7/07/2011

Introduction


Sailing with Cancer
One Man's race against time!


Hi, I am John Rodgers, and I have been diagnosed with a lethal cancer.  April 17th of this year,  I had my 60th birthday, and late last year I was diagnosed at UCSF in S.F. Ca. After nearly 7 months of treatment I was told to make arrangements for the end. As the doctor was still talking I had a quick flashback of my life. I had to smile even with this unpleasant news. I had lived my life on my terms. Hopefully stepping on the least amount toes as possible, and being giving of myself.




John Rodgers

I put the word sailing in the color of blue. One of my favorite authors, Bernard Motissier once wrote it was the color of hope. Hope, sailing, Imagine, and my little brown love, aka Melanie, is about all I have left. I am hoping too finish a journey we began on May of 2010.




H O P E

















Melanie





I had sold a business in 3/03, and bought Imagine in St. Maarten. I was living in San Leandro Ca., and my business was in Oakland. It was in a tough neighborhood. I had to keep a pistol in my hip pocket, and every day was a mental struggle with customers. They tried to beat me up, run me down with a car, and every day was an argument to lower the price, or they would come back for me. They promised to beat me, put me out of business, and even death threats. I was raised to never walk away from a fight, and to never ever to start one. My father was a stern man, and when he said jump. You never questioned him how high. You just jumped as high as you could, and hopefully it was high enough. So I was raised to never give a phukin inch. Good, or bad it is how I live my life to this day.
Cancer not being an exception.


December 2010-San Francisco, CA







Chemo-radiation side effects - December 2010
One day I got in my truck to go to work, and I thought maybe today one of the S.O.B’s will touch me, and I can shoot them. Immediately I knew I had to get out, or I would end up dead, shot, or in prison for shooting someone. I called my accountant, and asked him what the business was worth. When he gave me the answer I was floored. 4 years earlier I started with $2,000, business partners, and an $8,000 loan from family, and friends. Within 18 months I had had a falling out with the business partners, and bought them out.

So the business is sold, and my new bride & I fly to St. Maarten to get on a boat I bought 9 months earlier. Her name was Murmel, and she’s a cold molded, 46ft catamaran designed by Roger Simpson. Murmel means marble in German, and the previous owner built the boat in Berlin in conjunction with the Schmidt boatyard. Then launched her in 1998. Cold molded is a product of wood, and resin with a sheath of fiberglass on the outside. This makes her not only light, and strong, but fairly fast too. After single handing from S.F. to Cabo Mexico on a 30ft. mono, and getting caught in snotty weather while others who left at the same time were snug in a safe refuge. I promised myself my next boat would get some speed on. A good breeze behind the beam leaves us with the problem of slowing her down. What a nice change, since sailors are always trying to travel with the wind behind us. The wind in front can make for an uncomfortable ride when it’s windy.


Life has a way of changing your plans. Even after so carefully thought out. Our plan was to return to the S.F. area, but one thing lead to another, and we ended up in Florida. Once in Florida I changed the name of Murmel to Imagine as in John Lennon’s song. It has always been one of my favorite songs, and it’s pretty spot on to how I feel. As in Rodney King’s famous plea for, can’t we all just get along?


My mom & step dad joined us in St. Maarten for a week. We had a good time enjoying fresh bread from the French Bakery, Johnny B Under the tree BBQ, St Bart’s, Anguilla, and just time together. They left, and Jim who kept his boat in the same marina I kept Frolic joined us.
Parents at the middle

To my good fortune it was Jim that joined us. He is a good thinker for problems, a whiz with computers, and was known to whip up homemade chicken parmesean during a gale. Not to mention his home made bread when ever needed. When it was time for him to leave us from Daytona. I jokingly said to him. Don’t make me get on this dock on my knees, and beg you to stay in front of all these strangers. I half meant it!
The Baths, Tortola-British Virgin Islands
Our first destination from St. Maarten was the British Virgin Islands better known as the BVI. it’s a place on earth not to be missed, and especially for sailors. Every destination is by sight, and close. Did I need to add, beautiful? We had nearly 2 weeks exploring anchorages, snorkeling, the Baths, while waiting for a couple of broken bolts for the windlass. At last the bolts arrived, and we were off for Florida.
The Baths, Tortola-BVI

Our next stop was Culebra in the Spanish Virgin Islands. We came in on the south side, and picked our way up into the anchorage. Here I was slapped along side the head with a rude awakening that my memory isn’t what it used to be. I was advised to U.S. document the boat. I had forgotten, and was floored when I was asked for money to enter the U.S. I guess there was no bank on the island, because I had to send for a check, and surely I didn’t carry that much money around with me in cash. This gave us 3 days to walk the island, and see it’s beauty. Eat in a restaurant for a change, and have a cold beer while we watched the tourists. The check arrived, I paid my debt, and we were off.

