed in Abilene, Texas. He has just married and we were able to attend the wedding before leaving to go get our boat. Rob was the bestman for his brother.

The first day in route to Martha's Vineyard the wind and waves were dead on the nose of the boat and spray was coming back into the cockpit. It was very cold and every 5 min. Skip would come downstairs to stand in front of the heater for a few minutes. He was wearing every piece of clothing we brought for the trip. The boat was heeled to starboard or over on the right side and Herbie and Donna were seated on the sofa holding hands sitting under a leaking hatch with a stream of water falling down on their lap. They had a blanket over their knees, but have big happy smiles on their faces.

The vineyard is a really quaint island with several settlements. One had a Methodist campground with cute little colorful gingerbread houses and a big open hut for the main meeting area. Also a fishing village with a lot of boats tied to the dock and stacks of lobster traps. The settlement was busy with men repairing their traps and buoys. Fully operating lighthouses. We were tied up to the public dock which was not yet finished and in operation but we had the use of water and electric hookup. We were given permission to be there and three days only cost us one case of beer for the men. We rented a car and Grammy and I drove around the whole island and had a lot of fun. Early next morning we said goodbye to the men and this nice island heading to Fort Adams State Park in Newport Rhode Island, just 40 miles away. Arrived shortly afternoon to find it is not yet their tourist season and everything is closed. The northern tides are very high and we arrive on the low time. There would not be a simple step off the boat to tie her up Rob looked up at the dock so high and he heard his dad saying 'jump', grandpa said 'Rob if you can't make it in one take two.' Somehow he got up on the dock, bless his heart. It rained all night, and it was very cold. We could hear the foghorns mournfully blowing all night.

(Continues...)

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Excerpted from The Best Years Of Our Lives Voyages On The Xenophora by Diane Shaw Copyright © 2012 by Diane Shaw. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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