Those “Fast” Turtles
By Jim Keen, S/V IRISH MIST, Slip 177
B.J. Reckman is credited with the mantra:
“Turtles, It Don’t flock!” The Turtles, a loosely organized Cypress Landing
Yacht Club group, like to tell you their emphasis is on the trip, the
independence, the entertainment, and not how fast they go. Members often disperse
after a few days, proving their independent nature – you know “It Don’t flock!”
“We’re not fast,”
they like to say. But they surely beat me.
It was just after
0700 hrs on May 7, 2005, when I arrived at the Cypress Landing Marina and
boarded IRISH MIST. One of our residents was walking down the dock and offered
to help me shove off. With her help, I cast off lines, waved goodbye, backed IM
out of her slip, and steered East down the river.
I thought about my
singlehanded, 5,700 mile adventure ahead – America’s Great Loop. My trip would
take me up the Chesapeake Bay, up the Jersey coast to New York City, up the
Hudson River to the Erie Canal, transit the canal and travel through Canada and
five of the six Great Lakes, down the Illinois River at Chicago, down the
Mississippi River to Cairo, Il, up the Ohio River to Paducah, KY, down Kentucky
Lake to Pickwick Lake, down the Tennessee-Tombigbee Canal to Mobile, AL, along
the Gulf coast to Florida, down the West coast of Florida to Key West, out to
Dry Tortugas then South across the Gulf Stream to Cuba, around the Western end
of Cuba and across the Gulf Stream again to Isla Mujeres, Mexico, back to Key
West, and finally up the east coast ICW to arrive home.
I had just turned
North off the Pamlico River into the Pungo River when those SLOW Turtles began
to pass me. Jean and Ernie Uhr and BJ and Judith Reckman roared past me along with
a bevy of fast trawlers. Then came Al Ross in his
sailboat, gaining smartly and then leaving me in his wake. They all waved in
recognition but were soon a blur on the river ahead. The Turtles stopped a few
miles later at Dowry Creek Marina; however, I putted on past to anchor in a bay
near the Alligator/Pungo Canal. I needed time to sort out all the “stuff” just
piled below.
Two nights later,
I joined those “slow” Turtles who had again passed me, at Waterside Marina in
Norfolk, VA. I spent a lovely day visiting with the five motor yachts and two
sailboats. I had drinks on B.J.’s boat and dinner with the rowdy bunch at the
nearby Crab Shack Restaurant. Although I was the odd-man-out, it was good to
spend time with people from home.
About a week
later, after lovely, lonely nights anchored in Chesapeake Bay coves and
battling thunderstorms near Tangier Island, I motored into the sheltered eastern
shore bay at Crisfield, MD. The Turtles had arrived before me again with four
boats tucked safely away at Somers Cove Marina. I anchored near the Coast Guard
Station and putted over to visit with Ernie and Jean aboard YOURS TRULY. I tied
my dinghy to their swim platform and was treated to a great lunch aboard.
I didn’t see the
Turtles again on my long trip until May 31, 2006, when I was in the home
stretch, motoring North on the ICW near Wilmington. I was talking to friends on
the VHF when “Is that you Jim?” came the call. It was the Turtles again! That
rowdy bunch was heading South this time, toward
Charleston. What a surprise it was to hear from home folks!
Those FAST
Turtles may have beat me to other destinations before,
but I had beat them this time. I left Harborage at Ashley, their marina
destination in Charleston, just three nights ago.
 The
Turtles at Joe's Crab Shack, Waterside, Norfolk
Turtles (left) and IRISH MIST docked at Waterside.
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