The Best Years of Our Lives Voyages on the Xenophora

By Diane Shaw

This is the story of an adventure by a family of three who set out from Key Largo, Florida to go up the mighty Amazon River; and what happened to prevent their final destination and the many happenings along the way. Many are funny and some are hair raising. Also included are the exciting times on their first two owned boats and their experience in the Devil's Triangle and what led to the purchase of the 53 foot Gulfstar and that adventure.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jul 3, 2012
• ISBN: 9781477213636

Diane Shaw

She is a southern lady who attended an all girls college. She met a southern man who loved adventuring and exploring. Together they gathered many wonderful memories from many different places and different nationalities and about different ways people live. She is an artist, however, never had any professional training. She is self taught. She believes this story of their experience will tell others about interesting points to visit and fun things to do, also if they decide on an adventure of their own it will be most helpful.

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© 2012 by Diane Shaw. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 05/30/2012

ISBN: 978-1-4772-1362-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4772-1361-2 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4772-1363-6 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012909878

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Acknowledgement

Introduction

Boat 1-25’ Columbia

Trip 1-0n Columbia

Boat 2-31’ Allmand

Boat 3-53’Gulfstar

Up the Mississippi River

Three Months in Bahamas

Xenophora to Venezuela

Dedicated to

My husband Skip who is

Always by my side for support

In all type of situations and

My sons Tim and Rob, also their

Wives and children

This book will hopefully be of assistance to those boaters taking a trip through the Carribbean. At the time we went there were no books to inform us of things to see, what to expect nor places to purchase supplies. We thought we had to take everything we might need for the entire time we were on the trip. However, we found we could purchase can food for less than we could state side.

Hope this will help you have an enjoyable and memorable trip.

Acknowledgement

To all those we met on our trip, I want to thank you for helping make our trip so much fun. This brought back such wonderful memories of a really fun time, whether for a long period of time or a short one we were able to share. You each helped to make this a wonderfully once in a lifetime memory Thanks everyone

Introduction

I married Skip Shaw, an adventurous man who had the love of the sea in his blood. Guess it was his whole family; especially his mother, Donna Watson Shaw’s side of the family. He grew up on Largo sound and the edge of the Florida Straits in Key Largo. He spent many hours fishing, boating and swimming in this area from age 5 to 18 when he joined the US Air Force after graduating from high school. After basic training in Amarillo, Texas he was stationed at Columbus Air Force Base in Columbus, Mississippi and at that time I, Diane Crawford was attending Mississippi State College for women in Columbus and that is where this water loving boy met this Mississippi country girl; who grew up on a farm in New Albany and was taught all the important things in life by sweet and very loving parents, David and Frances Crawford. Within one year we were married and living in Key Largo.

Boat 1-25’ Columbia

In the late 70’s we built a restaurant which was designed for fast food and a chain called Ranch House. We got it into full operation and one day he spotted a 25 foot Columbia Sloop sailboat, which was a must have. This little boat was a great way for the family to relax and get away from the business for while. These were days before cell phones, so we had total peace and quiet on the boat. We would put the hibachi grill on the back deck and prepare dinner, listen to pretty music and anchor up one of the creeks off Largo sound for a few hours. Sometimes we would take a day and go out for day sail and occasionally stay anchored out for the night.

