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Healthy Oceans Paddle Day 37 - Truly a Group Effort

 

The wind pushed me along yesterday at a fairly good clip. The boat wasn't quite behaving in the swells coming from behind slightly from the ama (outrigger)  side. I thought it was that I was getting tired and just not "on" from my late night before where my gin and tonic glass was not allowed to be empty. I crawled my way to the beach at the beautiful Bay-Waveland Yacht club where Bob David and his sister, Pat, were there to greet me. The problem with my poor Fuze was immediately obvious when I couldn't lift the stern to slide the bow on the sand. It was loaded with water. After unplugging the stern plug the water poured and poured out of it for a very long time.

 

With the help of Bob and Tate Davis, who also hosted me in their guest house/aka "Katrina trailer," and Rich Waldsmith and his wife Pat Davis (Bob's sister), as well as past commodore of the yacht club, Judy Reeves, we discovered where the leak was and Rich and Judy set about putting a fiberglass patch on it. Todd of "da Beach House," a kayak tour and sales place in Biloxi, came out to meet me, and got enlisted in helping, too. He's waiting delivery of a Huki OC1 and is hoping to start a club here in the Biloxi area. There is great water here, so hopefully he'll get one going!

 

During and after the boat repair, Bob, much like Capt. Rusty Davis in Biloxi, did not allow me to be long without a beverage. Beer and boat repair. I think I might suggest to Eric McNett of Eastern Outrigger that he run a week long boat repair and paddling clinic. I really should be able to do all this stuff myself- from rudder changes to glass repair.

 

After being well fed by Pat and Rich, and well rested after my good sleep in Bob and Tate's Katrina trailer, I'm ready to hit the water and paddle to Slidell.

Comments

  • Pat Davis wrote on May 22, 2009, 02:36PM : Flag this comment as inappropriate Flag this comment as inappropriate

    Margo,
    We so enjoyed meeting you and are grateful to you for your courageous S.O.S efforts to bring attention to this important issue. All of us here in Bay ST. Louis are anxiously awaiting news that you've arrived safely in Slidell since the boat damage has us concerned. Have a wonderful weekend with your family in NOLA!
    Fondly, Pat Davis

  • Greg Parker wrote on May 23, 2009, 06:57AM : Flag this comment as inappropriate Flag this comment as inappropriate

    Margo, it sounds like the Fuze is getting tired. It's been a struggle for sure. I'm sure if it could talk, it would have a lot of stories to tell, a whole lot of praise for you, if not also a little anger at what you've put it through in these last 2 years, but it would be proud to have been an integral partner in your journey to save the water beneath it. //Greg

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