All posts – Page 2 – Jake & Eddie’s Excellent Adventure 😎🐶

Mystic Pizza

When I planned the trip I learned about Mystic. Such a cool name! I quickly lesrned two things: (1) There was a Seaport Museum with old ships you could tour and (2) There was a movie called Mystic Pizza that was somehow associated with the town. So I decided to stay for a day.

We headed north out of Dover and made our way northwestwards. The idea was to bypass The New York city area to the west and make our way back to the coast from there.

We left Delaware and entered Pennsylvania, driving towards the Pocono Mountains near the border with New Jersey. Years ago, I had heard about this area from my colleagues who worked in the New Jersey area near New York. It was a popular destination for skiing and mountain activities. Although I had driven through this region, I only remembered it was in the mountains.

Delaware Gap National Recreation Area

We stayed the night at a very nice campground near the Delaware Gap National Recreation Area. We enjoyed our walks and the local wildlife!

The next day’s drive went through the Recreation Area. Very scenic!

Somewhere in New York. Disgustingly dirty roadside stops.

East Fishkill 🫨 Why would you even fucking name a place this?

(Turns out kill means a riverbed or a body of water in Dutch. They settled this area and used this to name a lot of the places they came across.)

We ended up crossing into Connecticut as we dropped out of the mountians.

We drove almost the entire length of the state before reaching the campground near Mystic. While the location was pleasant, its proximity to the Interstate caused excessive road noise. To make matters worse, there was road construction on the Interstate. On our first night, we were awakened by an hour of a massive engine doing something somewhere so loudly that the trailer shell resonated!

Mystic

The next day Jake took the morning off as I visited Mystic. I promised him we would go back later and do some walks!

The name “Mystic” is derived from the Pequot term “missi-tuk” describing a large river whose waters are driven into waves by tides or wind. Mystic was a significant Connecticut seaport with more than 600 ships built over 135 years starting in 1784. The village is located on the Mystic River which flows into Fishers Island Sound. The Mystic River Bascule Bridge crosses the river in the center of the village. It is very much a tourist town, especially with the Mystic Seaport Museum.

Raised bridge on the main road through Mystic. The concrete is a counterweight for the bridge roadway, requiring a lot less energy to open and close. Usually, the counterweight is located below the bridge surface. My guess is the small size dictated they be on top in this configuration.

Mystic Seaport Museum

The museum is the largest in the United States. The site holds a collection of ships and boats and a re-creation of a 19th-century seaport village consisting of more than 60 historic buildings, including many rare commercial structures that were moved to the site and meticulously restored.

I spent a couple of hours touring the site. Some of the highlights included the Whaling Ship Charles W. Morgan, a shop filled with old clocks and sextants, and exhibits on whaling and its impact. Knowledgeable staff were in abundance and eager to answer questions.

*Charles W. Morgan* is a whaling ship which was active for 80 years. She is the only surviving wooden whaler from 2,700 ships that operated in the United States whaling fleet. On her deck are huge try pots used to render blubber into whale oil. She came to Mystic Seaport in 1941 and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1966. Wikipedia

Clocks and Sextants: The site featured numerous exhibits related to navigation. This room housed a collection of clocks and sextants used by mariners during the 18th and 19th centuries.

Timekeeping on a ship was an arduous task. Constructing a clock that would maintain accuracy and withstand the harsh environmental conditions of the sea proved extremely challenging. This was a ships clock crafted by a clockmaker in Mystic around 1800. I was astounded by the intricate construction, featuring both wooden and metal gears.

This was an awe-inspiring piece of artwork. I sensed that it depicted real-life hardships during the era of whaling. I was astounded by the intricate details of the line drawing.

Detail of the drawing. I would think the white Christian nationalists would deem this about as woke as it gets! In your face, Cheeto Satan worshippers!

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit here. It was an excellent representation of the seafaring life of the coastal inhabitants of the New England area.

A Slice of Heaven

It was then lunch time! Time for a Mystic Pizza!

