From: "Volkert - Mobile Transportation" <transp@volkert.com>

Subject: Memorial Weekend aboard S/V Papillon

Date: Tue, 27 May 2003 09:28:57 -0500

Bright and early (actually zero dark thirty) on Saturday I was on the road from Mobile to Port Orange FL to meet up with S/V Papillon, the Capt and Ruby. Fortunately the weather gods at NOAA smiled favorably upon the day - wish I could say the same for the NOAA weather gods on my return trip!). Before the trip I told Jon that I must really like him because part of my trip after getting off I-10 and I-295 would be on I-95--------------my least favorite interstate on this planet!

It was great to see Jon - although there is less of him to see nowadays - 23 lbs less! The mag Lats & Atts recently had an article on the healthiness of cruising folk - and it is true. I lost 11 lbs aboard the Papillon from Apalachicola FL to Ft. Meyers! I must tell the readers although Jon and I have lost weight - deh Kat Ruby has not!! She has actually put on some weight!

If y'all are looking to hear about the wondrous sights in the Port Orange/Daytona Beach area, this is not the "read" for you. They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder - likewise for what to do when in port.

When I arrived on Saturday, Jon promised a walk on the beach. I am thinking this will be great at sunset. After "hitting" the beach - and I mean that literally --- I was having trouble keeping up with Jon - probably something to do with my recuperating right foot, which had been broken in March courtesy of Jon's Pt Loma dock (Slippin' on the Dock at Gautier should be made into a song!). Eventually I figured out what Jon himself did not realize what he was doing on the beach walk - so now I realize I am on a "forced march" type of deal......yes, even after all this years of USAF retirement deh man's build-in cadence comes to the forefront - shoulders back, eyes front and you can count cadence walking with Jon!

Other neat stuff we did: a trip to Wal-Mart, Home (Boat) Depot, cut Ruby's nails, back to Wal-Mart pick up 'scripts and a new belt for Jon - when he would attach his cell phone to the old belt , his shorts would droop! I would hate to think what would happen if the phone actually rang while clipped to his belt. Oh yes, his cell phone plays a march - does this not surprise you!! So with a vivid, creative imagination you can see cell phone ringing, the march being played, Jon snapping to attention and shorts falling down!

Sunday morning Jon said I would have breakfast on a silver platter. He was right - it was a beautiful array of fruits, cheeses and turkey on a silver platter. Now - remember we are talking a "cruising lifestyle." Bet y'all were thinking STERLING SILVER platter, right? Wrong! An aluminum-foil covered plate is a silver platter in the cruising world. Oh, yeah for liquid we had Cranberry juice.

Sunday evening we decided to take a break from NASCAR racing on the tube and take a "leisurely" walk on the beach again. Did I say "leisurely"? (ha ha ha) It did start out slow and leisurely, however again Jon's military bearing kicked in and as we discussed easy ways of banking on-line, he soon stepped up the "cadence".

Monday morning Jon said pancakes were on Papillon's menu; however it was Memorial Day, how could I let a veteran prepare breakfast - so I popped for breakfast at the nearby quaint River Inn - the line (wait) was long, but Jon and I settled in for one of our favorite activities - reading the morning paper. This was a difficult "read" though because I quickly discovered this is a liberally-slanted newspaper. FOX needs to start a newspaper like USA Today. (On the way home I was able to listen to Neal Boortz, G. Gordon Liddy, Michael Reagan, Sean Hannity et al. -- that was like taking a Valium!, ahhhhh)

Driving home it took a couple extra hours - recall what I said about the NOAA weather gods!! Near Tallahassee all the way to Mobile I fought torrential rainfalls, lightning, thunder, and approaching Mobile got into tornado warnings! The sheets of rain on the interstate was horrendous, slowed us down to about 35 mph.

I do need to make mention of showering facilities -- when we are in a marina we take advantage of the showers and heads at the marinas. Some are good' some are not. I am wondering if Jon is not using these as a "test" for me -- to see when I will cry "uncle" (complain). There was one in Ft. Meyers I thought could have habored snakes, but I figured out if you turn on the water and let it run for a while any snakes loitering under the wooden platform would slither out. However, having taught backpacking in primitive areas in Canada, I am used to no showers and no heads for several days at a time, so Jon will keep waiting for me to cry "uncle" -- As one reader (a NOAA 'god') knows I don't even cry "uncle" on a long day sail on a boat named "Coastal Dancer" with no head!!

The rating of this weekend on a scale of 1 to 10? No scale can be used - 'cause there is not enough numbers to rate a perfect Memorial Day weekend!! Hope y'all had a wonderful weekend too-- and remembered all those men and women who gave their lives that we might have such wonderful weekends! My heart especially remembered my cousin who gave his life in the P.I. (Philippine Islands), stabbed by the enemy with a bayonet, and being a small girl at his funeral scared when the 21 gun salute rang out. Eventually I understood what it all meant and means to us today.

Love Annie

Ann Backhurst

(gone_island2@yahoo.com)

Volkert & Associates, Inc.

3809 Moffett Road

Mobile AL 36618

(251) 342-1070

(251) 342-7962 (Fax)

Email: transp@volkert.com

Rain Jaudon

Rhythm & Rain

www.RainOnTheInternet.com