Skip to content Skip to sidebar Skip to footer

Beach Walks; Sailboat Woes; Going to The Dark Side; Gratitude; The Hobbit?; UNDERWAY! Myrtle Beach, SC; Wilmington, NC; OUTRAGEOUS DIESEL PRICES; New Bern, NC; Men Have Style, Too! A Marine Corps Sunset

Gosh, it’s been a long time since my last post in February. After my Florida Trail hike, Suzanne and I went for long walks on the beach at Hilton Head. Here is a typical winter scene – a wide windswept beach with only a few people (and no other dogs) in sight. It’s low tide in this picture; at high tide the water is well up the sand, allowing only a few yards of sand on which to run. Rusty is on the lookout for seagulls; he loves to run after them! (Audubon Society members, rest assured that he is always on lead and not allowed to catch one!)


March and April were two of the most frustrating months we have ever endured. As many of you know, we were on an open-ended sailing adventure from 2003 until 2006. We had sailed across the Atlantic on our 1980 Morgan 46 sloop Liberty, thinking about a circumnavigation, and were cruising the Mediterranean when we got word that my daughter Susan, a Marine Corps sergeant, had been struck and killed by lightning back in North Carolina. She was 6 months pregnant with our first and only grandchild. After returning for her funeral, we went back to the boat for a couple of months and I decided to give up sailing and return to work. Suzanne started on her spiritual and mediumship path and the rest is history. 

We always missed sailing, and after visiting friends aboard their Jeanneau sailboat in April, we decided to get back into boating We found a similar boat just an hour’s drive away from home. She was “on the hard” in a cradle, and met all our desires. The boat was only three years old, and had very low hours on the engine. We went aboard, met the owners and broker, and loved the boat. Our offer was accepted on March 3, and we made arrangements for a pre-purchase marine survey two weeks later. 

Imagine our surprise when the broker called and said, “Um, we have a minor problem. When the boat was put back into the water to prepare for survey, the engine and generator wouldn’t start, and none of the electronics worked. It appears that while on the hard, she was struck by lightning. It will be a couple of weeks before she will be repaired and ready for survey and sea trial.” I told Suzanne that based on my experience with boats over the past 50 years, it would be at least 2-3 months before repairs could be completed. In fact, on May 3 we went to survey and sea trial after we were assured that she was ready to go. Sadly, the day was an almost complete bust – the only thing that worked reliably was the engine. Every other system had serious issues. We decided to reject the boat based on her ongoing problems.

On the drive home, Suzanne asked if we should consider a power boat – less likely to suffer lightning strikes and less work. (To sailors, that is called “Going to the Dark Side”.) I said, “What, do you think I’m getting old or decrepit? Don’t answer those questions!” On arrival home, I fixed dinner and she really went to work. In two hours she had found a power boat in Maryland and I had booked a campground. The next day we made an offer contingent on a personal viewing, survey and sea trial, and she set everything up for the following Monday (broker, owner, marine surveyor, engine surveyor, and boatyard for haulout). That never happens so quickly – usually it takes weeks to get everyone’s schedules coordinated.

We drove up Friday and Saturday, and met the broker to see her on Sunday. Here she is preparing for a short haul the next day, where we and the surveyor could inspect her hull, bottom and running gear. She is in splendid condition.

The survey and sea trial went beautifully, and we are now her proud owners. She will be named Gratitude. She is 19 years old, and was lovingly built by Cherubini Yachts and ordered/supervised/cared for by her previous owner over two decades. (Jim, if you are reading this, we are eternally grateful to you!) We truly feel we were led to this boat by Susan, and that it is no coincidence the sailboat was struck by lightning. As we drove away from the survey on the new boat, even Susan’s song came on the radio. Gratitude is a fitting name.

While in Maryland, we enjoyed a celebratory dinner at The Hobbit in Ocean City, near our campground. GREAT MEAL and TERRIFIC SERVICE!!!

