Zyg Durski. The name screams character. Not as in weird. But the man in whom I found no guile. The worst we got was a little too nervous from coffee. But calm, considerate, thoughtful, generous. I am glad to call him Friend.
This man traveled, by his lonesome, from Nashville Tennessee, to Mobile Bay. All in a 30′ Hunter built in 1979. By himself.
We tried to hook up when I sailed with Joe Hagan out of New Orleans but we passed in Mobile Bay.
On a whim, the weather was dropping below 20 again. I booked a flight on Allegiant Airlines. http://www.allegiantair.com/, round trip, for $100 to Punta Gorda, FL. Everything from booking, check in with seat selection, baggage was all done on my phone.
I met Zyg at Fisherman’s Wharf. http://www.fishville.com/marina/.
We enjoyed a chilling dinner outside.
Fushmen’s Village at Punta Gorda
Zyg had anchored off Fisherman’s Wharf. Wouldn’t you know it. Rained for 3 days. and then wind was on our nose. It was a real challenge to step off into the dingy in the high winds, rain, and lightweight dinghy.
We stayed 
in a marina for one night.
And then started out towards North Captiva Island where I once owned a home. It was getting late and we had to stay in the narrow ICW or risk running aground. Just a mile from our destination the engine starting losing power. Zyg made the decision to anchor immediately. As grace would have it, we anchored right between Caggage Key (http://cabbagekey.com/) home of Jimmy Buffet’s Cheeseburger in Paradise and Useppa Island.
The next morning was beautiful but wind on our nose at 15-20.
We anchored off the airstrip on North Captiva Island and went ashore for lunch at Barnacle Phil’s.
My cousin Zeke and his fiancee Ashland McGuire Simms live on North Captiva.
The next morning we were not sure of the best course of action. The wind was 20mph and the bay was shallow. Finally we both had a sense of peace to leave for Burnt Store Marina. It was soon to become my inspiration for getting Shadow ready to travel.
