Thank you For Packing My Parachute ! ! !

Arriving in Honolulu, again!!! - passing over Diamond Head, September 2019, on a long overdue trip to catch up with lifelong mates  . . . 

(Pic above I took in 1992 after leaving Florida - I am using this as the one I took just recently did not turn out clear enough)

Why the strange heading above? - well, below is a True story of what it means and why it pertains to this blog . . .

Charles Plumb was a US Navy jet pilot in Vietnam.

"After 75 combat missions, his plane as destroyed by a surface-to-air missile. Plumb ejected and parachuted into enemy hands. He was captured and spent 6 years in a communist Vietnamese prison. He survived the ordeal and now lectures on lessons learned from that experience.

One day, when Plumb and his wife were sitting in a restaurant, a man at another table came up and said, “You’re Plumb! You flew jet fighters in Vietnam from the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. You were shot down!”

“How in the world did you know that?” asked Plumb.

“ I packed your parachute,” the man replied. Plumb gasped in surprise and gratitude. The man pumped his hand and said, “I guess it worked!” Plumb assured him, “It sure did. If your chute hadn’t worked, I wouldn’t be here today.”

Plumb couldn’t sleep that night, thinking about that man. Plumb says, “I kept wondering what he might have looked like in a Navy uniform: a white hat, a bib in the back, and bell-bottom trousers. I wonder how many times I might have seen him and not even said Good morning, how are you?’ or anything because, you see, I was a fighter pilot and he was just a sailor.”

Plumb thought of the man hours the sailor had spent on a long wooden table in the bowels of the ship, carefully weaving the shrouds and folding the silks of each chute, holding in his hands each time the fate of someone he didn’t know.

Now, Plumb asks his audience, “Who’s packing your parachute?” Everyone has someone who provides what they need to make it through the day. Plumb also points out that he needed many kinds of parachutes when his plane was shot down over enemy territory-he needed his physical parachute, his mental parachute, his emotional parachute, and his spiritual parachute. He called on all these supports before reaching safety.

Sometimes in the daily challenges that life gives us, we miss what is really important. We may fail to say hello, please, or thank you, congratulate someone on something wonderful that has happened to them, give a compliment, or just do something nice for no reason.

As you go through life this week, this month, this year, recognize people who packed your parachute as I am doing, here, with three special people who came into my life many moons ago, and made me a better person because of their unfettered friendship.

Me with Candace & Jay Meyer &  Dana Boardman at Royal Kona Resort

This has been one of the hardest Blogs I have ever written. Normally I just sit down, and along with the pics of the most recent excursion, the words just come out and blend in together.

This blog though comes under different circumstances, which I won't go into here, but those who know, will know.

At left is our home for the next 5 days or  so, The Royal Kona Resort, Kona, the Big Island, Hawaii. A perfect setting to catch up with special friends in this special place . . .

Here is another view of Kona and the Royal Kona Resort from the air (downloaded from the web), to give you a better idea of where we stayed. So close to everything we just walked to most places.

But I guess the best way to do this blog is to show you pictures and places we visited and shared time together.

Here is a view from my room looking back over to

the Kona business district.

First Day: Dana took me to breakfast at one of his local restaurants, Huggo’s. Later I was to find out that the owners of this establishment, own several high-end restaurants in the Kailua/Kona area, which we also visited during our stay.

My 1st night back on the Big Island and the Royal Kona Resort put on a Luau for me . . . no, not really, they do this several times a week for the tourists.

A visit to the Hawaiian islands is not complete without experiencing one of these - a feast featuring lively music & cultural performances showing of the friendliness and hospitality of these amazing people.

So as I sat back and took in the luau, I enjoyed a "Real" Bud, unlike the stuff they produce and try to pass off as Budweiser in Australia. 

The familiar taste bought back many memories as those of you who have followed this blog would know my liking for this brew which I use to take on all of my trips . . . but no more!!

Jay and Candace arrived the next day, and as we haven't seen each other for several years, and had a lot to catch up on, we spent most of the time chatting, eating & drinking in some of Kona's most popular restaurants and bars . . . to me it was like continuing  a conversation I had had yesterday even though it had been many years since we had been together. I'm sure many of you have had that feeling when you catch up with special people.

One of the other reasons we were 

here 

was to check out Dana's new Boat (seen here at right) which is currently berthed at the Honokophau Boat Harbour as seen here at left).

Two of the great restaurants that Dana had organised for us to visit were Mi's Waterfront Bristro, right in Kona and Lava Lava, set right onto the northern beaches up in Kailua Bay - north of the Airport - well worth a visit when you're there.

