"If you are not living life on the edge,
 then you are taking up too much space."
- author unkown to me.

I am experiencing outrageous joy as I think and write about the unknown journey ahead of me. 
The obstacles are too many to list now, although in comparison, the great wall of China is a speed bump to me when I compare what it is I am going to be doing, and where I am now.   
I desire to depart for Kona, Hawaii, 
 http://www.konaweb.com 
tentative route might be to bang a right out of St Mary's inlet,
southbound and down...bang another right and ride the waves of the Panama canal
http://www.pancanal.com/eng/index.html 
to the Blue Pacific, turn right, head North to the home of Nordhavn, visit, depart. 
Fins to the right...southbound to Southern California and throw a bow line to the tail end of a ocean liner making passage to Hawaii.   http://hawaii.com 

Useless Trivia, I am full of it: Were you aware that there are more than 110 islands in the Hawaiian chain?  Maybe later, when my time permits, I will tell you about my adventures on the beautiful Hawaiian island of Kahoolawe, where I witnessed the "Dance of the Flaming A**hole".  To learn something about the island of Kahoolawe pleasevisit 
http://www.kahoolawe.org  

 Anyway... I figure I can save a whole lotta fuel being a dinghy for an enormous ocean liner then catch a fishie in the Kona area and think about "where to" from here, maybe Micronesia.  (I hope I remembered to tell the visitors here that they may not believe me if I told them my  entire story.    
 http://micronesia.hawaii.com  
Maybe Johnston Island, where I was told that there is a woman behind every tree.  Although last time I visited Johnston Island there were NO trees.
Where is Johnston Island you ask?  For the answer please visit:  http://www.janeresture.com/johnston

I have began a rigorous physical exercise training program to be in excellent physical shape for this journey.  My conditioning consists of:  Wake up, flick my bic to fire up a cowboy killer, make a mad dash for the bathroom, then sprint to the coffee pot.  I AM in shape.
Round is a shape.  

It is my desire once aboard my 21 footer with two rear and two side 'catching poles', to practice my wind sprints, when I hear the musical sounds of, or I see the delightful ASL sign of
"FISH ON!, FISH ON!  
Enough physical training for me.  I am now physically fit to circumnavigate Amelia Island, FL in less than 80 days.   

 Oh, by the way, albeit English is my mother language and native tongue,  English grammar was never a studied/learned 'major' for me, now that I think about it, I have never been a 'major' anything, althought there are some people who have let me know at times that, in their opinion,  "I am a Major PIA!"..so please forgive my butchering of the written word, Georgs, nor SBS, I am not.  I am thinking of a saying, common among some members of the deaf community (VIP's to me) that reads something to the effect of "Hearing people think that deafness is a disability, only because they think what they have to say is important." 
If you would like some of your questions answered about the hard of hearing/deaf , please visit:  The National Association of the DEAF  http://www.nad.org 

Other VIP people to me, are the visually impaired/legally blind/blind.  If you have any interest, please visit:  The National Federation of the Blind (NFB)  http://www.nfb.org   The National Federation of the Blind does not speak for the blind, it is the blind speaking for themselves.  In the  future I look forward to sharing with you my experiences with these VIP's.

To be continued...this is my story and I am sticking to it!...now may be a good time for me to place this here, until I figure out where it would be most appropriate:  This web site is dedicated in the loving memory of a long time NFB member, true friend, and great mentor:  "Gene". 
I miss my friend.

Books with Picture's:

One of my personal favorites, who knows, one day you may cross the Atlantic Ocean in a small boat yourself after reading Mr. Williams book.  

Crossing an Ocean Under Power by Ken Williams

          A retired software engineer and his wife cross the Atlantic in a small powerboat

     Please visit  www.kensbook.com  for more information and you can buy it now on line right from the site!  Marvelous, simply marvelous. 