Mystic Pizza opened in 1973. A screenwriter was vacationing in the area and was captivated by what she experienced. In 1988, a movie about the lives of three waitresses working there was released. It was well reviewed and the restaurant became a sensation, with people crowding to get A Slice Of Heaven! It’s run by the grandchildren of the original owners.

And the pizza was delicious! Crispy with the cheese on top of the fillings. Yummy!

Mystic Pizza: mementos from the movie and other Hollywood glitz!

Coastal Scenes

I drove back and picked up Jake to explore some of the coastal areas. We enjoyed beautiful views from nearby Stonington and the harbor near Mystic. I briefly spoke with a guy who was about to go scuba diving in the 50-degree water! Turns out, he’s an ex-Navy diver trained in Panama City and is currently working on submarines in nearly New London. How incredible is that? And he was cleaning the bottom of a boat! 🤣 They always told me Navy Divers were a breed-apart!

Latimer Reef Lighthouse off of Stonington Harbor

There are many well-maintained cemeteries in the area. It was quite unlike anything I had seen before. Some of the monuments were exceptionally detailed and remarkably well-preserved. They served as a testament to the wealth and prosperity that the region experienced during its early days in America. They were a testament to Moral Materialism at its peak.

Thankfully, the second night it started to rain. We were spared the roadwork at 0-dark-thirty and got a good night’s sleep. Next stop: Cape Cod!

Cuz

My favorite cousins among Mom’s numerous siblings were Sandy and Pete. A unique bond formed between Mom and Sandy when Mom began assisting their mother and her sister, Mary. Mary’s first child with her brilliant but somewhat eccentric husband, my uncle Ed Shaw, was named Edwina. Tragically, Edwina suffered a severe fever at a young age, resulting in brain damage. Consequently, Mary’s primary responsibility shifted to caring for Edwina, leaving Mom to take care of Sandra and Pete.

Dad, Mom (pregnant with Eddie) and my cousin Sandra in their house in Alamogordo, NM.

Their relationship was almost like that of siblings. Sandy was present at my birth in New Mexico. At the tender age of 13, she flew out and stayed with us that summer in Alamogordo. When I was young, she visited us many times in Florida. We spent our summer vacation visiting her and her family in West Virginia. Her brother Pete was a Vietnam War veteran and my hero.

Sailing with Sandra ~ Rick, Sandy, The Dude, Mom and Dave

As an adolescent boy, I had a crush on her. However, when she met her husband, Tom, I was devastated! Surprisingly, he turned out to be a cool guy, and we got along exceptionally well. I visited them when their first child, my cousin Pam, was born in 1968. They also had a son named Todd about six years later. I had only met Pam as a toddler and had never had the opportunity to meet Todd.

Eddie with cousin Pam Kinkus at the farm in west Virgina. Late 60s.

In 1968, we flew in a private plane and visited them in their apartment near Dover, Delaware. Tom had a job as a high school teacher and athletic coach. He had that job for many years and was deeply loved by the community, as they both were. Sandra started out as a social worker, raised her children, ran her own business, and was a tremendous asset to the community. She organized many activities and made their home a vital part of the community.

Clan Tubridy and Cousin Sandra at Mom’s Service

I hadn’t seen Sandy since Mom’s funeral in 2019. We also met Todd and his incredible family. We spent one day exploring the sights around Dover, and the other day, we traveled about two hours north to Pennsylvania with Todd.

Dover

Their homestead resided in a 1960s development less than a mile south of the old town of Dover. It was settled in the early 1600s and Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution.

Dover is the home to Dover Air Force Base. This base is renowned for its pivotal role in military air transport, particularly in the re-patronization of fallen armed forces members. Surprisingly, the base houses an enormous museum dedicated to this mission, aptly named the Air Mobility Command Museum. I had no idea it existed!

Their collection is truly exceptional! I had the privilege of strolling through several renowned aircraft that have played a significant role in World War II and beyond. It was Veteran’s Day, and the museum was filled with people eager to share their knowledge about these magnificent machines. One particularly knowledgeable gentleman even took the time to show me the supercharged/turbocharger on a B17 motor. It was an unexpected and delightful visit.