One of the other places Dana took us to was this beautiful old Coffee Shack, on the left, set above the sloping lava  hills that roll down to  Kealakekua Bay with endless western views over the ocean. Why is this place special - well in my last blog I mentioned that The Big Island was where Captain Cook met his fate . . . well here is where it happened, just below in that little bay. From what I have read he had been here twice before but had to return to this location  due to damage to his boat and as they were thought to be gods due to the colour of their skin etc, one of the crew died showing the locals that they were mortal. The locals then attacked because of the misconception, and Cook was killed. That's about the gist of the story although I'm sure there will be some who will elaborate on this.

Unfortunately, Jay & Candace had committments back home in Florida and had to leave too soon, but it was great to catch up and reminisce and feel the love that these 2 gorgeous people give out every minute of the day. 

I am sure (hoping) that we will do this little trip again and  am looking forward to being in their company one day soon.

Words could never describe my feelings for them - Jay & Candace

"Thankyou for packing my parachute". 

Although Jay & Candace had left, Dana had another special treat for me. On my 2nd last day there, he drove me over to the eastern side of the Island, back to Hilo, where you will remember that I sailed into some 10+ years ago from San Francisco. Here he had arranged for me to catch up with Mike and Ku'ulea Thomas, back at Cronies Bar. Mike, some of you may remember looked after Fete for me while  was back in Australia. 

It was so good to catch up and hear what they had been up  to and I'm sure we will catch up again next time. Mahalo!

As I sat there on my last night, watching the ever beautiful Kona Sunsets and having a Bud or 2, my thoughts drifted to the wonderful friends that made me what I am today.

Jay, Candace and Dana fill a big space in my overall makeup  as they have always been there, whether I knew it or not, and I am ever appreciative of them for everything.

There are also a lot of others who make up the mix and who have also helped pack my parachute and hopefully they know who they are - so to you all, let's keep in touch and catch up soon as we aren't getting any younger. 

Mahalo My Friends!

Here's just a little video recap of this trip that my phone put together without me knowing.

Well, once again, that's all for this blog . . . so until next time - 

Cheers till then! 

.

The little things you take for granted . . .

The above pic was taken in Airlie Beach on arrival on my last trip as you can see from the stack of rubbish on the aft deck which I needed to get into a rubbish  bin on shore pretty quickly.
 Since then I have only posted two Blogs. One in October 2017 upon my return to the Gold Coast from that trip, " As the sun sets on my Winters Sojourn" and the other, "Hawaii, The Big Island - Kona & Hilo" about my pending trip to catch up with a couple of life-long friends.
This Blog however is something totally  different. It's the reason why I came back from that trip and what I did during my convalescence.

At left is the Proserpine Hospital, which is part of the Mackay Hospital system that serves the Whitsunday region.
It was while Bob, Kerry and I were over in beautiful Nara Inlet, see image below, in the Whitsundays, and a  couple of Sundowners after getting stowed away and settling in for the night, that I suddenly started seeing double - No It wasn't the Buddies!!!
Bob, who used to be a lifesaver came back to Fete to give assistance and recognised the symtoms as a possible Stroke.

He immediately called emergency and a boat was despatched from Airlie Beach VMR to come the 40 minutes over to the inlet with a paramedic to render assistance.
I was taken back to Airlie Beach and that's how I ended up at the Proserpine  Hospital where I stayed for 5 days. To that end, I would like to thank the staff, especially Dr Trimble, for all the care that she and the staff provided.
The Result was that I had suffered a TIA - Micro Stroke which is why I am writing this Blog, as a warning to all and sundry to watch your health.

Upon release, I was lucky enough to have another life-long mate, John McCouat seen here at left, collect me from the hospital and deliver me back to Airlie.
As Fete was still out in Nara Inlet, I had to get back out there to her and as I was still seeing double, which the specialists said that would dissipate over the next couple of days+, I would need assistance. Again, two yachties, Billy Gleeson & Gazza (a friend of Bob's from back home in Wilsons Creek), came to the rescue and took me out to Fete and assisted in getting us back to Airlie safely.

But, again, that is not why I am writing this Blog . . . below are the symptoms that I  suffered and the effects that go along with them and how useless you feel  when something like this happens.

Even though I was seeing double, walking was like having drunk a carton of Buddies (Budweiser). I was completely uncoordinated and likely to fall into the drink at any moment. Other things you take for granted, like tying shoe laces on your favourite deck shoes becomes a totally new experience, since I didn't have full use of my left arm or hand.

Again, shaving was a chore as my left eye was affected, seeing the left side of my face became a challenge, which I eventually gave up on until my senses came back a couple of weeks later. The pic of Norman Gunston, below, is what I looked like  after my 1st attempt. And finally, squeezing toothpaste - wow, I can't tell you how much I spilled by squeezing the tube so hard without realising it, and  cutting my nails was an impossibility.