We returned to South Carolina and prepared for our (now abbreviated) summer RV trip. Now it’s early June, the latest that we have ever started our summer tour, and I am not a fan of heat and humidity. In past years, we have been in Flagstaff, AZ, or even Montana or Wyoming by now, enjoying cool dry weather and wearing fleece in the evening. Instead, we are in coastal North Carolina, New Bern, to be precise, on our way to join Gratitude. We are very happy campers!


We departed Hilton Head last week and spent one night in Myrtle Beach (too crowded for us), getting a long walk in on the (crowded) soft sand beach there. We are used to the hard packed sand back home, and more trees near the beach than in the more touristy (and crowded) Myrtle Beach. (Did I mention that we aren’t fond of crowds?)


The next night was spent in Wilmington, NC. Those who are not geographically challenged may note that we aren’t driving 300 miles a day this summer. Part of the reason is the OUTRAGEOUS PRICE OF DIESEL FUEL that we are seeing: $5.75 – $6.15 per gallon, whereas under the last administration (summer 2020) diesel averaged $2.25/gallon. 

But I digress… back to Wilmington, where a riverfront walk took us to a viewpoint near the retired US Navy battleship, USS North Carolina (BB-56). During my Navy career, I served aboard USS Iowa (BB-61). She is also retired, and is moored in San Pedro, CA. Battleships are a sailor’s dream assignment, and I enjoyed two fabulous years aboard Iowa.

We just finished a walk through a riverside community near New Bern. We had been talking about the differences between men and women, and Suzanne pointed to a colorful house and said, “Now, Ty, even you can tell that this home has a woman’s touch.” I admitted that yes, it was sorta cutesy…

A short distance away, we saw another cutesy house… “Oh, Ty, again, you see that women do have more style consciousness than men – isn’t that house nice?” “Harumph… yeah, it’s cute, I admit…”

I was feeling just a little picked on… guys can have style as well! Fortunately, I found two examples of houses with a guy’s touch, and pointed them out to My Lovely Bride. “Well, My Darling, even you can see that this house has a man’s touch!” She was speechless.

We walked another block, and I didn’t even need to say a word. She said, “Yes, Ty, I know… another man’s touch, right?”

Tomorrow we move on to Virginia Beach, VA, and then to Chincoteague, VA. Each stop is merely catching our breath after driving before spending two weeks aboard Gratitude. Here is our bus and the beautiful view we are enjoying in New Bern.

New Bern is a charming town on the Neuse River, with lots of marinas and a rejuvenated business district with lots of shops, restaurants and bars. So far we have eaten all our meals in the bus; hey, I can do a mean BBQ chicken, and MLB made gourmet marinated pork chops with a fig glaze the other night that foodies would love! And yes, we do have a modest wine cellar in the belly, stocked with some drinkable wine.


Speaking of wine, we had dinner recently with our friends Kim and Tom Kennedy at the South Carolina Yacht Club. We brought a bottle of one of our favorite wines, Amapola Creek Zinfandel, lovingly crafted by other friends, famous Sonoma winemakers Richard and Alis Arrowood. 


Nellie and Rusty are doing well, and getting reacclimated to life on the road. They particularly like the dog parks that most KOA campgrounds have. Sharing tennis balls can be an issue, though. Rusty won’t pick up any old ball, and often Nellie takes his and won’t give it back. But being a girl, she has more style than Rusty, so there.


Here is a photo of sunset over the Neuse River, reflected in a pond at our campground. As the sun set, I heard helicopters taking off for night maneuvers at nearby Marine Corps training areas. Our Sergeant Susan was a helicopter airframes mechanic who worked on helos at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, just 15 miles away. Ooh Rah, Susan! Semper Fi!  

Finally, as I hit the “publish” button on this post, we note that June 8 is Susan’s angel date. We miss you Susan, and Liam, your unborn son. God Bless you both. We know that you are still right here with us!


18 Comments

  • Anonymous
    Posted June 10, 2022 at 5:26 pm

    ❤️‍🩹 TY Ty!

    Reply
  • Anonymous
    Posted June 10, 2022 at 5:26 pm

    Enjoy your time on “Gratitude”, loved reading your blog!