We drove out to the nearby Bowers Beach. To our surprise they were having a Pirate Festival there! We had a great hamburger at a restaurant on the inlet. I had been jonesing for a gut-bomb burger since the beginning of the trip.

The next morning we made a lovely drive northwards to Oxford Pennsylvania where Todd and his family live. We drove through very pretty countryside. As we got closer we began to see the Amish in their horse and buggy wagons. We stopped at a cool store along the way and picked up a souvenir for the trip.

I picked up several floats from fish traps. The store clerk Debbie was very friendly and touchy feelies with both of us. I liked her until she wanted to trim my beard!

Todd lives in a beautiful area surrounded by farmland. We had a great time visiting a local winery and listening to some good tunes by an excellent guitar player singer with plenty of electronics to enhance his sound.

Todd’s wife Jen and his daughter Sophie are truly a force of nature! Sophie is off to college, a drama queen who loves theater and STEM. Their son, Todd, looks like he could be on the cover of a teen magazione and is a genius-level sports guy. I was delighted by the incredible awesomeness of their children.

We shared many things in common (except for the sports, but I enjoyed listening to them talk about it). I was thrilled to learn that Jen’s father was at Woodstock. I regret not getting to meet him. Todd is the coolest 50-year-old I’ve ever met. I’m truly grateful to be part of their clan.

Sandra and I spent a considerable amount of time discussing Mom and her recollections of the early days of my family. She shared numerous photographs, but I was most humbled by the writings of her brilliant father, Ed Shaw. His handwritten poetry was compiled into books, and his journal, documenting his activities in the 1930s, was filled with his observations about life. It was truly remarkable.

He is ultimately responsible for my existence because he introduced my grandfather’s son, Edward Tubridy, to his sister-in-law Betty Kovac on that fateful day. Granddad worked as one of Ed Shaw’s mining engineers. They were watching a 1952 World Series game on Ed’s new TV. Deep thoughts, indeed.

I am incredibly grateful to be a part of such a wonderful family, a testament to the incredible spirit of existence.

OBX

We journeyed along the coast, heading towards the Outer Banks of North Carolina. It had been over two decades since my last visit to this area, when I had crossed by ferry at Ocracoke. Instead, I chose to ascend the western side of Pimlico Sound.

New Bern

We spent an overnight here. New Bern is located on the southern end of Pimlico Sound, north of Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base. The campgrounds are situated on the north side of the Neuse River, across from New Bern. This area was founded by German-speaking Swiss in the early 1700s and named after the Swiss Caton of Bern. Bern is German for bear, which is why the coat of arms features a bear.

The campground was absolutely fantastic! We had a great time exploring the surrounding area on several walks. We also took a refreshing dip in the pool and indulged in a long, hot shower in the bathhouse.

The next morning we explored some of the nearby area, slowly making our way northwards towards our destination in Coinjock on Currituck Sound.

Currituck Sound

The campground was situated at the very northern tip of a peninsula, affectionately known as Church Island, nestled between Coinjock Bay and Currituck Sound. A canal was constructed to facilitate transit through the Intercostal Waterway. I had the pleasure of witnessing several breathtaking boats, including the one depicted below. Could it be a tax write-off?

This was our home port for exploring the Outer Banks. The facility was very nice, with many long-term campsites and cabin rentals. They had a supply of kayaks and plenty of kid-friendly activities. They’re also building a huge pool at the entrance, which is supposed to open this summer.

Lighthouse Tour

Our first day’s adventure involved a 200-mile round trip to visit two of the southern lighthouses: Bodie Island and Cape Hatteras. The day was beautiful as we embarked on our journey to the beach. Our first stop, approximately halfway through the trip, was Bodie Island Lighthouse.

This lighthouse stands as the third to be constructed on this spot, following the initial lighthouse built in the late 1840s. Unfortunately, the first two lighthouses didn’t last long. This one, however, has been standing since 1872.

