"Raft-Up" With Hanley Sunday Afternoon

[Administrator]

Here's the scoop:

4:00 pm at Procolino's Pizza in Chestertown (directions at the end). Stroll in to the back room, find us, pull up a chair, then go order what you'd like to eat. It's all good.

There will be room for all. Don will be there, but I doubt that Brenda will make it. She is returning from a visit with family.

Looking forward to seeing you.

Bill

ps: Hanley is acquainting himself with scrapple as we speak.

pps: I should have warned him about goose season being open.

ppps: Had dinner with Hanley at a local honky-tonk last nite. Notice on the menu: "Please don't steal the salt and pepper shakers. We already stole them once." Sign on the wall: " Our credit manager is Helen Waite. If you wish to establish a credit account, you can go to Helen Waite."

Directions to Procolino's:

Procolino's Pizzeria
711 Washington Avenue, Suite 9
Chestertown, MD, 21620

[edwardc]

thanks Bill!. I'll be there.

[lat 64]

I just can't make it—the jet is down for repairs y'know.
However, say "hi" for me.

Some day I would love to take a trip down the ICW—maybe start from Maine and do the whole coastal thing. I am looking forward to an empty nest and a willing admiral.

Russ

[sastanley]

Russ...one reality about the ICW is I don't think it is all really the "IC" part. :rolleyes:

[TomG]

Bill,

Although I can't stay long, I'll be there. Looking forward to it!

[ndutton]

All this talk of the ICW reminds me of a memorable experience.

In 1990 I sold my Westsail to a couple in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Once funds were transferred my role changed from seller to their West Coast representative fully authorized including power of attorney. They left for home while I decommissioned the boat, supervised the bunker loading on a lowboy trailer and sent it on its way cross country.

At their end the boat had to be recommissioned plus some new equipment installed. The new owners figured the best man for the job was the one who built the boat and did the decommissioning so they flew me to Myrtle Beach to receive the boat and put her back together.

Myrtle Beach did not have a boatyard with the lifting capacity to manage the Westsail so we shipped the boat to Shalotte, North Carolina. After relaunching we would navigate the ICW south to Coquina Harbor, Myrtle Beach, about thirty miles away. The boat arrived in good condition and once off the truck we set to work.

September in the South is plenty hot and being a California boy my whole life I was most comfortable in my normal attire of shorts and Tee shirt. Well, I learned the first day Shalotte had an agricultural culture, overalls were the uniform of the day and shorts were only worn by California f*****s (rhymes with maggots).:o

I figured the only way I could alter their opinion would be to work hard and get the job done. The second day we were painting the bottom when a weather system rolled in. Everybody went into the yard office to avoid the lightning where we hung out for an hour or so and had a few cold ones. It seemed I might have overcome my appearance by then, thank goodness.

The channel the yard fronted was part of the ICW and while we were BS’ing in the office there was a large cruising sailboat that turned the bend. It was a distance off when I first noticed it but what immediately caught my eye was the slender bronze body standing on the stern wearing only bikini bottoms. This isn't all that uncommon at Catalina. Am I a pig? Well maybe but I’m a guy, can’t help it. Even at a distance it caught my attention and I of course mentioned it.;)

Only when it passed in front of the yard did we realize that body belonged to a guy wearing some European slingshot and my reputation was sealed.:o

Y'all have a good time this afternoon.

[hanleyclifford]

All of which only serves to emphasize why you need to be able to adjust your regulator, Neil.:D

[ndutton]

Nein, nyet, negatory.

Seems the adjustable regulator bent is an East Coast phenomenon much like margaritas on the rocks. I am however appreciative of your (and others') candid reporting of your experiences, helps me avoid the problems.

If there's a positive that came from my ICW experience it was to admit to myself the time had come to visit the optometrist.

[lat 64]

Neil,
So many inappropriate jokes floating in my brain. :D
This sounds like a good rationalization to get those Steiner Commander binocs I've always wanted.

