Sails are Flaked

Well, tonight we flaked the mailsails...Jim on Scholarship and Jan on AcaDame and called it a day!..or shall we say a week!  Six days out on the Chesapeake for Jim with 10 knots sailing and 5 foot waves...and then two days on the river.  For Jan it was four days on the river...culminating in a navigational challenge on a six hour sail with docking and lunch "enroute"...and a return to the harbor with 3-5 foot waves and cold, cold, cold!  It might be getting into the thirties in Bama...but the wind chill here was astronomical!  The northeaster is a blowing and chillin and the barometric pressure is a falling!  Nights are spend aboard the vessels...so it is really a new sensation...sleeping, walking, living at sea!  (Fact is, even after you've packed up you still feel like you have your "sea legs" working for you!)  Now it is time to start heading South once again...after all., the Day of Haunting is drawing close...and we wouldn't want to miss that!

High Tide

Well, today it is official!  Jan left her land-lubber motel for the seas...and at a higher tide than usual too!  That's right...as of 1 P.M. she was in Lankford Bay Marina aboard AcaDame, the 32 foot sloop that her class will be using each day.  "Class" will be with two other men and a captain...one man (married) is staying with his wife on board AcaDame's sister boat  in the next slip; second man is  not arriving at the marine until 2 A.M. (so he will be sleeping in the school for the night); the captain is not due into the marina until 8 A.M....now...does everyone understand the significance of the aforementioned info?  That translates into "Jan will be alone" in the forward berth for the restof the day and all of the night!  I did manage to put some of my learned skills to the test already. With 40 degrees and lower eminent for the evening, I figured out how to run the heater on this boat...as well interior lights and outlets.  Next challenge will be the "head," also known as loo, commode, toilet, what-have-you!  That may be the true and hardest challenge..and I do believe one that I had better figure out before too long!  So, this will be home for a few days at least.  Classes are on the Bay all day and then return to the dock for dinner and the night. 

While Jan is just "gettin' aboard," Jim should be docking in Norfolk, VA tomorrow sometime.  I have not the opportunity to even chat with him since he left Sunday PM, but I know he is having the time of his life!  I cannot imagine a week on a boat...no docking, cooking/eating on board...and showering (the latter which I am sure must be mighty challenging!)  I look forward to hearing about his outing as well as I am sure some of you are.

For now, Riesling in hand and the novel Twilight almost completed (not the best book to be reading alone in a boat in who-knows-where, USA!), I leave you.  May you "ride the waves"throughout your day.

Papa Doc...on the Seas

 Tuesday had Papa Doc (AKA Jim) lifting the anchor and starting down the river to the Bay and on to Norfolk, VA.  It was an AWESOME day for sailing..little white caps on the river and a northwestern wind that was just perfect.  Though I am not on the seas with him, I can only imagine the "glory" he was in!  As for me...I am walking, walking, walking..through towns that are quaint and familiar; rented a bike yesterday and did peddling her, there and everywhere.  COurse, I am also stuffing myself with seafood...Maryland Cream of Crab soup with sherry is to "die for" at the Fish Whistle in Chestertown..about 12 miles from me.  Washington College is located there, so it is a bit larger and more interesting than Rock Hall, which caters to the clammers and sailors!  (Needed the library yesterday only to find out it is opened only every-other day...a one room blessing for the town!)Environmentally, this is TRULY where "fall" was named"...it is beautiful...leaves, chill in the air, winds, clear skies, countless stars...well...terrific.  This has been the BEST start to retirement for this duo...al systems "GO" and being fully enjoyed.  May you'all enjoy your day....

Set the Anchor

Well, the Wallaces "wandered" into Rock Hall, Maryland yesterday afternoon.  Jim (alias Papa Doc) headed to his sailboat and "home" until 10/26.  Tuesday he sets sail to Norfolk, VA and will not be a land-lubber again until the 26th.  On the 25th Jan (alias Gramercy) will head to her second class of sailing...for four days in the Chesapeake Bay but docking each night on land.  By the 28th we will join forces and do a BIG first...the two of us will man our own 32 foot sailboat for at least two days and nights (though I do believe we will dock in the evening)....but we will be cooking, living, sailing, etc... (as they say in Mama Mia...) for two days without being hampered by others.  THAT should be interesting....close quarters, two bull-headed people braving the seas

together!  Really , it should be great...Jim will be glad to know that on our boat he will be the official CAPTAIN and I, first mate.  With his knowledge, I concede!  After our sail, it will be heading back South, new route, new experiences...Hope all out there are enjoying the moments...if not, start now 'cause they are surely fleeting!  (Sorry no pics..one camera and in Jim's hands for now!)