The grounds and boardwalks were in excellent condition. We thoroughly enjoyed a walk around the grounds, including the boardwalk that crossed the marshlands.

The next part of our drive led us to the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge. There are several very impressive bridges and trestles that appeared remarkably new. In fact, they were so new that they were not visible on the map software built into Starship Excellent Adventure in 2016.

The final part of the drive led us to Buxton, the home of the renowned Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. Standing at an impressive 210 feet tall, it holds the distinction of being the tallest lighthouse in the United States.

The lighthouse, originally built in the early 1800s, was tragically destroyed during the Civil War in 1862. A second lighthouse was constructed in the 1870s to replace the lost structure. However, by the late 1990s, this lighthouse was in dire condition, on the brink of collapse into the sea. Remarkably, an incredible engineering feat was undertaken to relocate the structure over half a mile to the southwest. This remarkable achievement earned the lighthouse widespread acclaim, as it was the largest masonry structure ever moved. Despite numerous lawsuits filed by skeptics who doubted the project’s success, the lighthouse was successfully relocated.

When I first laid eyes on the structure in the summer of 1999, I could already see the roadway that had been constructed. Over 25 years later, I was filled with immense excitement to finally see the final resting place!

WTF?

Imagine my surprise when I first saw it, driving down the coastal road—covered in fucking scaffolding! Indeed, it was being refurbished. And, boy howdy, did they ever do a good job of covering it up! You could barely tell there was a lighthouse behind all the hoo ha!

For some inexplicable reason, this always seems to occur whenever I revisit a place after experiencing a setback on my initial visit! This unfortunate incident has happened to me thrice while attempting to dive the renowned walls of Little Cayman and Cayman Brac, and every time I have tried to see the Statue of Liberty!

We did visit the beach nearby where the lighthouse was located before the move.

The following day was a rainy day. A strong southwest wind brought thunderstorms and wind in the morning. By afternoon, the wind had nearly 180 degrees of change and started blowing out of the northeast. We enjoyed walks around the campgrounds during our breaks. That evening, I treated myself to some crabcakes at the local marina. Many multi-million-dollar yachts were parked there, including this stunning wooden beauty!

Wright Brothers National Monument

This has been on my list for some time now. I visited here in 1999 but did not visit. The weather cleared nicely and we headed out to the beach again.

While the Wright brothers were not the first to fly like a bird, but they were the first ones to do under power. They worked patiently in their shop in Dayton, Ohio but needed a place to test their designs and Kitty Hawk was the place. It offered them everything they needed including seclusion.

One of the nicest things was the ability to see out over the built-up shoreline and see the ocean. The monument sits a top a 90 foot tall hill, formed and stabilized from the shifting sands the Wright brothers tested their glider designs on.

Wright Brother National Monument looking out to the ocean.

The site comprises a monument and a vast grass field where flight tests were conducted. Markers indicate the distances and times flown during the first four powered flights. The visitor’s center is situated at the far northern end of the field. Replicas of the buildings used for hangers and living quarters are displayed, reflecting the four years the brothers spent here from 1900 to 1903. Additionally, there are other exhibits, and on the eastern side of the monument, a small airstrip serves as a haven for private pilots.

Currituck Beach Lighthouse

Our final visit took us northward from the Monument, along the coast, through Southern Shores and Duck, to Corolla. The area is quite different from the lower part of the Outer Banks. A single-lane road winds slowly through million-dollar beachfront homes and low-key resorts.

The Currituck Beach lighthouse, situated in the charming village of Corolla, was constructed in 1875. Unlike other lighthouses, it was not painted.

Our tour of the Outer Banks was complete. We headed back to get ready for our trip to visit with our cousin Sandra and her family in Delaware.

North to Myrtle Beach

We set at out crack-of-sparrow-fart headed northbound through the Free State of Florida. Our route takes us up the coast with an overnight outside of Savannah and our first stop at Myrtle Beach.

