The Journey

We Are Out at Sea for a While...

Well if you want to catch up with us for the next few weeks you need to head to Magic Wind's Blog and read there. We are heading out to the Florida Keys on the boat. We will be visiting Key West, Vaca Key and Key Largo and a bunch of points in between.

So head on up to: http://bpwmagic.typepad.com/magicwind, and keep updaded on our sailing travels for the next few weeks.

We are winding down our season here in Fort Myers Beach and will be hitting the road pretty hard the first of June to head to Colorado for the Renaissance Festival there in Larkspur, CO. We will be leaving here and heading to South Carolina to see Brad & Stacie and the Riana & Mallory. Then off to Illinois to see Pat's sister Debbie and her husband Dave. Then off to Kansas City for a night to catch up Pat's brothers Denny and Mike. Then off to Colorado to set up for the next couple of months, June and July.

We just got in from the Bahamas. We took a short cruise to see Nassau and Grand Turk. It was a good trip with our travel friends Pat, Katie and Iva. Bro. Dan also took advantage of Iva's other half's ticket. He couldn't make it at the last moment and we could change the name and give him a chance to see that part of the world.

So keep up with us at the link above and we will be in touch soon...

A Lot of Stuff Going on & Staying Busy!

I guess I'll have to resign to the fact that I'm only going to update this blog every month or so. It seems like I just don't have the time lately to come up here and just lay these thoughts out on cyber something.

Pat spent a lot of time in AZ in March doing shows, so I took the time to go to Sea School and get my Captains license. Man-o-man was that a trip. I didn't realize the information that I had to just flat out memorize in that class. After the first day or two I felt like I made a big mistake taking that project on, but after the 4th day or so the 1st day started to make sense. They sure do know how to teach. I had to take four tests at the end. I aced 2 of them and got a 97 and a 95 on the other two. I guess they just asked me the right questions.

In any case, it's Capt. Paul now and s/v Magic Wind will be a business next season with sunset sails, 1/2 day and custom charters. We'll write off those slip payments and make a lot of people very happy.

You can check out s/v Magic Wind's new site at: http://www.SailMagicWind.com

Things are starting to wind down at Times Square. Magic shows have been good this season and I hope to have the time to do them again next year. I learned a lot and it was good to work out.

Just thought you might want to see the biggest lime I've ever seen...

We are in South Carolina at the moment until Friday morning. Just visiting the kids and grand kids. It's good to see them. Riana and Mallory are growing like weeds and are doing very well. Brad and Stacie are working hard and keeping the wolf away from the door. So it goes in America these days.

When we head out of here on Friday we'll be going to the Villages to do a show for the weekend. After that we will have a week to pull the boat together and head out for a 5 day cruise with our friends Pat and Katie and Iva and Pete. NO not on Magic Wind, we are taking a cruise ship to the Bahamas's and just chillin'. It will be good.

As soon as I get back, Pat and I will head out for the Keys on Magic Wind for about 3 weeks and just island hop and enjoy our company together before the summer season kicks in.

After we get back we'll be heading for Colorado for the Renaissance Festival, June and July.

So lots of things going on. Seeing lots of people and keeping ourselves healthy and happy. I'll get some photo's up as soon as I can.

Remember, you can click on a photo to enlarge it in a new window.

What is it... The 2nd of March?

It's bee a month. So what's new. I love this blog thing. I can write when I want and let it all build up and give it to you in a block. It's a good way to stay in touch.

The last 3 weeks of February have just blown by. I went to Phoenix and back. Pat worked a few shows out there and is now back for the next 13 days. Pat works hard and it is nice when we have some "kick back" time together and this is it. We have played for the last couple of days. We are on our own now and so we are heading out to sea on Magic Wind and will be out for 4 days. Heading down the coast to the Little Snake River. About 95 miles from here, and about 50 miles from Marathon at Vaca Key. We are just going for a sail and we have a nice window.

Brother Dan blew in and out of town in the last 10 days. He came in and I moved him onto Magic Wind. He has made her his home in Florida. He is knocking on doors and is blowing away the musicians in the area with his music. He is good and he will do well down here. I think his heart is in Auston, TX. It is the live music capital of the world. And he is hanging with some of the big dogs. I expect he will be there most of the year and come down here during the winter and scoop up the dough from the tourists. I'll keep you posted as to where and when he plays around here.

