02 May 2006, Sea Dog Log - Final Thoughts, 36 21.800 N/ 076 15.110 W
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We are entering Maryland waters and will be traveling the Chesapeake
throughout the night and day tomorrow. I probably will not have time
for any more updates so want to put some lasting impressions I have of
this journey. Please check back in a few days for the photo updates.
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This has been an amazing journey for
me and it has far exceeded my
expectations. The coasts of North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland are
some of the most beautiful and hospitable places on earth. Boat people
and sea people are some of the friendliest, fun loving and
glad-to-be-alive folks I have ever met. The four crusty old sea dogs I
met at the Pelican Marina made me smile at their constant badgering of
each other as to who could feed the most sea turtles with their homemade
recipes. I laughed out loud at the tradition of hanging the toilet seat
on a nail on the wall in the outhouse at R.E. Mayo Marina (I also
followed tradition).
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The Great Dismal Swamp was an awesome experience. Once, for a seven
mile stretch a Great Blue Heron flew along with us. He would fly over
our bow and lead the way for a while, then perch on a tree branch until
we caught up, then over the bow and ahead again. He repeated this for
seven miles then disappeared. We saw absolutely no trash or debris
throughout the two day journey, testament to boat people. The
mesmerizing movement of a snake swimming alongside the boat and the
feeling of peace with the fluid gliding of a ship over glassy waters.
The tremendous power of the ocean, wind and rain is absolute. I was
never more aware of my surroundings, never slept deeper nor never
enjoyed a night sky as I did aboard the Jule-III.
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This journey satisfied one of my life's
goals, of which I have many.
Cruising the ocean, sounds, bays and the Intercoastal Waterways in a
magnificent vessel as Jule III has been a marvelous experience.
However, my need for speed is not satisfied at 9 mph (actually 6 knots). For my next life
dream I would love to drive a Ferrari flat out on Pacific Coast Highway
1. If anyone needs a Testa Rossa or Enzo delivered anywhere,
anytime....... Please get in touch with Sea Dog.
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I have a few special thank you's to deliver: My wife Netty (Mrs. Sea
Dog) for the enthusiasm, faith and support you have shown in letting me
take this trip. To my daughter, Lianne, who shares my zest for life,
for her joy in sharing this journey vicariously with me. To my son,
David Scott, for telling me the powers of the pressure point wrist bands
- even a day late - and saving me many hours of abject misery. To my
close friends who made the experience inimitably more enjoyable with
their comedic jibes and remarks on the guestbook and via email. To
Captain Ann, for sitting out this trip and letting me go in her place.
To Sea Captain Bob, for staying calm when I was screaming "WE ARE GOING
TO DIE" but mostly for your friendship, capability, skill, grace and
hospitality. I will happily travel with you anytime and anywhere, and
more importantly I would trust you as a skipper for my family. To the
Grand Lady, Jule-III. You brought us through with style, grace and dry
(mostly).
And you, dear reader, for the company the past ten days and 600 (actually 425) nautical miles.
SeaDog (aka Dave Domenic)
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