By afternoon we arrived at El Fajardo Puerto Rico. While here the computer hard drive decided to die. We called around, and in San Juan was a hard drive. We rented a car, and drove north. I have never in my life seen such crazy drivers. In 3 lanes of traffic the right lane would turn left, and the left lane would turn right, and not a horn blasting. It seems this is the normal, and no one minds, it gave me the jitters. Halfway on our way back to El Fajardo we stopped at a Mexican restaurant, and it was one of the most delicious meals I ever had. This comes from a guy who sailed in Mexico, lived in S.F. for nearly 15 years, and the Bay area most of my life. That pretty much covers it!

Now Jim is good with computers as I typed earlier. He got this thing up, and running before we returned to the boat. He had, and I am sure still does have complete faith in the technology. I myself did not trust the beast, so I used paper, and the GPS, and never trusting the GPS, but I figured dead reckoning can take me a long way, and I kept a record of our progress on the paper chart. Once again we have acquired what we needed. We stopped at the fuel dock, and the fuel man took our line. Never have I seen such art work with a dock line. While standing back he whipped that line back, and forth like a lasso, and locked the cleat. He made it look like he was waving hello, and that was worth a tip.

As we left the channel, and turned north to round Puerto Rico we could see smaller islands belonging to the Spanish Virgins. What a party was going on. All kinds of power boats beached a few sailboats anchored with huge power boats on the hook too. We could easily see that lack of cloth on those P.R. bodies. both female, and male. Brown & fit Melanie, Jim & I had big smiles as we sailed past. Looking back we should have dropped the hook. Hind sight is always 20/20!

The Turks & Caicos being our next destination we kept on sailing. Oh what could’ve been? About halfway I am beginning to wonder about this laptop navigation. I’ll be damned if every time Jim drops a mark, and I make an X on my paper if they aren’t exact, never nah it can’t be! We arrive at the shallow water at dusk. I don’t have detailed paper charts of the Turks, so I am against going in, and we sail on. Now I wished I had trusted that laptop, and went on in. Once again hindsight being 20/20.

We are approaching Mayaguana, and while dropping the main we notice it stops dropping. I step out from the bimini, and can see a batten has moved forward of the sail, and caught on the spreader. I snap on my harness, clip onto a spare halyard, and up the mast I go using the steps. Melanie lifts the mainsail, and with all my strength I push the batten back. Only problem is it won’t move. Then the next thing I know I grabbing onto the mast. Then I am wrapping a leg around it. Seems Jim was busy watching me, and not the wind indicator. He had gotten the waves on our beam, and the mast started whipping left & right. He apologized, and got her straightened out, and the batten went back into place smoothly. Another dirty deed is done, and I am back on deck.

We go in, and I can clearly see coral heads everywhere. We drop the hook, and swing over one. Not knowing their height I get nervous, and make the decision too leave. So out the entrance we go, and head north to San Salvador.



San Salvador being the place where Columbus is to have first landed. At least it is one of the places that claims this. Although there is a museum there in his name with a padlock on the front door that looks like he may have left it himself? We are the only boat in the anchorage, and it’s beautiful. The water is gin clear, and only 15 ft. deep.

San Salvador Museum

There are rays by the dozens swimming below us in all sizes. next morning I get in the dink,, and motor over to a hidden marina. It turns out to be very small, and one sailboat there, and a local work boat. I run into the owner of the sailboat, and since he has just arrived. We walk together to the airport to check in. Everything is at the airport since the most action they have comes from Club Med vacationers flying in. The island is low like the rest of the Bahamas, and there’s not much there, so in a couple of days we are gone, and on our way to the Abacos. I had chartered out of Miami, and Ft. Lauderdale several times. Once actually sailing as far as Hope Town to see the striped lighthouse on Elbow Cay.

Abaco Lighthouse


It was another great sail, and upon reaching our way point to enter the reef. I put Jim on the bow, and Melanie watching the laptop. While coming through the pass Melanie is telling me there is coral straight ahead. I call out to Jim, but he waves me on. On I go, and Melanie starts getting frantic. I tell Jim, and he waves me on still. The fear on Mel’s face as we went over the coral was nothing compared to the knot in my stomach as I could clearly see this boat eating monster as we passed over it. The wind Gods being on my side this time let me pass with no damage.

