Tuesday, February 26, 2013

On the Edge of Big Blue!


  
  I'm in Beaufort, right now riding the high of my life. We sailed into here two days ago. Life has been so eventful since Chesapeake, Va.  We have met so many people from amazing people riding the same energy plane as us and some in more negative realms. The old girl has held up better then we could have ever hoped taking anything thrown at her! Almost sunk her once and have had the most peaceful days in the sun sailing the inter-coastal. The first person we met on the sailboat was a old hippie named Dimebag. We invited him on our boat for dinner and he returned our offering with two boxes of wine. So we sat around passing a small joint drinking wine talking about what brought us to this point. Dimebag is on his way to Panama City, Fl in a 25 ft hunter with no compass, sea charts, or batteries for his VHF radio. Completely riding on faith, but I am sure I will see the old salty man pass us by in Jacksonville Beach. We met a young guy named ray that owned a small BBQ joint in town. After talking he asked us if he could bring three dozen chicken wings over and hang out on Alama'r after he closed down. We threw back a few beers and told him what we were doing. I felt we inspired him  to travel. He said  he would meet me up one day in the Caribbean. Last day in Chesapeake we were standing outside of the Farm Fresh store and a stranger walked out and turned to us and said " I hope everything is working out the way you planned it, its only going to get better." Then he walked off not even expecting a reply. We took it as a message from the universe! we sailed on, after we got our starter back. We were outrunning a crazy snow storm one day across the Alammara sound in between Virginia and North Carolina. We sailed full speed into the mouth of the alligator river were a giant swing bridge stood in the way. I called the bridge tender on the radio , when he responded he told us he wasn't allowed to open the bridge unless the winds were under 35 mph. So we turned on the motor and went full sail downwind in front of this massive storm on our tail. At a half mile still the bridge hadn't opened. The bridge tender got on the radio and said "we are not liable if the sails get caught on the bridge. Are you going through with them up?" I responded "Yes. I got the storm on my tail" he responded "go right ahead Cap". At a quarter mile the bridge started opening. At 1000 ft it was finally open and I had Alama'r lined up and clear to pass through. At 500 ft my steering all of a sudden locked up to port so I turned full speed starboard to avoid smashing into the bridge right into the massive storm. It hit us full force with waves crashing over the bow with sleet. Tyler and Kayne looked at me like what is going on and I replied "I have no steering down the sails". They worked quick as we drifted towards the bridge. I over steered into the wind and could not steer back. So I punched the throttle as we were parallel to the bridge and as soon as they downed the sails we dropped anchor and caught 200 ft from the bridge. I ran down below and found my steering cable was loose and slipped off my rudder post. So I repaired it and made sure it would not happen again. The bridge tender radioed us and told us of a marina a mile away because he said the bridge was closed till the winds died down. When we pulled into the marina Kayne realized we were right down the road from his cousin's house. So he called Dwain and he brought us his homemade moonshine and some homegrown. We caught a great buzz to let our nerves and adrenaline subside. It was a great feeling! After 6 days of sailing the North Carolina Swamp we ran out of food and water. We were down to our last liter when we spotted a town called Belhaven so we pulled into there town harbor and resupplied Alama'r and went out in the sleepy town of 1600 people. We made friends with Becky the owner of the local pool hall. The local Coast Guard was in there and bought us some beers when we told them what we were doing. The next morning we cast off lines to leave and realized that Alama'r was sitting high and dry. The town had not dredged there new harbor for some reason. We waited till high tide and still she sat 6inches dry so we were forced to play tug of war with Alama'r from across the harbor. After we pulled her off the dock we ran lines to my windlass for my anchor and winched her out of the harbor while the locals gawked at the spectacle. We set sail for Beaufort were we where greeted by a pod of dolphins that went straight to riding the bow. I brought out the drum and gave them some beats and they responded by jumping and surfing Alama'rs wake. We took it as a greeting from the Atlantic Ocean. Today we had to hitchhike twice back and fourth from the grocery store. When we were walking through we were stopped by Tyler's old buddy Matt from college. Matt saw us walking the street. We made arrangements to party tonight at the Backstreet Pub which claims to be the funkiest bar from Maine to Venezuela. I'm Stoked! I still have yet to introduce my crew Tyler and Kayne. They are the most carefree individuals I have ever met. They both are documentary filmmakers that quit there jobs in Jax Beach a year ago to search for a sailboat to start a adventure on. They also co-founded a charity called Never Say Never Pirate Camp which teaches amputee children how to sail and inspire them to fulfill there dreams. Tyler is a party animal like myself searching far and wide for a good time. He is a awesome cook and is super down to earth with a heart that goes out to anyone in need. He is set on making the best documentary possible and full-fill a dream of his to show the world to truly make there dreams reality! Kayne is more reserved but is on the same boat. He is down to party also but more of a lover in life. He speaks wisdom. He told me that he hears words from the universe and writes them down. I feel honored to be the first person to publicize one of them. This is one I really liked.

"You are a warrior of light
set upon this planet to learn, train, and develop
And all that exist, depends on your success
Be advised, there are few who exist
that hold themselves to such high ideals
they will settle
they will extinguish their flames
they will stop believing in themselves
and this is why you must believe
as there is no advice upon which to ask of others
not family, friends, nor loved ones alike
there is no one to help in such struggles
as it is u uniquely yours and yours alone
With that said, stay focused, remember often
You are the warrior of light, equipped at birth
with every element needed to be successful
Believe and Create!"
                                                          Kayne Mcphillips

That is one of my favorite she has shared with me. They both are have the same ideals as myself. We are on a mission. Don't know what it is yet but we all feel it!  We met on Jan 1st 2013 and the rest has been history. We are just taking it as it comes.



Until next time my friends- Much love!
Peace,
Brian











This is a video of Alama'r sailing the Chesapeake at the tail end of a 100 year storm a couple weeks ago.

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