NAP

That's what the locals call it...never imagined the capital of  Maryland was Annapolis, let alone that it would be so quaint and "covey" in its appearance (guess my geography days have escaped the memory stream; must have known all the capitals at one time...so THAT'S one of the retirement drawbacks... I can live with that one...we do have to pick our battles once we are over 60!) One of the locals we chatted with admited tht the air had a "fall chill" to it...at 55 degrees, I would say it is pretty darn close to freezing!  Course, we walked NAP in our VA attire both keeping warm and swelling up with winner's pride! (Navy did not fair as well losing their homecoming...but have to admit those DRESS UNIFORMED sailors surely did take this gal's breath away!)  Today we are heading up the road a piece to Rock Hall, MD...where Jim will board his boat and I will hang out for a few days solo...studying, sightseeing and shopping, of course!  The air still has a chill in it, but our enthusiasm willcertainly warm it somewhat.  Have a grand weekend...we will!

.....UVa topples UNC....

Here we are celebrating the OT victory.....U Va 16, Arch Enemy Tarheels 13......  Well, once again VA "does it" to UNC........ And there were the Wandering Wallaces cheering with the best of crowd.....  Now we're in Quaint Annapolis where the "Goat" take on Pitt...  We were wandering about the Annapolis Boat Show and dinner at McGuvey's....  Clam chowder soup and Crab cakes with hollandaise sauce...  This retirement is really getting quite exhausting....  Well, back to the map to plot out our next move.... Later, gators........ 

.....the wandering pirate Papa Doc...

Just to keep everyone on there toes.... This here be Pirate Papa Doc wandering up toward that there Bay of Chesapeake...  Having already wrecked havoc with the "Cav Man", I'm on  to more fierce adventures on the high seas....  I'm looking for one of the most dangerous pirates of all time, none other than Captain John Bloodsworth of Chesapeake fame.....  Our next stop will be Bloods-worth Island, famed for it's legendary buried treasures....  Well, I hope all is well with the world, I've seen no TV and only listened to Sirius 60's music for the past 5 days.... Until later dudes and dudettes... C. Papa Doc

Wahooooooooooo

Do you believe the smiles on those endearing retirees?  That is the sign of a "wahoooo" good time!  Yesterday was not a good day for the Parkway as fog, rain and a slight wind came up...so, adept as we were, we changed to the interstate and headed to Charlottesville, VA.  That would be the location of the University of Virginia and the renown Cavaliers, or CAVMAN, as he is endearingly referred to.  Course, we had our reasons for coming here...no, not to see UV slaughter UNC Saturday afternoon on the football field...but rather to see Matt, our future son-in-law, fiance to Kelly.  We came into a full city in early afternoon, walked about some (filing in with other parents and grandparents in town for the bitter rivalry on the field!), and called Matt.  Matt was hunkered down with the first practice of the season for the girls' basketball team (in the same arena where Elton John would be tinkling the ivories at a night concert)...we were allowed into the practice court, watched the girls a bit (who are ranked high for the season that starts soon enough)...and then we took the trolley from the hotel to the "downtown" ( a pedestrian mall of about 3 blocks in length; quaint with stores and eateries)...there the three of us enjoyed the fare at the Downtown Grill..then Matt took us on a driving tour around the campus (he is history-laden on the university and graciously shared some stories with us).   What a night!  For us a prelude to a great, refreshing sleep with a late morning rise...for Matt, a late night with an early morning practice schedule.  Ah, to be young again (I think not!).  Today, on to Annapolis...though the Navy is playing football today and the town will be "full," we hope to get in some of the tours and sights.  Suffice it to say...it is a beautiful day in Charlottesville...and we are smiling!

....the love of my life...

Miss America and Wonder-Woman all wrapped up into one wonderful life-partner....  Well after 40 years of marriage and "several years of work" and "many years of life" here is the true picture of my sweetie enjoying the "Good Life" while driving along the Great Smokey Mountain/Blue Ridge Parkway....  We have been blessed....  And we don't intend to look a gift horse in the mouth...  5 hours driving to cover 75 miles of twisty, tunnel filled two-lane, non-passing Parkway miles...  And every single mile was FANTASTIC.... multiple shades of green, yellow, orange, red, purple leaves with the magnificent backdrop of the Great Smokey Mountains....  Who would have thought that in today's hectic world that there would be places like this to enjoy God's beauty....  Oh, and don't forget the fresh lunch-time Mountain Trout at the Mt. Pisgah Inn....  Well, we've settled in for the night... See ya'll in our next installment.... One of the luckiest men alive.....me, Daddy-O, or Papa Doc