We’re inside, and make our way to town. Drop the hook, and jump in the dink. Since San Salvador I had rebuilt one of the raw water pumps several times. It would work, and then get hot again. Once on shore I see a diesel mechanic shop, and decide I will give it to a pro. He gave me a price, and I gave him the pump the following day. In the meantime we were hungry for some internet. We hadn’t had any since St. Maarten. All the computers were taken, and we were shown a waiting room. There was a tv there, and news about the first Gulf War, and Saddam. What a rude awakening that we were back in civilization.

Remember the water pump? Well, after several days, and numerous attempts to catch the mechanic I finally caught him. He thrust the pump at me, and said I can’t fix this piece of shit. I looked down, and 5 out of 6 bolts were broken on the backing plate. obviously he was a hack. I have been a wrench for 30 years, and I had taken the pump apart several times. How he managed to break 5 out 6 is beyond me? In an unusual act I kept my mouth shut, and just took back my pump. I took it back to the boat, and patiently, slowly, and methodically drilled out the bolts, retapped the housing, and once again rebuilt the pump. Now I carry a spare, and a couple of rebuild kits. We did the striped lighthouse, and topped off provisions to prepare for departure to Daytona.

We had no charts once we entered the breakwater at Ponce Inlet. This was causing me to be a wee bit anxious as we approached the coastline. Now Mel is from the Philippines, and she is also a hiker of mountains. It was sunrise, and she was still sleeping. I woke her, and asked if she wanted to see Florida. She jumped right out of bed, and came into the cockpit. She stepped up to look over the bridge deck, and with a look of bewilderment she looked at me, and asked. Where are the mountains? Jim,, and I got a belly laugh out of that! She looked again both left, and then right, and asked. That’s it, and her excitement went out the window.

Onward we motored as we approached the breakwater. Then the fog set in, and I was in complete disbelief that there was fog. Not only fog, but huge, powerful fishing boats, and small ones too rushing out of the channel in all lanes with NO VISIBILITY! Welcome to Daytona Florida.


We found the ICW, and I looked at Jim, and said to him. Red on the right when returning, and he repeated it. I looked at the markers, and repeated myself, and Jim repeated himself as we looked at each other. Red on the right when returning is an old phrase to remember when approaching land from sea. Here in plain sight was red on the left, and green on the right.


Photo taken from the net

Now sometimes I think I am pretty smart, but there are times when I am humbled, and reminded I am not all that smart, and pretty average. Sometimes even less than average, and this is one of those times. As I repeated myself again with red on the right I put the left hull nearly on shore, and the right hull nearly touching the red marker, and squeezed through. Jumpy as a cat on a hot tin roof I immediately turned to my right, and the center of the channel once I passed the marker.


ICW Miami

We motored a little bit farther, and there was a red marker on shore. Jim pointed at it, and started laughing while commenting I think your answer sits right there! Now I have to remember that red is to land, and green is to sea on the ICW, Inter Coastal Waterway! Land being dangerous, and the sea being safer. Up the ICW there is a standing bridge, and I have another less than average moment. I see a marker on the right side that says 65 feet. I look at the depth sounder, and it’s about 13 feet. I am thinking wow the current must really rip through here, and the bottom is cut deep. Yards away from going under the bridge I realize that is the heigth of the bridge and not the water depth! I slam the engines into reverse at a high rpm, and we stop inches away from the bridge. I look at Jim, and realize I have no idea how tall the mast is? A small motor boat passes us, and says we have several feet clearance. I ask if he’s sure, so he motors down a bit for a better look, and says we got. I slowly inch my way under, and the antenna will be broken soon I am sure of, and then the mast tumbling down. All the worry for nothing, and we are through. At least now I know I can make 65 ft, but what about 64?

A couple of miles north are 2 draw bridges, bascule as they are called. I pass through one, and then there is a tight turn approaching the second. A seconds distraction gives me yet another less than normal intelligence. I look up, and see the red on the left, and immediately I turn right, and we go aground. The bridge tender calls, and kindly tells me I need to stay between the markers. Thank goodness for soft mud, and reverse transmissions, so I can easily back out with only my pride a wee bit dented. I am through this bridge, and only a block farther is our new home for 5 months, Caribbean Jack’s.


