Back home and safe.
by Ferg
11 days.
1928 miles.It was sad to leave Tranquility Base, I didn't what to come home. The
numbers were dwindling and it was inevitably time to push on. I went up to
see the Wright brothers memorial first, then pushed hard south for about for
about 14 hours.It was the hardest I've pushed my little VW camper. Loaded down with surf,
skate, and camping gear, a case of Alpo for Lucy, and pulling a small boat
trailer, she averaged around 18mpg at 63mph.Near the end, she was struggling: broken sliding door runner, leaky exhaust
manifold by 4th cylinder, drippy oil temp meter, worn axle nut that needed
tightening with each gas stop, and strange groans and vibrations I couldn't
identify. Like an Okinawa dive bomber limping back to USS Yorktown, I
reached Tampa. Less than a mile from my home, she ruptured a brake fluid
line. At 5am she limped up to my driveway slowly, where she'll probably sit
for awhile.No regrets though for pushing the camper's limits. She took good care of me
for 6 days proir to meeting the guidos. I took my time up the seeing as
much of the coastline from Ponce inlet to the Outer Banks as possible,
rising early, and seeing museums and civil war battlegrounds on the way.I'll post my journal entries on that part later.
As for GPY2K1, it was as great as any foreign trip I've taken to meet up
with everyone. The joy and friendship were almost overwelming for me. I
was glad to put faces and personalities to the new school of ASers. Others
were nice to finally meet after a long history of correspodence. Most
everyone that I've met before backed out this year. You guys really missed
it.It was great to see Foon again. I want to thank him for his role as master
of ceremonies. He can throw a party. Rod, KC, Lana, I felt like it was
your house and I thank you for opening it up to everyone. It was a noble
move. I didn't properly tell you about my dog. I hoped to she'd be a
charmer and I was prepared to make different arrangements. Of course,
everybody loves Lucy.I buddied up with Andy and Neal for the surf hunt for awhile. Neal had me
in stitches with a couple of his stories. Andy and I, "the gulf coast
contingent", seemed well matched for the knee-high waves. We got a little
too close a few time though. Once his lost board was in front of me. To
avoid hitting it I jumped on it and tried to keep going. Another time I
slipped popping up, while riding on my knees Andy decided to sit on my back.
Foon called us "The Ferg and Andy Show"I can't say enough about Dee Dee. When I was young I knew an older hippy
chick the lived on a small farm, where she hosted cookouts, bonfires, and
sang songs with the guitar. Meeting Dee Dee was like connecting with that
old lost friend. From the moment she walked into Tranquility Base and
presented everyone with fresh handmade leighs, she glowed with the aura of a
noble Hawaiian queen. Everything she does and says is filled with goodness.
It's hard not to look at yourself in judgement after being around someone
like that. Todd buddied up with Dee Dee and they seemed well matched, Todd
has a similiar glow to him. At one point I watched him playing with Lucy on
the beach. There was a special charm with how he'd joke around with her.
It made me think about the kids he works with back home. Thank you Dee Dee
all the salads, sidedishes and snacks you prepared each day.I wish I could say more about everyone. Edmund, Sarge, I'm glad we found
time to hang and talk for awhile. I look forward to surfing with you all
again someday.Ferg.
Posted to the alt.surfing newgroup
From: Ferguson (ferg@cityisp.net)
Subject: Back home and safe.
Newsgroups: alt.surfing
Date: 2001-10-11 11:20:32 PSTSearch the thread at Google here.