We can’t see the future but we know it’s coming fast. So although we’re not quite yet fleeing the Nazis like the von Trapp family did, we are putting the boating life on hold in anticipation of the impending uncertainty of certain chaos. Our plan to cruise to Alaska is yesterday’s news, and yesterday’s news is old news.
You know the line about the happiest two days of your life being the day you buy a boat and the day you sell that boat? Not true. We loved Misty Pearl and hated selling her; we love Tumbleweed and hate selling her. In fact, it’s all that we can do to keep from crying, because she’s gonna be a hard act to follow. But we know that the sun’s settin’ fast, and just like they say, nothing good ever lasts. That’s the way that the world goes ’round.
No need to worry about us though. There’s lots of pretty thoughts that we ain’t yet thunk. Plus, gettin’ by on gettin’ by’s our stock in trade. We’re letting it roll, letting the high times carry the low, just living our life easy come, easy go.
Long-time followers know how much we relish Canada, the True North proud and free. With glowing hearts this summer we’re going to explore more of it, including spots unreachable by boat. There’s lots of things along the road we’d surely like to see. Metaphorically speaking, there’s gold in them hills and it’s waiting there for us, out where the lonesome wind blows on the open highway with the truckers and the kickers and the cowboy angels. Probably stop and see some friends in a prairie town.
No boat, however, means no Doug and Dana and a Boat. Duh. But we’re two of those who know that life is just a leap of faith, and we’ve got ramblin’ fever in our blood. So we’re going to leave the blog up, and if we buy another boat—or visit the canals of Europe, the Mediterranean Sea, or other exotic watery locales—maybe we’ll post about it.
This all started as a cruising diary to share with family members who thought we’d lost our minds when we sold our house and cars and moved off of dry land. Now and again we threw in a few musings to entertain ourselves. Somehow over the years since that first post in 2017, a surprising number of folks found the blog and engaged with us along the way. Even if we haven’t met a lot of you, we feel like friends. Thanks for your interest.
For now, we’re gonna put out the fire and call in the dogs, although the road goes on forever and the party never ends.
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* Special thanks to Julie Andrews (as Maria von Trapp), Mickey Newbury, John Prine, Kris Kristofferson, Jerry Jeff Walker, David Allen Coe, Jimmy Buffett, The Marshall Tucker Band, Gram Parsons, Billy Joe Shaver, Randy Bachman, Iris DeMent, Townes van Zandt, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Guy Clark, Robert Earl Keen, Merle Haggard, whoever wrote “O Canada,” and of course, the King of Country music, George Jones. Without their combined contributions, this post would’ve been far less awkwardly constructed.
I have so enjoyed your funny and to the point boating blog. I am also moving past boating (for now) and selling our beautiful Blue Diamond. Bless you both!
Thanks! Best of luck in your future non-boating life.
I hope you’ll continue to blog about your travel as y, even if they don’t include a boat.
Nah. Driving around isn’t nearly as interesting as boating around.
Wow. Will definitely miss your humor. Not really some was over my head. But y’all are always welcome to visit where ever we may be. Either home or on the boat. We may be looping for a third time if we don’t turn Aron Ms and come back down east coast for the winter . Or we may finish our third loop and be home for a while. Stay in touch. Ps I’m still loving the 7412.
Charlie! Apparently y’all are just Looping fools. We’re kind of jealous. We’ll definitely try to corner you and Robin next time we’re bopping around the east coast.
I wish I could post with some witty and appropriate lyrics, but say it ain’t so!* Loved your blog. And I even got your double entendres, cultural references, and song lyrics…….most of the time. Please do come back occasionally and entertain us.
* I hope it wasn’t a fit of depression caused by Tennessee losing to Kentucky TWICE this basketball season that caused you to make such a rash decision.
Losing to Kentucky at anything is embarrassingly horrific, but no, we don’t let it affect our life choices. Except for how much alcohol to consume; one of us lets losses to Kentucky affect how much alcohol he consumes. And also, that same one of us is ashamed to go out in public after a loss to Kentucky, so there’s that. Fortunately it doesn’t happen very often.
Hope everything goes the way you wanted. Love you
Thanks Aunt Dee!
Doug and Dana, we have been avid readers of your blog and are going to Miss your wit and photos.
We enjoyed meeting you in Chicago and following your adventures. This fall we are planning on heading south on OMA on our great loop.
Thanks for the memory, fair winds!
Paul and Suzanne
Oma God! She’s finally ready? Congratulations. All that time and effort is finally going to pay off. The CYC experience gave us a great story that we tell often, and we use your Asian carp experience when we need to cite incontrovertible evidence that sailors are bat-shit crazy. Good luck on your Loop. It’s the experience of a lifetime.
It has been an absolute pleasure to follow along on your travels. Your blog — with the photography, candor, and humor — is the best. Barry and I wish you happy days and happy travels as you begin the next chapter.
Thanks Robin! You may not be done with us though. We’ll happily detour to Deltaville next time we’re all in Virginia at the same time. Best to you and Barry.
How I have enjoyed your adventures, introducing me to places I have never seen before, some of which I have. I have loved all your humor and insights into the places you have been. How blessed you have been to have
had all your adventures. From Keith’s classmate Kay Pinckney Braziel (Class of ’56 from Austin High School)
Thanks Kay! Take care, and keep Austin weird.
We love you guys – beyond words. We hope you post your land based adventures and we hope that Tumbleweed, formerly know as the first Exhale, will find new owners who love her as much as you did!!
Carry On my wayward sons …
Rick and Mary, M/V Exhale
In multiple ways, Exhale has been a huge part of our boating adventures. We’ll always be grateful for all of it.
I think your truck will need a name. Lots to post about as you cruise across our expansive country. Just remember to stay within 75 miles of our southern border so you still have people to see.
😍🇨🇦🐻❄️
Far be it from me to criticize where anyone hangs his hat, but let’s see….. Summer on the hard or Summer floating somewhere offshore British Columbia. What do I not understand?
Ordinarily we’d agree that moving off the boat is a poor decision. Hopefully it’ll turn out that way.
Shocked but not surprised at the turn of events in your long-term plans given the the state of the world right now. I’ll always cherish the friendly banter we had during your last UP sojourn even after you realized that I’d hoodwinked you into detouring to Escanaba (but then you’d never have had the pleasure of discovering the Eskymos and our cute little politically incorrect mascot). BTW, The Stone House burned to the ground in January under mysterious circumstances. I thought of of you (in a good way, not in a playing with matches way) when I learned the news. I’m certain one of your colleagues from the Michigan Bar is looking into the circumstances.
Please tell our Canadian cousins that we still love them, we just have some family drama to work through for the next few years.
Cheers,
Scott
Scott “Don’t call me Steve” Bakran! Great to hear from you. Hope all is well and you safely navigate these terrifying times.