Another personal favorite of mine, that was given to me as a gift for Christmas 2003,  (I wonder if my admiral regrets giving me this book?) is:  

Available here:  http://shopnordhavn.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv

     FLORIDA CRUISING DIRECTORY, everything you need to know to take your boat, large or small, power or sail, anywhere in Florida and the Bahamas.  Cruising guides, sketch charts, marinas, local knowledge, boat yards, resorts, restaurants, bridges & schedules, tide tables, boat ramps, pump out stations, useful & emergency phone numbers, coast guard, customs, fwc, plus thousands of marine products and services for your Cruising Pleasure and Safety.  23rd Edition  Published Annually $16.00 ISBN 1-928864-05-8    I purchased this book Saturday July 30, 2005, 13:00 est at  Books Plus  107 Centre Street  (one block from the Fernandina Beach Harbour)  
Fernandina Beach, Fl  32034  (904) 261-0303      

     MARINE DIESEL ENGINES, Maintenance, Troubleshooting, and Repair (Be your own diesel mechanic) by Nigel Calder.  I think I purchased this book on Amazon.com.  I forget the price.

     The Squadron Boating Course, Fundamental Boating Education for the Power and Sail Boater (dedicated to making boating safer and more fun). by The United States Power Squadrons.  This book must be good, I only had to take the final exam once and I have not sank,  yet.   http://www.usps.org

Training/Testing Areas:

     Bathtub
     Shower
     Lawn sprinkler area
     KOI pond

My Area of Operation (AO):

     NE Florida
     SE Georgia
       
Maps/Charts:

Equipment:
(two of everything.  One is for a backup. 

e.g.: VERY HIGH PRIORITY:  two each MK11's, LENTEK protector Mosquito Traps.  One small problem to resolve before installation on the rear deck area.  The MK 11 has an "open" propane flame.  Now, being safety conscience... an open flame and fuel do not play well together.  Yet, trawlers have HOT water heaters, etc...hmmm...more thinking in this area needed...I wonder what Noah was thinking when he invited those two mosquitos in the first place?...I know I will not depart without at least two MK11's  and six (6) full 20lb propane tanks! 

Only one each FURUNO FA150 which is a shipborne Universal AIS (Automatic Identification System) Transponder capable of exchanging navigation and ship data between own ship and other ships or coastal stations. The FA150 consists of a transponder unit and a compact display unit with 4.5" Silver Bright Display. The compact FA150 display is designed to accomodate a simple and space-saving installation with a user-friendly ergonomic design. 
This one piece of equipment will allow me to call an operator on my cell fone, have her trace the call and tell me where I am.  Further use, the night before I arrive in New York City harbour, instead of reading the New York Daily News newspaper obituary column to find a parking slip.   I will be able to see any other AIS system installed boat,  if I do not see any boats on my FA150 screen,  I'm in.  Simple and easy. 

One each Raymarine 430 L O U D hailer...with 30 watts of power, Raymarine's waterproof Ray 430 loudhailer is sure to get another boat's attention. The Ray 430's eight foghorn signals will deliver my message clearly, even when the weather isn't. Connect the 430 to my ships boat alarm sensors for a L O U D security system.

L O U D security system  e.g.  "Hey you on the dock!    

        S T O P! or I will let my DOG OUT!"  (hehehehehe)

I will also enjoy two way onboard communications with the addition of optional intercom speakers.
 
e.g.  "Can you hear me now?"  "Yes!"  "What's for dinner?"

Fire Extinguishers:

     Minimum of one mounted in each room.
     Minimum of one mounted on the fore and aft deck.
     Minimum of one large portable to be with in hand reach any time fuel is being taken on. 
     A fire suppression system.

          e.g  Necessity dictates a fire suppression system be made available for my 'HOT FLASHES'.

Varicose  or Knotted Veins:

     Some people refer to 'um as 'Training Wheels', 'Phish', 'Paravanes', or 'Flopper Stoppers', if flopper stoppers are what it is I have, then I want a 'Z' bra, cause I figure that is the largest size I can git.  I hope that a pair is enough, one fore and one aft.  If not, I will get two pair, in case I get a boat full of vactioner visitor's from up north of the mason-dixie dixon line of sight.   Everyone knows that two pair beat a full boat.  I believe the Flopper Stoppers will rise again.  So, I am saving my bathroom Dixie cups, 'A' cup size.  He Haw, or is it Yee-ha!?

     e.g.  Flopper Stopper's:  The name I have chosen to call my Z size Flopper Stoppers is:  The Dukes of Dreams Float.  So that I may raise them exiting St Mary's Inlet through the outlet to the Atlantic Pond. I will lower my flopper once I am in the pond.  I will have all crew, and or guests lower their own flopper.  Hopefully, this will stop anyone's flopper from flopping.