Prepping Excellent Adventure discovered a corroded 12-volt fuse. Rust doesn’t like to conduct electricity all that much!

Rust never sleeps, especially along the east coast of Florida. I once read that the salt concentration here is higher than anywhere else along the east coast! Other than that, it was a smooth sailing compared to last year’s cluster fuck. 🤣

Launch

North along the ‘Fun Coast’ including Daytona Beach and then the ‘First Coast’ including St. Augustine and Jacksonville. Fun fact: Jacksonville is named after Andrew Jackson, the first governor of Florida and the seventh president of the United States.

Jacksonville in the northwest corner of the Free State of Florida. Fre at Last, Free at Last!

Georgia

Our first stop was in my old home state of Georgia just south of Savannah on I-95. We have stayed at this KOA campground multiple times now, in 2022, 2023, 2024 and now 2025. It’s very nice with a huge pond full of quackers and gators and a very freindly staff.

South Carolina

The next morning, we drove a short distance up the Interstate and found ourselves in the Palmetto State.

I always loved the flag for South Carolina! None of this ‘Carpe Diem‘ crap! No ‘In Flying Spaghetti Monster We Trust’! It’s pure symbolism.

About half of the drive takes us through winding backroads, where we are greeted by hundreds of dump trucks. As we approach the coast, the scenery transforms into a more refined one. Majestic stone edifices proudly proclaim the names of the opulent palatial estates that lie beyond. Golf courses for the wealthy and famous, as well as a diverse array of cuisines, await us.

Then we start seeing motorcycles everywhere. Yep, folks, it’s Bike Week in Myrtle Beach.

Welcomes you and 300,000 others for Bike Week!

-Surprise!

Bikes of all kinds, 2- and 3-wheelers! Bike riding Mommas with tattoos! Dudes with copious facial hair ❤️. Hundreds, if not thousands, of bikes! And lots of police presence to keep things frosty!

Huh? What did you say? Can’t hear a damn thing!

What truly astounds me is the sound systems on some of these bikes. They are louder than the engine noise itself! Imagine a dozen bikes revving their engines simultaneously, playing a diverse mix of hip-hop, death metal, and country music. It’s an experience that truly captivates the senses!

Come for the bikes. Leave hard of hearing!

The Grand Stand

The first morning, we embarked on a journey to the beach, which stretched for miles. They affectionately refer to this stretch of sand as the Grand Strand, and it boasts an impressive length of over 60 miles.

We found ourselves at the northern end of the Grand Strand, where we discovered a vibrant hub of activities. Amusement parks, beachwear boutiques, souvenir shops, bars, and more bars lined the high risen laden shoreline, creating a lively atmosphere. Further south, the landscape transitioned into a more relaxed area, characterized by strip malls, expansive oceanside resorts, and golf courses.

My brother told me to check out Shag Dancing! Apparently it’s a style that originated in Myrtle Beach in the 1950s and 60s. Way too hard for this dancing bear. It has its own genre of music called Beach Music. The only tune I recognized in a list of Beach Music tunes was On the Boardwalk by The Drifters. I get it now!

My latest souvenir find!

I did a little souvenir shopping, chilled a bit and headed for the pool!

🤩

Next stop is the Outer Banks of North Carolina!

2025 Excellent Adventure

Our fifth trip will take us up the east coast, with Cape Cod as our northernmost destination. From there, I’ll head slightly westward, traversing the eastern side of the Appalachians. Our final destination will be the Ranch in North Carolina.

We will try to enjoy each experience equally, Mr Milkshake 🤣

Myrtle Beach in South Carolina: A popular destination when I was living in Atlanta. Thought I would check out this unique piece of east coast Americana.

Outer Banks of North Carolina: I visited here over 25 years ago, taking the ferry from Ocracoke. This time, we’ll stay on the inside of the Pamlico Bay towards the north. I plan to visit Kitty Hawk and make the drive down the coast to view the lighthouses.