He has also introduced me to some the funkiest bars around here. He has found a couple of open mike nights and the jams go well after hours. The lock the doors and don't quit until 9 or 10 in the morning. A good time for all.

I understand that the Rush family is fighting the flu thing. They keep giving it to each other. Looks like the end is in site and now their immune systems will be good for a while.

The Burgards have been in touch and all seems to be well with them. I received a couple of photos, one of Kayla and one of Stevie. I'll try to get them here so you can see them. Nadines camera is not talking to her computer very well, but these are the latest that she has at the moment.

It was good to see Pop and Donna on my trip to AZ. They are doing well. One day Dad sat and watched me dig through my shit in the storage shed and laughed as I said, "Well you can't get these anymore, so I think I'll just keep 'em." Man I have to stop that and just put a stick of dynamite under all those boxes and blow them up. My life would be lighter then.

Brandon is in now in Tampa for the next several months, (Pat's nephew that is in the Navy), so we will be seeing a lot of him. It is good to see him in the states instead of Iraq. Aunt Pat will take care of him. He will be down this Sunday with his room mate and we are going to do a sail and have some dinner. It will be fun to have him around for a while.

I plan on updating http://bpwmagic.typepad.com/magicwind so that you can keep up with our sailing adventures.

Click on a photo to enlarge it in a new window.

Welcome Back... Where've You Been...

Yea I know... It's been a long time since I've done the update on this blog. It happens. I've been busier then I've been in a while. We have had a lot of guests and with Pat working and me doing farmers markets and street shows, it has been a whirl wind.

I'm going to catch you up fast and then I'm going to try to update this thing at least once a week because you deserve it. You guys read it and really it keeps me from doing so much email stuff. So it is a win, win situation. (Wait a second Patrick... "Win, win situation is a good thing." Go figure.

Since the beginning of the year, we have had Jim Reid visit. It was great. He is such a joy to have around. He helped Pat with a couple of shows in January and during the week we went sailing and played. Check out http://bpwmagic.typepad.com/magicwind for details.

Jim also took a day and went deep sea fishing and brought home dinner for Pat and I. Great fish tacos and a great day at sea for Jim.

Just before Jim left, Pat and Katie came in. After we took Jim to the airport we settled in to a nice visit with some good friends from Minnesota. It was a pleasure to just have them close. We played, talked, ate, drank and just enjoyed each other for the next 3 weeks. They had a very nice room on Estero Island and just a mile from the RV Park.

We took a sail every now and then and Patrick had a chance to help me work on the boat... Again... It's always fun to share in the chores.

Pat and Katie left on the 3rd of February and Pat, my wife left on the 5th for AZ to do the Tubac and Fountain Hills show as well as make an appearance at the Arizona Renaissance Festival. She's a busy lady and I respect her and what she does. She does the same for me so we get along just fine. When Pat left last Sunday, I moved onto the boat for the week. Cleaning, fixing and enjoying. It was too lonely kicking around that big house all alone.

The wind has been up which makes this marina pretty bumpy. Sleeping can be disturbed every once and a while but the biggest challenge is to pour a shot of Tequila, in a shot glass, and not spill a drop. It just takes practice and repetition. So I practice...

This is just one hell of a sunset... It's good to do shows everyday with a view like this.

I'll be flying out on Monday from Fort Lauderdale and spend Monday through Friday with her. We are going to clean out the storage shed and get it down to a 5x5 instead of a 10x10. That'll save some dough in the long run.

Pop and Donna are going to come over during that week and I'll be able to see my Dad again. He's a great guy and I cherish the time that we can have together. He is doing great and eats like crap. I'm going to go get a cheese burger and drink a martini and grow up to be just like him. If I could be so lucky. I love that guy. Plays hard and works hard. A good combo.

So that's about it.

Take care you guys and take care of each other. Life is a wonderful gift. We seem to let it slip by. Not anymore... Starting today.

You can click on the photos to enlarge them in a new window.