Eventually, as stated in a previous Blog, "End of my Winter's Sojourn", I had a couple of good friends bring Fete back to the Gold Coast for me as I was incapable of sailing in the state I was in as you can imagine. I have now been back almost 2 years and have regained all of my faculties and am planning a new trip next year which I am sure you will see in future blogs. . . .

But the Moral to this story is . . . Never take anything for granted and enjoy every minute of your life and always have your health checks when your doctor tells you otherwise you could end up wobbling around like I was . . .

So as always - Cheers for now & until next time, take care of your health!!!

Hawaii - The Big Island - Hilo & Kona

Fete in Hilo Hawaii - The Big Island!!!

Most followers of this blog will recognise this pic, and a lot of you have asked me about it and the location.
Well, it was the 1st stop on our way from Napa/San Francisco to Australia back some 10 years ago now. Hasn't the time just flown by !!! It is in a bay on the Big Island, Hawaii, called Radio Bay in Hilo Harbour and was our first landfall after battling storms, engine & instrument failures, torn sails, flooding engine compartments and many more such incidents, too numerous to tell on, as Gilligan would say:, "On that Fateful Leg of the Trip".

 

Above are some more pics of Fete in Radio Bay, Hilo where I left her for several months to go back to Australia to recover from the trip over from the States. The bottom pic, taken by Mike & Ku'ulei Thomas, whom I left in charge of Fete during that period,  emphasising Fete against the dark sea and background, is caused by a small hurricane that passed over Hilo in December 2009. Mike told me that waves were breaking way over the break walls and the wind was howling, but Fete managed to get thru unscathed again.

Why I say again, is that Fete's original owner, Eugene Eisenberg,  went thru a typhoon off Japan in Fete on his voyage around the Pacific back in the 90's.

The Big Island has always had special memories for me as I have a great mate who lives on the western side of the Island, in Kona. His name is Dana, or should I say Dr Dana Boardman as he is now referred too.

That's him to the left back in the days when we were fishing for marlin up on the Ribbon Reefs, north of Cairns, Australia.


 

I first met Dana back in the early 90's when I was invited to go game fishing with another mate, Jay Meyer.
That's Jay & his wife Candice at left, and Dana & me at right catching my 1st ever marlin on board Warrigal.
I will never forget the experience or the forming of a life long bond with these two whom I am proud to call my brothers.

It was our first day out from Lizard Island on the abovementioned trip, Dana & I were in the cockpit watching the swell rolling by as we trolled down from #10 to #8 Ribbon Reefs, when one of us said: "It would be good sailing out here today" - almost 20 years later, I was in Napa Marina working on Fete and Dana came up for a visit. From that very first meeting on Warrigal, I knew we would be Maaaaaaates from then on in, and so it was & is today.

And at left, here is the third part of the trio. The man who introduced me to Jay and Dana - Greg (Muddy) Edwards.
Mud had been in the game fishing business for most of his life as his father, (Bald Eagle) Bill Edwards was a skipper of his own boats and taught Mud everything.
Here we are at left on the Big Island in front of a coffee producer of note back in 92. Of course I bought some, but had a few problems getting it back into Australia thru customs as you could imagine.

Now back to Kona, below is a description from Wikipedia of Kona, but it will never be able to tell you of the beauty of the area or the diversity of the Big Island.
"In the Hawaiian language, kona means leeward or dry side of the island, which I can vouch for as on the other side, Hilo, has over 250+ days of rain a year as stated in one of my past blogs.
Kona is also the home of the world famous Hawaiian Ironman which occurs in October of each year and is  also the place that Captain Cook met his fate in 1779.
The volcanic slopes of Hualalai and Mauna Loa in the Kona District, provide a unique microclimate for growing coffee and Kona coffee is one of the premium coffee specialities in the world - hence my purchase of the Bong Brothers coffee as mentioned above.
And finally, in the Pop Culture world, Kona is the region which served as the basis for the Beach Boys song "Kona Coast" . So now the history lesson is over so you will have to travel there yourselves to enjoy it.

Here is the King Kamehameha Hotel where the ironman starts and finishes and where Muddy an I stayed back in 92 after helping Jay with his stand at the Miami Boat Show. 

Above are a couple of short clips that Dana sent me of recently, which I will be seeing in September this year when Jay, Dana & myself will all be in Kona for a catchup. Looking forward to it with great anticipation.

I can't wait to catch up with these two although I think my liver is not quite up to what it use to be, and I'm a lot older, (not wiser!) than I used to be, but I am sure we will reminisce on all of the good times and other happenings that occurred over the years . . .

Some things  will never be told about our adventures . . . but those who know, will know!!!

 Well that's all for this blog . . . but as always, until next time . . . CHEERS!