Delaware: My cousin raised her family here. I visited in 1968 when we flew in with Dad at the controls of our private plane. Looking forward to a visit with her and her family.

Mystic, Connecticut: I’ve heard this name over the years. There was a movie called Mystic Pizza, and apparently it is a pizza parlor which I might try. The main attraction is a maritime museum.

Cape Cod: I visited here many years ago and don’t remember much. We are staying near Nauset Lighthouse. A lot of lighthouses for photos!

Pennsylvania Dutch Country ~ Lancaster Pennsylvania: I thought I would try the Amish Experience – whatever that is. Stayed tuned for a full report!

Harper’s Ferry ~ West Virginia: A National Historical Park with a rich Civil War history.

Monticello ~ Charlottesville, Virginia: Home of Thomas Jefferson. I have always wanted to visit here after hearing friends and family talk about it.

Big Stone Gap, Virginia: Home to the Museum of Western Virginia. My father’s mother’s family moved to this area after the Revolutionary War. I’ll meet up with my brothers and explore some family roots.

The Ranch ~ Scaly Mountain, North Carolina: Home of my awesome brother Dave and his fabulous wife, Lisa. Big family fun to cap off our trip!

2025 Excellent Adventure starts here!

Mother Nature Interupted

Cape Canaveral, a prominent feature of Florida’s east coast, has played a significant role in safeguarding the region from hurricane attacks and facilitating rocket launches eastward. In the late 1940s, Port Canaveral was established to support the operations at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Today, it has transformed into one of the busiest cruise ship ports in the United States.

When the port was created (1951 to 1957), it altered the natural migration of sand from the southern part of the cape southward. Consequently, the beaches south of the port are not replenished to the same extent, resulting in a narrower beach. Moreover, severe storms exacerbate this issue.

To protect the property and provide a wide beach for tourists to frolic, the federal and state governments regularly bring in the Army Corps of Engineers (responsible for such work) to replenish the beach. This will be the third time they have done this since I moved back here in 2014. It was never done the first 20 years I lived here in the late 1950s to early 1970s.

The last time they did this, they removed sand from offshore. In my opinion, the result was disastrous. The beach has been severely damaged over the past five years. The drop-off is much steeper, resulting in an unnatural beach formation. Rip currents have been extremely dangerous in the past couple of years, and several people have tragically lost their lives after being caught in them.

The pumped slurry is discharged into a basin where the sand settles and the water flows off. The buldozers create the basin and move the sand around.

The most recent result has restored what, in my recollection, was the norm during my childhood here. It’s too early to predict the success of the new replenishment, but the sand appears to be of much higher quality (less coarse).

The sand was dredged by a large dredge that pumped the slurry southward. Several booster stations ensured a steady flow rate. The specially modified bulldozers created a dam to corral the slurry, allowing the sand to settle out as the water drained through the open end. This was a significant improvement over the previous replentishment method, where the slurry was pumped onto the beach while the bulldozers repeatedly passed by the opening.

After they filled in the beach and moved south, you could get a good look at the large pipe emerging from the ocean. The final result looks great – I just hope it holds up better than the previous attempt. Overall, it’s better than the giant seawalls further south.

Resist 👺

Bullied By Wimpy Twats Indeed

At my doctor’s appointment recently, 0n checking out I was given a rather unimpressive copy of a copy of a copy (etc.) of form that required me to write down my medicare number and sign that I was indeed who I said I was. The young woman then asked if I wanted her to look up my medicare number. I almost burst out laughing.

I asked if this were part of the hoo-ha of our duly-elected government’s shit show. The answer was affirmative.

Then I got mad

😤

I just finished watching Mr. Robot, a fantastic television series from the mid-2010s about hacking a huge corporation that is now controlling the world, led by a secretive cartel of the world’s billionaires. It sounds entirely familiar.

Resist

Banana MoonPieTown

For no apparent reason, it was announced that the once-known Free State of Florida has been renamed MoonPieTown.

People have been encouraged to ‘not think about it too much’, as it makes common sense to a minority of Americans.

