If you’ve followed along since the beginning you may remember a family we met on Block Island. Tom and Brandy Guertler along with Olive and Hazel. We hit it off and they managed to see us again by car when we hit Chesapeake City on our way south. They even made an attempt to come to the Abacos in April with their small speed boat for a week of fun. Unfortunately this was stopped by weather after all of the preparations and transport of the family and the boat down to Florida. This included 10 Cases of beer for Maewyn and some Fizzy for our Soda stream. Let me tell you from what I gather from Tom he had to slave over the beer to ensure quality control was maintained (It also made good ballast in the bottom of the boat).
Due to the missed opportunity we knew we had to stop by Barnaget inlet where Tom keeps his larger boat and his parents own a house. As we came to the inlet we noticed some yahoo in a large power boat jumping waves towards us. Turns out it was Tom and a few family members coming out to guide us in. It turns out that the entire family was there for the weekend for his Aunt Sally’s Birthday and a kind of family reunion.
On arrival we met an entire family we didn’t realize we had!! Joanne and Bill Guertler along with their sons Bill, Steve, Dave and of course Tom and their family. The boys were thrilled to see there were young boys there as well and instantly got their cap guns out for an all-out war.
We had the birthday dinner with them that night with kids running everywhere a lot of laughs. What a contrast to our little family unit onboard. Their family reminds me of our family at home when we get everyone together for a night!
The next day we spent decompressing from the journey. Joanne took all the boys into surf city to reload from the war while Bill took us for a tour of his Fleming. Such a beautiful boat I think I may have to split my love of Nordhavns to Flemings as well.
That afternoon we went for a run on Tom’s 55ft Searay which was a whole different world from doing 7kts in a sailboat. It’s a beautiful boat and can go like stink. Just would have to watch your fuel gauges really closely as it burns it quickly at top speed. Wouldn’t want to run out!
We then spent the rest of the afternoon just hanging out with everyone, the boys going for a kayak ride (AKA bumper boats). Another wonderful meal at the Guertler residence and it was time for bed. Still trying to catch up from all of the long nights.
The next day it rained and we got ready to go. A last breakfast onboard Tom’s and Brandy’s boat with copious amounts of bacon and maple syrup and we were ready to head out this time toward the Cape Cod Canal.
Thank you again to the entire Guertler family for your wonderful welcome and can’t wait to be back next year for the family reunion again ;> you made it feel like home. Also special thanks to Aunt Sally for allowing us to share in her birthday party! As for Tom and Brandy this won’t be the last time we see each other. Tom and I have agreed to meet in the middle next boating season… I believe it was in steaming hours so if boat A is travelling south at 7 knots and boat B is travelling north at 30 knots where will they meet? …. I’ll see you in Shelburne next year Tom! Heather has promised to make a Cartoon for our time in Barnaget.
Oh and Tilley officially liked the Fleming as well he spent more time on it than our boat!