We'll Miss Our Little Girl

Sadie our sweet little dog finally lost her battle. On January 3, 2006 Sadie left us on her journey to where ever it is that dogs go when they leave their little earthly bodies. Since Christmas she has been having some problems. We figure that the Valley Fever that she got about 4 years ago, and has been dormant, came back and was causing her system to shut down.

She became listless and decided that food was not something she wanted anymore. Not a good sign. We found a wonderful vet here in Fort Myers Beach and after a blood work up we found that her organs were shutting down.

It was a hard decision, as they always are and we let her go.

We'll miss the barking at dinner time and the walks. We'll miss the singing and howling at the moon together. We'll miss the licking and love that she always had for everyone. We'll miss her.

It's a heck of a way to start a new year, but we know she is with Sunny now and getting her ears all wet as he cleans her up... Again.

Good-bye Sadie.

Updating Is Slow... Sometimes.

Well now... I'm sitting in Myrtle Beach to have Thanksgiving, on Wednesday, with the kids and I have a fast speed connetion. How sweet it is. So I'll catch you up.

Pat has been in and out of town a lot this month and that is always a drag, but Lord knows you've got's to do your duty. She has had shows in Fountain Hills, AZ, Dunedin, FL and is in Tarpon Springs, FL this weekend and then flys to AZ for Tempe and Tucson. As this is going on she has had shows at the Texas renaissance festival, Denver Food & Gift Show, Colorado Springs Food and Gift Show and the Delray Garlic Festival.

I've been working Times Square in Fort Myers Beach, busking and passing the hat at sunset doing street shows. It has promise.

Now how is all this possible? We have imported Dan Reid to work weekends with Pat here at the Florida shows and Cricket and Danny are in Colorado and Benjamin is in Texas. I wish we were more organized. But we are making it work.

Brad's brother Todd is here in Myrtle. We are kind of sending him off to Thailand to be with his wife, Tian and baby, Tyler. He is excited to be going, but we are going to miss him here in the states. He taking an early retirement and liquidated everything to 4 bags and off he goes. Good luck Todd, we love you and look forward to hearing of all your adventures.

We will be heading back to Fort Myers on Thursday and Pat and Dan will go to Tarpon Springs for the show. I will work Times Square and we will be back to normal, what ever that is.

Next week Pat flys to AZ and I will fly after her on Sunday. On Monday we will drive to Palm Desert to see my Dad, Charlie and his wife Donna. I hope my sister will come out from Alta Loma and maybe my brother will float through and we can see all of each other before the Christmas holiday. I'll fly back to Florida and leave Pat and Dan to do the 4th Ave Street Show. After that we have a week together and then back to Myrtle for Christmas.

So that is pretty much it for now. I'm going to try and update the Captains log over at Magic Winds blog site. You can catch up with our sailing travel's at: http://bpwmagic.typepad.com/magicwind.

Click on a photo to enlarge in a new window.

Here's a shot from my office window just before the sunset show at Times Square at Fort Myers Beach.

Visiting Iva & Pete in Hollywood, FL

Well Iva and Pete came in from their cruise and ended up in Hollywood, FL at the Thunderbird Hotel. Now we checked the day before they arrived and they were closed because of damage from Wilma. But they opened, I think just for Iva and Pete.

To make a long story short... They reserved an ocean front room, but those were blown out so they got another room on the second floor over looking the damage and had to pay the same rate. No air conditioning, no hot water and when Pete complained all they said was take it or leave it.

So they took it. We went over on Sunday and spent the afternoon with them. It was a good visit we always laugh a lot when we are with them and this was no exception. We love those guys. They told us about the cruise and where they went. They missed Wilma and Alpha. Snorkeled and played and ate.

We went to the Rascal House for lunch and enjoyed every bite... Again.

When we pulled up, Iva handed us a torn out page of a book she found on the cruise ship and said, "Look here's a picture of Paul." I looked at it and it was a photo of me, Linda and Brian on a 12 meter racing sloop in Saint Martin. I laughed and said wow that IS a picture of me. Iva got this look of shock on her face and said she handed it to me as a joke. She thought it looked like me, but didn't know it was me. It was a good laugh. Seems that the Saint Martin Tourist Board published the photo in all the cruise line books... I want royalties.