Banana

Today, as the Chief Dude of the town formerly known as Cocoa Beach, I signed an Executive Order to rename the city to Banana.

This highlights our fair town’s position as the capital of the Banana River Empire.

**The Banana River Empire:** Banana is arguably one of the most significant cities globally, as evidenced by the Cape Canaveral Space Force Command on the left and Patrick Space Force Base on the right.

Once known as Ulumay Lagoon by some illegal Spanish alien in 1640, renaming it more accurately reflects the glorious beginnings of our beautiful tourist trap of a city.

Remember our old dream, Manifest Destiny? Well, it’s back! First, we had the Gulf of Waffle House, then MoonPieTown, and now, get this – a Banana MoonPieTown on the menu at the Mars Cafe!

MoonPie’s on Mars – It is MANkind’s Manifest Destiny!

Starships Ho!

🚀

My Little Sister

I first met Billy in 8th grade Latin class. I quickly discovered that he had a speedboat, and Billy and I became friends. I also quickly discovered that Billy had a sidekick—his sister, Laura. We automatically became friends as I hung out a lot with Billy. I fondly remember her riding around on her Yamaha minibike!

Later, when I went to Community College, I got Laura a job at the Pizza Parlor where I worked. She would tend the bar when I went out back to smoke a joint or partake in other similarly nefarious activities. She worked there when she came home from school in the summer. After she graduated and started working, she supplemented her income by working at a pizza parlor in Atlanta.

When I moved to Califonia in 1975, Laura started college in Fort Collins, Colorado. I would end up living there some 15 years later. She only spent one year there before transferring to the University of Georgia. In the meantime, she visited me around the holidays before I started school.

She got a Master’s degree in education and began teaching in the school systems north of Atlanta. One of the towns she was teaching in became famous for modern-day Klu Klux Clan meetings!

Many years passed. Laura was great about staying in touch, and I knew I would get a birthday card from her! We occasionally saw each other in Cocoa Beach during the holidays when we were home visiting family.

In early 1996, I moved to Georgia to become rich during the software boom of the 1990s. It all happened quickly, and I didn’t tell her I was coming. After I got settled, I went to her house, but—alas—she wasn’t home. I left my business card on her door, which had a similar effect! She was surprised!

I ended up living in Atlanta for 19 years while she was there. In the first 10 years, we spent a lot of time together. We had season tickets to Broadway shows at the Fox Theater. We probably saw three dozen different performances. We saw a couple of concerts; one that I remember was Crosby, Stills, and Nash. She helped me out often, including letting me live with her for a while when my second marriage was crumbling. I became her furniture designer, making several lovely pieces over the years.

Alas, I never got rich and moved back to Cocoa Beach in 2014. She was coming there frequently to help her Mom. Her dad had passed away several years earlier, so she would travel here three or more times a year.

We spend time together going to art shows and various places to eat. In 2015, we went on a Caribbean cruise that hosted Progressive Rock concerts.

We had been contemplating a cruise to Alaska for quite some time. Finally, when I retired in 2018, we embarked on a week-long cruise, followed by a land adventure to Denali National Park.

It was a fantastic trip, and we got along great for two weeks. The highlight was an unbelievably fantastic helicopter ride to a glacier. I will never forget that ride and was happy we did it together!

Her Mom passed away in the early 2020s. She made plans to move to Tennessee to be near Billy. I got to see her a couple of times there. On my last trip in June 2024, I saw her beautiful newly remodeled house and spent some time with just her.

Laura was one of the few people I knew who genuinely made a difference in the world. Although she didn’t have any children of her own, she nurtured hundreds of students as a teacher. She specialized in working with kids with learning disabilities, serving as a bridge to the real world for many of them.

I was married to a woman with a young daughter, Lindsay. Laura and Lindsay became good friends after I bowed out, and I was always pleased about that. She had a natural way of dealing with young children that I admired.