The Road to Tomorrow

Well, my birthday came and went...BUT...it was a birthday "with a view" that would never allow you to question the presence of our God!  Wow!  We tracked the Blue Ridge Parkway for many twisting, turning miles with God's pallet of colors on every tree  and bush in sight.  The road curved; the tunnels broke through the mountains upper crusts.  All was so very magnificent (especially the panoramic view that we had from the top being down!).  It is one of those "see to believe" moments in life.  We left Gatlinburg and headed northeast coming to rest just outside of Winston-Salem, NC for the night.  The wind, the sun, the memories, exhausted us.  Thanks to all of you who called or e-mailed birthday congrats...that was very special to me.  Today, off the Parkway (as it is raining and overcast) but upward and onward. Who knows where the sights and sounds may take us (we don't need to be in Maryland until Sunday noon)...the world is ours.  Hope the sun is shining where you are!  And may you know that twists and turns in our lives is just what God planned...all you have to do is drive the Parkway to validate that!

.....Alpine Slide II.....

It was the best of times.....  It was the worst of times.....  On a crisp, cool Fall morning beneath a austere blue canopy, atop Ober Gatlinburg the gauntlet was dropped....the challenge was made...  Who was to be the newest King of the Mountain ?  Both sledders mounted their mountain steads of yellow and red rail-runners...Alpine Slides of Appalachian reknown...  Sledders to the post....  Sledders prepare....  Sledders loose brakes....  Sledders Goooooooooooo !!!!!  An in that instant in time, the race began...  Gathering more and more momentum....  Gathering more and more speed, the daring sliders threw all concerns about self-safety and madly dashed feet-first toward the bottom of the mountain...  Throught turnes 1, 2, and 3 they blazed down the pipe-line....  Then came TURN NUMBER FOUR....a 270 degree, half-loop with a drop-dip exit..... Know more by the name "Death by Delight" than turn number four....  Well, the speed was unmeasurable as they entered the turn...  By the 180 degree mark and half-way through the halp-loop, the soon-to-be King of the Mountain took flight...  One complete airborne summersalt with a half-gainer with a perfect splash down on the trough....  Were it not for the soon approaching turn number five and the melting of his ski jacket and pants, he might still have won the race....  But alas, and alack, the King-to-be never was....  Now flash forward 14 years.... the gauntlet still remains...  The OLD MAN and the MOUNTAIN are again back together for the race to be....  So for his last hurrah Papa Doc sped down the mountain in true alpine fashion and was finally crowned the King-of-the-Mountain he was always meant to be...  Eat your heart out Robyn...

Ober-Over Gatlinburg

Well, we were "flyin' high" over this picturesque city...in the tram...2.1 miles up to the top at 3500 feet in 10 minutes...what an exhilarating ride (both in the day and at night!)  we have seen so many crafts and craftsmen..and done more walking than you can believe! )Fact is, my feet were actually tired last night...tho the body could have kept going!)  Today, 10/16...my 61st...yahoo!...we are heading north on the Blue Ridge Parkway for the beautiful sights yet unseen.  What a memorable ride!  What a gorgeous country we live in.  God has painted the trees in all His fall glory...sights to behold!  Enjoy the fall, wherever you might be!  We surely are  And to think..this is just the beginning of both this trip and retirement....I think everyone should be challenged with retirement "before" work...surely gives you an appreciation for life!  Well, you work..I'll retire and tell you all about it!

On the Road

Well, 9:30 AM, Tuesday..."Little Blue" packed to the hilt..and we are on our way (hard to believe all the goodies that that little trunk could hold!)  What a gorgeous day...we headed to Gatlinburg, TN (getting in around 2:30) just in time to enjoy mid -70's weather, walking the streets of the October offerings, nibblin' here and there, prepping ourselves for tomorrow.  Then Ober Gatlinberg, here we come... Today was  an afternoon of walking and a n'er to be beat steak dinner at Peddler's (next door to our hotel Bearskin Lodge!)  Now I sit on the suite's deck, in twigged rocker listening to the stream below and smelling the fresh air.  Even the stars are countable! Cannot imagine a better begin to "our tomorrows."  Bay..are we ever smiling and loving it!  (All of you out there working, please keep it up..social security payments are a MUST! Thanks for applying payment to our smiles!)
 

Birthday Bashing!

Monday night...and after one margarita and some tasty fare with friends, a birthday party looked "Grand to Jan."  The Lancasters, Pearsons, Higgins and the love-of-my-life celebrated a 61st early with this gal!  A Mexican dinner and communion with friends...what could have been better!  The gifted me with momentos to help make our first post-fire Christmas memorable...and more goodies for the road that Jim and I could possibly imagine!  Friends truly are the flowers of life!  Thanks guys for the "bloom" in my favor.  I loved it!