Caribbean Jacks- Daytona







7/05/2011

Ian, Frank and Pyle Family

There we were in Daytona. Hurricane season beginning, and tons of anxiety built up with it. Hurricanes were new to Melanie & I. Melanie being from the southern part of Mindanao where the Philippines are free of Typhoons. Eventually one named Irvin, or Ivan was headed for Daytona. Eventually it slipped up the coast 200 miles off. Leaving a tide with the river at the bottom of the fixed docks. I was getting ready to set Imagine in the river as the rise of water began to ebb. It was unnerving as the tv kept reporting it’s position. The dock neighbors kept speculating from their own history of hurricanes. I have only felt helpless a few times in my life, and this was one of them. At last fall was at an end, and winter had set in. It was time to head south & south it was down the ICW, Inter Coastal Waterway, that runs south from the New York area all the way through Texas. The exact ends are a mystery to me for now. I have never actually visited, or taken the time to look at the charts.



ICW in Jacksonville, FL (Main Street Bridge)
Daytona is where we met Ian. A sailor from South African. I an is the kind of man you can leave your wallet, and or wife with. Both will come back untouched, or even peeked at. A gentlemen’s gentleman with a huge heart full of kindness. Also a sailor’s sailor born into the life of sailing. With vast knowledge of the ways of a boat, and the sea. A sense of humor that is as large as his heart. Although it did take me awhile to figure out he was not being rude! Ian is a lover of ice cream. Melanie & I can gobble down ice cream as well as anyone, but Ian seems to take extreme pleasure in the consumption of the product.
Ian is next to John with students from Panama as line handlers in Canal transit 2010

Melanie & I found our way down the ICW. The GPS, and electronic charts began to earn my trust. Of course never 100%. I always keep an eye out for a gremlin sneaking in, and mucking up the unit. South Beach Miami was warm while Daytona was still very cool. We were enjoying this new found warmth while living in swimsuits & shorts.

One warm day while returning from Miami while running a boat errand. I saw the big DQ, Dairy Queen, and asked Mel if she would like to have an ice cream. Just as I knew she would she replied with a big smile, and a bigger YES!


Before I can open the door I recognize a tattered Pepsi ball cap. I step inside, and announce to Melanie. ‘I don’t know if we want to enter here. It seems they will just allow any old sailor through the doors!” The owner looked at me like W.T.F.? I turned around, and we all had a good belly laugh as Ian introduced us. Turns out Jason, the owner, was a dinghy sailor in his youth, and as he got older crewed for his father. DQ became a familiar stop, and Jason, and his lady, Avivit, soon became good friends.


May 2011
Avivit and Jason Pyle

















Soon Biscayne Bay became a familiar place for us. We would motor out from under the Rickenbakker Bridge, and set sail on the Bay. Small chop with a 15-20 knot breeze we would fly along at 7-10 knots. This is definitely no S.F. Bay. We could drop the hook most anywhere, and take a swim. The bottom visible at all times. We would watch the bottom & it’s inhabitants fly by as we sailed.
South beach, Miami

Miami Port Intercoastal waterway-Going to Biscane Bay
Miami
Star Island, South Beach -Miami

Soon Ian introduced us to Frank in the anchorage. One day while trying to pull out a tap that I had broken off in the windlass. Frank ventured by, and in moments he was up on deck with helpful ideas to fix the problem. It seems where ever I go with Frank he knows someone, and where to aquire anything. Frank sent us on our way to a fabrication shop. In a couple of days I returned to find the tap extracted, and the hole rethreaded. Clean work done at a fair price, and on time too. A rarity in this day & time.



Now owning a catamaran is not an easy thing to own when amongst traditional sailors. They look at multi hulls with a distrustful eye, and sometimes just plain contempt. Frank, Ian, and Jason although never said to me, but later admitted they were amongst those who are suspicious of multi hulls.

Individually I invited the three of them for a day sail without knowing of this distrust. After a good sail across the bay, and on the return to our anchorage. Ian said to me that the boat sails fine, but she is making leeway, drifting sideways, and will never make the bridge. I denied this claim, and he asked me to turn on the computer to prove his remark. 15 minutes later we found our track from the stern to be in complete alignment with our course for the bridge.

While sailing with Jason again across the bay, and returning. We were in 18 knots of wind, and fading in & out of 8 & 9 knots of sailing. We were discussing the point of sail, and Jason remarked he never though a multi could sail 45 degrees off the wind, and keep such good speed. With our beers sitting there by themselves on the deck. Jason told me I wasn’t earning it. I asked what am I not earning. He said I am not earning this speed, it seems too easy. I told him the day I paid for the boat I earned everything with it. The next day he told me when Ian introduced us. I an had said I sail a catamaran, and Jason thought “Oh I am sorry”, but he had to take that thought back, and admitted he was very impressed.