    Reply
  • Anonymous
    Posted June 10, 2022 at 5:26 pm

    Great hearing about your adventures…enjoy Gratitude for 2 weeks of Heavenly seas…and catch a butterfly from Susan. Blessings

    Reply
  • Anonymous
    Posted June 10, 2022 at 5:26 pm

    lovlely

    Reply
  • Anonymous
    Posted June 10, 2022 at 5:26 pm

    Ty, thank you for you blog update. I was eager to hear how your trip is progressing, and wish I could see your faces as you take out Gratitude for the get-acquainted tour. (-Dave)

    Reply
  • Anonymous
    Posted June 10, 2022 at 5:26 pm

    Thank You for sharing, feels like I am with you on all the Beautiful adventures you have been on. May Susan and Liam RIP, and Thank You Susan for being the reason we have Suzanne & Ty in my life.

    Reply
  • Kathryn
    Posted June 10, 2022 at 5:27 pm

    Lovely post. Had a feeling you folks were trumpers. 🙁 love is the answer friend.💙💛

    Reply
  • Anonymous
    Posted June 10, 2022 at 5:28 pm

    Based on location and maker, I found the broker ad for Peggy B. She is such a GORGEOUS boat and I'm sure she loves her new name of Gratitude. Best wishes for many happy voyages.

    Reply
  • Anonymous
    Posted June 10, 2022 at 5:28 pm

    Bit of tears. Thank you for sharing your very fun and delightful days!

    Reply
  • Karen
    Posted June 10, 2022 at 5:28 pm

    I enjoy your adventures!

    Reply
  • Anonymous
    Posted June 10, 2022 at 5:28 pm

    What a lovely blog post. So glad that I came across this via FB today. Thank you both for sharing your love filled lives.

    Reply
  • Anonymous
    Posted June 10, 2022 at 5:28 pm

    Ty, you have a wonderful writing style and I enjoy reading about your adventures with Suzanne immensely!

    Reply
  • Heather Malicoat
    Posted June 10, 2022 at 5:28 pm

    I didn't know Ty had a blog, but I'll be sure to keep up with reading them from now on! This was fun to read and I so enjoy the pictures. My step-dad was a retired Navy man who taught at the Great Lakes Naval Academy. He had 2 tours during Vietnam, so I love reading and learning about your nautical adventures. Safe travels to you both and for the record–I have to agree with Suzanne. Women just have that special touch! 😉

    Reply
  • Anonymous
    Posted June 10, 2022 at 5:28 pm

    Congratulations, a beautiful, uplifting story. Blessings!

    Reply
  • Anonymous
    Posted June 10, 2022 at 5:29 pm

    Lovely to have a catch up from you again Ty. Keep safe and well on your travels, will be thinking of you, and enjoy your new boat. Barbara Miller Scotland.

    Reply
  • Anonymous
    Posted June 10, 2022 at 5:29 pm

    Loved reading this! So exciting you are joining us on The Dark Side! We have been cruising with our 2017 American Tug 395 for the last five years and loving it. My blog about it is very sporadic, but you can see a little bit at http://www.brucebeard.com. We have now don’t the trip from New England to Key West three times, and will do it again next winter. Would love to see you out there, and toast to Gratitude!

    Reply
  • Beverly G
    Posted June 10, 2022 at 5:29 pm

    It's so great to find a new blog post! I look forward to reading about your travels on land and sea this summer.

    Reply
  • Ty and Suzanne Giesemann
    Posted June 10, 2022 at 5:35 pm

    Kathryn, We are patriotic Americans who love our country and know that it is the beacon of freedom and liberty in the world. Of course Love is the answer. But military folks have another related saying, based on reality: "Peace through fire superiority." The military is the last group that wants war, but we all know that unless you are armed and prepared, the Putins, Xis, Castros and radicals/terrorists of the world will take advantage of us and try to destroy America. Remember 9-11?

    Reply

Leave a Comment

0.0/5

Back