Trip 1-0n Columbia

We decided on a trip over to Bimini; well this was a really a slow boat to China. Every time we left the dock the weather was sunny and calm and beautiful but let us get offshore and always a big blow would come up. We left the dock for Bimini about 2 AM.Most all day we had been busy loading food and supplies and friends gathered the night before for a bon voyage party, so not much sleep that night, this was an odd hour to be leaving out on a long trip. I wanted all of us to get showers before leaving, so we went home to do that and ended up with all plumbing backed up and overflowing onto the floor. Many towels to mop up this water, my desire was to leave all laundry clean. Back to the dock we went and got aboard. Skip steered till about 8 AM then told me and our sons Tim and Rob; Tim at this time is about 11 and Rob is seven. He told us, the sails were set and to keep going in that direction and he was going down for a little while to get a some sleep. About three hours later Tim says ‘mom the wind has changed and we need to change the sails.’ I knew I did not know much about sailing and did not think an 11-year-old would know anything. I seemed to forget that he and his Dad took many trips and he knew a lot. Shortly Skip wakes up and sees we are almost back to our original starting place so he adjusts the sails and we head out again. All day we sail upon rolling seas and Rob is throwing up now it turns dark and at every wave crest we look quickly around in all directions for the red flashing tower of Bimini. Nothing insight. Meanwhile, the Loran readings say we have arrived at Bimini. Obviously it is not working, so at 10 PM and we turn about and headed back toward Miami. We can see the glow in the sky from all of Miami’s lights. The seas roughen up even more and the wind has really started to blowhard and rain was coming in under the Bimini top. I got Skip a raincoat and tried to get dry clothes on him. He thanked me and said now go back downstairs and stay dry. Then I heard him talking to himself and went up to see if he was all right. Over my left shoulder I saw a strange iridescent glowing light and asking what is that? And he replied I do not know but I am glad you see it also because I thought I was starting to hallucinate. He turned the boat in the opposite direction from the light and as hard as the wind was blowing, the sails flapping furiously and the boat bobbed up and down on the big waves and did not want to come about in any direction. After a few minutes the boat finally turned. We sailed along beside this strange light for about an hour. It had the appearance of a white sandy beach with coconut trees. This blocked out the horizon with the glow in the sky of the lights of Miami. Later this light just disappeared, and we continued to sail along. Then it reappeared on the opposite side of the boat, and later just disappeared again. About 8:30 AM we tied up at Pier 66 Marina in Fort Lauderdale Florida. We got off the boat and checked into the hotel. Got showers and went to bed for a few hours sleep, about 35 hours had passed since any of us had slept. We awoke feeling much better but very hungry, so we dressed and went to the restaurant to eat. The pier is famous for its rotating bar at the top and we went up and watch the boats going out to sea. We only knew the strange lights we had just witnessed and felt that if we had continued sailing into the very strange lights we would not be here today. That was our experience with what is known as the Devils triangle. We left Pier 66 and started for Key Largo. We stopped for the night at Key Biscayne State Park. Skip, Rob and Tim walked away to find some parts they wanted and I was left on the boat. We were anchored with the stern of the boat to the dock. I noticed the anchor seem to be dragging; so I went forward picked it up and pitched it out as far as I could; which naturally was not far enough. The boat kept getting closer and closer to the concrete seawall. So I sit on the backend of the boat with my legs stretched out touching the sea wall holding it off. It starts getting dark and misting rain and I start crying and wondering just how much longer they are going to be gone. I needed some help. They return and begin to laugh at me. I had to then confess I tried to start the alcohol stove and start our dinner and got the curtain on fire and to put it out I poured water on the stove. So now Skippy has that mess to deal with. Finally all is settled, dinner is over and we get to bed for the night. Come morning we head out again for Key Largo. It is raining and I am steering the boat, while the boys are inside and Skip is sitting against the doorway and he says, why don’t you come over here and get out of the rain? Gee whiz, I just don’t know why ; I’m just a dumb female trying to help and learn, I have made so many dumb mistakes on this trip already.

Boat 2-31’ Allmand

We went to the Miami boat and sail show. There we saw a John Allman 31 foot Sloop and liked it very much. This boat had some comforts, room and privacy. It had two bedrooms, a bath, and a small kitchen. The draft was shallow, 3’10", which would make it easy to get into quiet and calm anchorages for a night. We did a lot of traveling on this boat. Very happy with this pretty boat so had cushions specially made and covered in red velvet. Our first trip was to the Berry Islands in the Bahamas. Skip’s high school reunion had just come around and one of his best buddies from Connecticut came in for it and wanted to take a trip with us on the boat. I got everything needed for the trip all loaded aboard and the morning of leaving I told skip that all food and things you will need are there and I will fly over and meet you. There was that Devils triangle memory still in my head. But when I went with them to untie the ropes I stepped aboard and this was the most beautiful trip imaginable. We even sat in the cockpit and played cards and they did not blow away. We came in on the north end of the Berry island chain and checked out every island in the chain. At Chub the friends decided to fly home. Time now for this country girl to learn to swim and to steer a boat and be there to help my hubby. At this time I learned there were beautiful things to see in the ocean, gigantic golden corals