I turned 69 last month. 5 years ago on the way south on the Pacific Coast I started having problems with all over muscle and bone full body pain and fatigue. Rolled into that is pretty bad osteoporosis, all of the body problems stemming from 1 root medical condition I need to watch.

When I was in Annapolis last June I had just put the boat back in the water readying it for either a 'sale' or 'sail'. When I was putting the bimini back on after a re-stitch I was pulling hard to get a pin in the bimini frame and gave myself a compression fracture of L1 which put me in bed for almost 2 months. Because of all the stuff I was dealing with I sold the boat to a nice couple who offered much less than we wanted. Bernie and Kate at Rogue Wave worked hard to make the sale which was most appreciated.

Dealing with fatigue, pain, osteoporosis and 69 I made the decision sailing is over for me. Never thought it would happen this early in life but it did. Thought about a smaller boat but then decided to just go a different direction.

Cruising all those places meeting so many people and having all those experiences seem like a dream now. Only thing is I know we did it as we have pictures to prove it.

Photo, the Admirals birthday 2010 in the Swimming Pool, Kuna Yala, Panama