Do we just call you "Speedo" now?

Thanks for the laugh,
r.

[sastanley]

Neil. Good story.

Hanley...a better retort. ;)

Those California boys think they know it all, don't they!

Hanley, sorry I couldn't make the raft up..that's a long drive for me (I had to go sailing today too...local Frostbite series!). Hopefully we'll meet up when you stop in Solomons! :cool:

[edwardc]

Well, we had a wonderful "raft-up" with Hanley at Procolino's. Bill, myself, TomG, Hanley and Don himself, from left to right in the photo.

We spent about 2 1/2 hrs discussing A4s, sailing, trips, and sea stories. Afterwards, I followed Bill & Hanley back to Bill's dock to have a first-hand look at Destiny and all her A4 enhancements.

[sastanley]

great pics Ed! Since I've only met you and the Administrator....well, you guys look the same as I saw you last...but, everyone else??? DUNNO!? It is nice to see a picture of the legendary Don Moyer with his face not buried in an engine!!! :cool:

[jpian0923]

Who is going to eat that last slice??? And, is that Coke in that pitcher or a dark lager? :D

p.s. Not as I envisioned you guys.:D

[tenders]

> p.s. Not as I envisioned you guys

Yeah, everybody seems to clean up better than expected!

[Administrator]

...everybody seems to clean up better than expected!

By prior agreement, close-ups were not permitted.

Bill

[roadnsky]

I'm still interested to know if that's coke?
And... someone didn't eat their crust!

[edwardc]

Who is going to eat that last slice??? And, is that Coke in that pitcher or a dark lager? :D

p.s. Not as I envisioned you guys.:D


That was only the first pizza. More was on the way.

The beer was by bottles. That was a pitcher of diet coke!

[roadnsky]

Ahhhh, I feel sooo much better!
Thanks Ed

[jpian0923]

Diet Coke is to Coke as E10 is to ________?

Fill in the blank!

p.s. The crust is the best part. :D

[67c&ccorv]

> p.s. Not as I envisioned you guys

Yeah, everybody seems to clean up better than expected!

We have the same sort of thing with dispatchers in my work place...over the years you build up a mental picture in your head about the voice you hear on the radio nearly everytime you go to work;

...and when you finally meet them in person it's never as you pictured it in your head.

:D

[CalebD]

From the small world department:
I was on my friends Endeavor 32' on a mooring in Rock Hall Saturday night. The next morning we explored up the river a little and there was a nicely equipped cruising boat anchored all by it's self. It could have been Hanley's boat but I don't remember the name on the transom.
We had a great but brisk sail over from Annapolis on Saturday but very little wind on Sunday for our ride back. Leaving Rock Hall on Sunday we saw 3 Bald Eagles sitting in a tree north of the creek.
I don't carry an Iphone or other portable internet device so I only found out about your 'raft up' after I got back to NY.
I love the drive up route 301 and was tempted by all the exits showing roads to Chestertown. One day I hope to visit there. It sure is a beautiful place, the Eastern Shore that is.

[Maurice]

Great Pics guys. Looks like "ye" had a decent parlé!

[TomG]

I was fortunate enough to attend the Hanley Raft-up this past Sunday. Of course I had seen Don's handsome face on the ignition and cooling videos I got for Christmas last year. I recognized Ed from his avatar as soon as I walked in. Hanley was just as I pictured, but without the strong Mahtha's Vinyahd twang that always played in my head when I read his posts. My surprise was in meeting Bill. I always pictured Bill wearing a sweater vest with one of those green visors that bankers used to wear. I was wrong on both counts.

It was delightful evening full of stories and anecdotes on sailing and our common bond, the mighty A-4. As an A-4 neophyte, I can admit I was humbled and awed by the experience represented at the table and spent most of the evening listening and trying not to say something overtly stupid. I think I mostly succeeded. If the opportunity ever presents itself, I highly recommend an A-4/Moyer raft-up for anyone. It was truly a grand evening.