But most of all, she was an incredible friend. I was not always a good friend to her, though. Regardless, I was able to make amends for my more dastardly behavior, and she forgave me. She did insist on reminding me about it from time to time afterward. That was a part of her personality, which I also learned to accept—part of the process!

She used to say she was my little sister. I liked that, especially as the years went by. I could talk to her about most things, and she would listen. Not a lot of people do that very well. She was one of them, and I am thankful for that.

In Memoriam

Rest in Peace, Little Sister ❤️

But Wait! There’s More!

Yes, my childhood friend Robin decided I didn’t have enough of Laura, so he gave me another bag of her ashes. Another example of the kind of behavior I came to loathe hanging around the dude after my return to Cocoa Beach 12 years ago.

What ever! I decided that an appropriate place for this part of her would be in the canal behind her childhood home in Cocoa Beach.

Rest In Peace – again – dear friend!

The Ranch 🐴

Dave & Lisa’s own private Idaho nestled deep in the mountains of North Carolina.

It’s big fun this October as two monster hurricanes rip Florida up. I had planned to visit Brother Dave in mid-October. The timing couldn’t have been better!

Hurricane Season

Something about this Sunday
It’s a most peculiar day
Strollin’ down the avenue
That’s known as A1A
Feelin’ tired and then I got inspired
I knew that it wouldn’t last long
So all alone I walked back home
Sat on the beach and then I made up this song
Jimmy Buffett ~ Trying to Reason with Hurricane Season

Florida hosted two terrifying hurricanes in the past couple of weeks. Helene stomped North Carolina just short of Scaly Mountian.

4 1/2 mile eyewall – 185 mph winds

Milton came out of nowhere – and became a terrifying Cat 5 that churned up the Gulf for a couple of days before scaring the death out of everybody in central Florida. Just to keep things saucy, some killer tornados were spawned. One took the roof off the bank a mere mile north of here. Big fun!

I rode out the storm at Brother Ricks on the mainland and checked things out the next day.

My power pole in the condominium parking lot is due east of me. You can see my yellow shed to the left. The fence came down, too. I had been held up mainly by the bamboo for quite a while now.

The rotten power pole, the object of my scorn for eight years, finally bit the fucking dust and blew over. Good riddance. A new one was installed the day I left for The Ranch.

Scaly Mountain Redux

Lisa and Dave bought their first mountain home about 15 years ago in Scaly Mountian, North Carolina. They have spent much time there recently and were looking for something bigger. They found a lovely, modern house with a spectacular view!

It was initially a horse ranch with a stable and holding pens. Compared to their old place, it is way off the beaten path. It is simply stunning, with a killer west view for sunsets!

Burning palettes on the Ranch! It’s time for rural fun as we channel our inner pyromaniacs and hang with the pups.

The temperature dropped into the 30s. 🥶 We spent a day burning pallets in a fire pit and reminisced about our younger years as pyromaniacs!

I retold the story of the burning can of acetone and discovered Brother Rick had done nearly the same thing!

Hunters Moon in the pasture near the Ranch.

The full moon for October, the Hunters Moon, was stunning from the pasture near their house.

Comet C/2023 A3 on its way to a fiery end in the Sun

We were greeted by their neighbors, who invited us into their home with a breathtaking westward view. They had been stargazing and found the recently discovered comet C/2023 A3. What a fantastic sight!

The Beast 🧌

Dave bought the previous owner’s riding lawn mower. It was quite a beast! I took it for a quick spin—it was enormous fun!

It was a relaxing week. Dave and I built a shoe bench for the garage. Jake and I took some easy walks through the woods.

Smokey Mountain Color

We went on some drives to check out the Fall color. It was just starting to get good! We drove one day into Smokey Mountain National Park near Cherokee, North Carolina.

We also drove into Highlands. The main road between Highlands and Scaly Mountian was severely damaged and closed the day I left. A couple of fallen trees were also in the woods around their house.

We headed home a week later to our new power home. Praying to the almighty Spaghetti Monster for no more fucking hurricanes this year. Ramen!