One each OnStar: 

     e.g.  I have a tendency to misplace keys.  I'm not supposed to leave home without them.  However, OnStar Remote Door Unlock Assistance will be invaluable.  The Automatic Notification of the Hot Air Bag Deployment safety service must have a by pass turn off 'button/switch'.
It is my hope that the Advanced Automatic Crash Notification (AACN) will never be activiated.  Roadside Assistance, I will have oceans of fun with this service.  If I require fuel, no problem for OnStar.  I will double check to see if OnStar navigation comes with a sextant, or if I need to purchase it seperately.  Sounds to me like I will really enjoy measuring celestial bodies. 

 
Plans:

  None.  I plan stuff, and God laughs.

Finding a Trawler that will have me as a skipper/owner:

     Dear Santa:

Security:

     GENMAR's First Mate or equivalent.
     AIS

Owning/Operating/Maintaing Expenses/Costs:

     BOAT:  Bring Out Another Thousand. 

Needs To Be Done By Me:

     help others!

     have serious FUN!

     practice anonymous random acts of kindness, often!

     Excellence can be attained...
     if I care more than others think is wise...
     Risk more than others think is safe...
     Dream more than others think is practical...
     Expect more than others think is possible.

Needs To Be Done By Others:

     Pretty please, do not drill holes in my boat, I am rowing as fast as I can. 

Penciled in Dates/Calendar:

     Jul 30. - Aug.1 2005 Orlando, Fl - training - late scratch, NDA, 3019:00Aug05 est (ac)


     Second or third week of August 2005 - Circumnavigate Amelia Island, Florida...SMILE! - oops, missed due to travels, to be completed no later than November 2005.

     Aug. 12-14, 2005  Boys Toys Galore (uhh, No sir, I do not need a menu, Thank You, I will take one of everything, Thank You very much!)   Jacksonville's Fall Boat Show
Location: Prime Osborn Convention Center, Jacksonville.
Contact: Jacksonville Marine Association, (904) 724-3003.

     On Saturday, August 13, 2005 my admiral and I attended the Jacksonville's Fall Boat Show.  We had the pleasure of meeting a lovely young lady, Melissa Gallup, 'Miss Dream Girl America 2005'.  For more information on Melissa go to  www.missdreamgirlamerica.com . 

     January 2006 - visit Stuart, Florida,  for the purpose of seeing the sights and sounds of the Stuart area, I figure if it is good enough for Stuart, it's good enough for me.  Surprise, Surprise, Surprise! (Gomer Pyle)...is there a TRAWLER FEST http://www.trawlerfest.com  going on nearby....my, my, my...what a strange coincidence ...BIG SMILE! - be a tourist and see the sights and hear the sounds of downtown, ...hold on one minute there bobalooey, " I think Nordhavn  http://nordhavn.com  has an office in the Stuart area, WOW, what another strange coincidence!". ...really BIG SMILE!

     Oct 27-31 2005 visit Fort Lauderdale, FL...ohhh my,     there is a boat show going on...hmmm.

     Nov. 10-13 2005 visit Fort Meyers, FL...see old neighbors from up North and let them drag me to the boat show.

     Jan - Mar 2006 Cruise Florida Keys - reason, too cold up north for me to practice filling fuel tanks, hopefully often! 

      2008 - 2009 just for the health of it, and to dip my toes into the water to check the temperature, so to speak...cross the Pacific.


     Oh Boy!...Hot Dog!...O my Gosh!...I sure am one lucky guy.

     My definition of LUCK is: Labor under Constructive Knowledge.

The winds and waves are always on the side of the ablest navigators."
– Edward Gibbon, Historian

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