We finally had to leave and it was sad, but we are blessed to have had the chance to spend a few hours with some very good friends.

All Is Well With OUR World

Ok... Ok... Ok... It's been 3 days and a busy 3 days. After we got back to the San Carlos RV Park, we moved in and were pleasantly surprised that they took the hit, with gusts, of up to 120 mph a mile down the road at the Coast Guard Station by Estero Island. Whew, sorry we missed that.

The area south of here took quite a beating and the coastal areas have a lot of work to do to get them up and going. In the center part of the state, one of the biggest problems is that the sugar cane fields were laid flat. It will mean a lot of people out of work and it's not a rich area anyway, so we can only hope that they get some help.

The east coast really had a lot of damage. Wilma didn't slow down much since it was moving at over 22 miles an hour and the state is only about 150 miles wide, so they got smacked. She was strong and fast. A lot of folks will be out of power until Thanksgiving. Too long.

We took yesterday and put Magic Wind back together, hoisted sails and put up all the canvas. Remounted the dingy and generally cleaned her up. She did well. One little bump on the rail. That was it. We were up at 4 am and headed south to take her to her new berth in Fort Myers Beach. It's a good slip and a busy shrimping channel. We look forward to the new activities we will have here. More stories to tell. We log the sailing adventures at: http://bpwmagic.typepad.com/magicwind. So you can go there and get your sailing fix.

Here's a good one... For those of you that know Pete and Iva, well they went on a cruise last week. It was supposed to go to the the eastern Caribbean, but with Wilma and Alpha the line told them that they would be surprised to see where they end up. We won't talk to them untill the come in on Saturday morning. I wonder where they went...

Now they were going to stay at the Thunderbird Hotel when they got back for a couple of days. We called and checked on their damage and they are not open. We checked on rental cars and they may be nonexistent. So we may be running over to Miami and picking them up at the docks and bringing them here for a couple of days. It will be good to see them, not exactly the way we wanted to see them, but any time with those two is a joy. We look forward to it unless they just change their tickets and head home.

So our lives are busy and full of happiness. I'll continue to blog here and at s/v Magic Winds site, but if I miss a day or two or three, go ahead and call and check on us. It's always good to talk with you all.

The sunset is across the street from our park. A nice place to watch 'em as you lean on that dock and watch it sizzle in the water.

Click on the photo to enlarge it in a new window.

Going Home Today

Well up early and checking all our options. Looks we got in touch with San Carlos RV Park and they were just checking out the damage and all looks pretty good. They were out of power this morning, but I just received a call and they have it back now. They weathered well. A few of the permanent RVs that are up on blocks are not on blocks anymore and a couple of storage sheds are not storage sheds anymore but besides that they only lost a couple of trees.

I checked with the marina dock master and D dock is fine. They didn't have much of a surge and they have electricity on already.

So all in all our world is intact and we will head south this morning and put it all back together. The weather is great and looks to be a very good week or two coming up.

Click on a photo to enlarge it in a new window.

Good Bye Wilma!

She's gone. At least from our lives. At the moment she is shooting up the east coast at around 35 miles an hour. I hear she is going to meet up with "Alpha" and then drop, maybe, SNOW on the northeast. They are calling her a "Super" storm. We're sorry she is still causing grief in peoples lives, but at least she is out-a-here... Now it's just cold and dry. The front came through at the same time. So it went from the upper 80's yesterday to the lower 40's tonight. Big turn real fast.

We are trying to get some information out of Fort Myers. We don't know about the electricity or flood damage to our RV Park. We've got some calls in and are waiting for info.

I think we are going to go down to Punta Gorda in the morning and park at our old RV Park for a night or two. That will get us back into the area and close to the boat and Fort Myers so we can monitor the situation with a hands on feel.

I think it will be the best answer. We did get the word that Magic Wind is doing fine. She took 100 mile per hour winds and held up well. I will still need to give her a good going over to see if all the parts are still part of the boat. We'll find out later. The first step is to get our home set up again.

Anyway we want to thank everyone that kept up with our adventure. Your thoughts, emails and phone calls gave us plenty of support. There's a lot of cleaning up to do here in Florida and we'll do what we can from here.