Frank’s remark was saved for when we returned to the anchorage after the day’s sail. We were getting in the dinghy so I could return him to his own boat. When he made the remark that it was too late for him to start all over. I asked what he meant by that. He said : I am impressed with how the boat sails. I never thought a cat could do that, and it’s just too late for me to start all over “.


Were back!


It’s 5/9/11, and early this morning we arrived in Panama for the 4th time. First to transit the canal, and then times we return to Panama due to unfortunate situations while sailing near Isla Malpelo. Now after 8 months of probing me, poisoning me, scanning me, nearly cooking me to death, just plain making me think the treatment was worse than the disease, we’re back.




It’s 5/10/11 at 5am, and I can’t sleep. I lay there thinking about seeing Imagine. I think about what there will be to do to get her ready, but mostly I think this is probably the beginning of the end of our relationship.
May 2011- Panama







Goodbye Chemo, Hello Detox!







January 2011- Hospitalized due to Dehydration-Radiation side effects



Early March still on feeding tube

End of March 2011 - no more feeding tube


April with Linda Mashburn on his 60th bday

With Vikki Marver at Hayward, CA early May






It’s 5/10/11 at 5am, and I can’t sleep. I lay there thinking about seeing Imagine. I think about what there will be to do to get her ready, but mostly I think this is probably the beginning of the end of our relationship.






Boats are kind of like women they need attention. Only problem is they can’t earn money, or make decisions. If you want your boat to be happy, and safe. It takes attention, and sometimes that means money too. Because of this I have always put a priority on the boat. That priority insured our safety, and happiness. My first boat Frolic got in the way of a couple of relationships. Not that I didn’t give attention to the relationship, but I wasn’t able to manage to bring the lady, and boat together. Sailing was my dream, and once I managed to do it. I wasn’t willing to change, and live with WHAT IF’s!









 When the man in the white coat told me to get my life in order. My first thought was I was glad I had lived my life on my terms. My second thought was I have to get Imagine home, and sell her. I will need to sell her, because the economy has not been kind to us. Boats have a tendency to rot when left alone. Leaving them someplace unattended also opens them up to thievery. Already the dinghy was stolen, and set adrift, so the outboard could be taken. I was lucky to regain the outboard, and dinghy through the man who owns the mooring she sits on.



Taboga Island- Panama


Taboga Anchorage





When I met Melanie she asked me once. “ What if I can’t get on the boat? ” My reply was “ Then don’t marry me “. Well she did marry me, and she did get on the boat. She was apprehensive about it all. In my mind if she was willing to carry her bed, food, & clothing on her back to sleep under the stars while hiking mountains. She would surely love to do this too.






It took time, but she learned to appreciate, and love the lifestyle. In short she gave to me what no one else could give. She gave me the chance to live my dream.


Exuma Cay, The Bahamas



Over 8 months is a long time to leave a boat to her own devices. A situation like this brings out the vultures when a boat is for sale. It puts you between a rock, and a hard spot. They want to see you desperate, and as time goes by you may become desperate to sell, and sell for pennies on the dollar.


They tell me they can only prolong my life, so I am left with a decision. Do I let them continue to work on me, and be sick, and miserable. Or do I live my life, and secure Imagine at home, so I can secure a fair dollar for the woman who gave me life, and happiness.






I have made the choice to return to Panama, and Imagine to bring her home. If this shortens my life a wee bit then so be it. I made a promise to care for Melanie, and this is part of fulfilling that promise. I have said for 9 years I would take my last breath in the Philippines. By getting Imagine home, and selling her will fulfill that promise too. I can leave Melanie in the financial situation where she can be her own person, and decide her destiny in life. She can be loved, and cared for by her loving family.
Hawaiian Wedding in Philippines 2006

So this is where the phrase
One man’s race against time comes into play.


I need to accomplish some goals before the clock stops ticking. With no idea when the timer of life will run out. I am not even going to speculate. I am just going to do what I have always done in life, and push my way as far, and as hard as I can to reach my goal.
John at Biscane Bay-Latitude 38 tshirt

I will fade in, and out of our story with Imagine as I tell the story of us getting Imagine home to the S.F. Bay Area. It seems that a life time ago I had a serious life problem, and I began writing. It became my therapy, and helped me survive it. All the while friends, and family would look forward to my e-mails. Hopefully this will be my therapy, and your entertainment as well as my own?
The Grill King

Isla Perlas 2010

Single handed from San Francisco to Cabo San Lucas and back