Roxy

Roxy went to the Rainbow Bridge on Monday, October 28th, 2019 (nine years to the day since I lost my mother). We had a weekend of special meals and tons of love.  The transition was very relaxed and the staff at Pamlico Animal Hospital were kind, compassionate, and caring.  

On Friday, I spent several hours pouring over thousands of pictures of her taken over 14+ years.  We have had a great time being her peeps!!  She definitely has had a rich life living on a boat as a gypsy and watching divers’ bubbles on dive boats. 

She now is pain free and running - jumping like she did when she was young. Her vibrant and spirited personality will live on in our hearts and the many stories we have to tell of her shenanigans.  Her earthly body was reduced to ashes and they will be permanently placed on a beach in the Bahamas - someplace she loved.  For a happier post go back and read the blog post from February 2, 2014 - the blog is from Roxy’s perspective. 

She was always pretty good at making her wishes known and had become even more assertive in her senior years.  When she wanted me to know that she was still hungry, she had learned that knocking her empty food bowl across the floor of the boat would get my attention.  I'm quite sure that her entrance into the afterlife was probably punctuated with that action since the appointment at the veterinarian was at precisely the time she usually let me know it was time to eat.  

As for her peeps, they are trying to stumble through the days without her. Looking forward to the day we will be reunited at the Rainbow Bridge. Below are a few of the many pictures we’ve taken that show her huge personality through the years. Enjoy your white sand beach and turquoise water, Princess Roxy!

Roxy at 3-6 months of age.

Roxy at about 6 months to one year - still very hyperactive.

Roxy and Darrell playing in June or July 2005.  She was about six months old.

Roxy pointing birds on our deck.

Roxy on the S/V Lillian.

Long Island, Bahamas.

Roxy and Ann in the kayak in Marathon.

Roxy watching diver bubbles.

Roxy and manatee - photo credit John Greenwalt.

Riding on the dinghy.

Roxy and Darrell in the dinghy.

Roxy begging - what she does so well.

Roxy and Journey begging from mom - 2016.

A favorite - she was happiest on the sandy beaches!

At home in TX - I was that crazy dog lady!

Roxy tending lines on the sailboat.

On a walk on the beach.

Where we will meet again.

Road Trip from North Carolina to Texas

We rented a car for a trip back to Texas to visit family and friends. We decided it was about time to see some of the countryside around us while making a pilgrimage back to the Texas panhandle. The boat was safely tucked into a slip in Dowry Creek Marina bear Belhaven, NC. 

The only calendar on the trip was to be in Amarillo by October 18 - Ann’s Daddys birthday. So we loaded up the car with Roxy and her stuff plus lots of warm clothing. When we reached western North Carolina, we were not disappointed!!

The Blue Ridge Parkway is a must see. Don’t be in a hurry if you take the route but plan on lots of beautiful vistas!  We spent about four hours going 100 miles and thoroughly enjoyed it. After that, we were ready to hit the interstate and head west. 

We arrived in Pampa, TX by Saturday morning to go see a flag football game starring our grandson, Lyric. Then we went to see my mother-in-law and on to see my dad. Sunday evening, we spent relaxing and visiting with the kids and grandkids plus their extended family. 

The week was filled with visits with friends and family. On Friday, a highlight was to be able to celebrate my dad’s ninety-second birthday. Saturday brought more football and baseball and last minute visits. 

On Sunday, we left to head east again with planned visits with friends along the way. Another short foray into the Blue Ridge Parkway was well worth the detour. The leaves had increased their fall color while we were out west. 

The last stop of the trip was a big highlight for us both but mostly Darrell. We went to Charlotte to the offices and shop of Joe Gibbs Racing Team. Jason Shapiro gave us a grand tour of the facilities. It is mind boggling!!  We spent the night and enjoyed a much overdue visit with Nicole and their girls who are growing up WAY TOO FAST!!

The next day we left late and still made it back to the boat by about 3PM. It was a wonderful trip but it’s always great to be home. 

Blue Ridge Parkway

Linley making us breakfast

Daddy and I - 92 years old!

Having a birthday celebration.

Blue Ridge Parkway

Darrell got to visit JGR Racing Shop!

Chesapeake Eastern Shore

Magnificent late summer and fall weather has been the case. Cool evenings and nights without the hundred degree heat indices during the days. 

While traveling, we saw and purchased a copy of Chesapeake by James Michener. What a great volume to accompany our travels!!  

Our next stop was the first on the eastern shore of the Bay. St. Michaels is a great little town that we were told by more than one person not to miss. They were right!!  And like I’ve already said, the museums just keep getting better. This one did not disappoint us. We had a seafood feast on the waterfront that was outstanding. 

Next stop was Oxford, another historic town noted in the book and mentioned by locals. Small but great historic buildings. Home of the oldest operational ferry in the US. 

Cambridge was just across the Choptank River from Oxford. We spent a few days there waiting on weather. A bus ride away from Walmart!  Fresh crabs 🦀 right off our stern. Live music one night from Snappers. Great town!!

As we headed south, there were fewer places to visit on the eastern shore so we were content to revisit some like Solomons Island, Reedville, and we didn’t want to pass up Deltaville. There was a crab feast being held at the Deltaville marina that was fantastic!

We waited for just the right weather conditions to leave for Norfolk and we were rewarded. We had a great downwind sail to Norfolk. This time around, the anchorage was pretty rough at night (midnight) from the barges so one night was enough. 

We had another good crossing of the Albemarle Sound except that the wind direction wasn’t the best. Fortunately though, the sea conditions were benign. We made good time and stopped again at Dowry Creek Marina - we just love it there. 

The nights are starting to be a lot cooler. Days are still warm. We sailed to New Bern, NC and were able to tour downtown. We got to go to a dinner there and visit with people we met down in the Caribbean several years ago. We would have stayed longer but they didn’t have space for us at the marina. 

We stopped overnight in Oriental and came back home to Dowry Creek Marina. Darrell pulled the propeller off the boat to have it changed to better match our new transmission. A shop in Beaufort did some change to the pitch and it might be enough. Otherwise, we’ll get a new propeller. 

We picked up a rental car in a nearby town yesterday. Now we’re getting ready to take a road trip east. We’re excited to see family again!!