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under the sun
Texas Couple's
lllogicar Journey
Enters Second Year
BY DOUG RUTTER
Jim and Gene P'inley are probably somewhere off the
coast of South Carolina right now celebrating the one-
year anniversary of their independence.
For it was a year ago today, on Oct. 8, 1986, that the
Port Isabel, Texas, couple set out on their 21-foot
sailboat, “Illogical," with no plan or destination.
They came ashore at Calabash last Friday afternoon,
and spent the night at Calabash Marina following the
pleas of shopowncr Roland Athan.
They say the world is a cold place to
live, that people just don't care
anymore. Well, we realize that just
isn't true."
—Jim Finley
TEXANS GENE AND JIM FINLEY sailed
their ycar-lung journey aboard the "niogleal."
itAri CHOtOBt DOUOOUUtk
into Calabash last Friday and shared with locals tales of
Finley, 62, said. "When we pulled into Calabash,
Roland walked out and said, ‘Let me buy you a beer.' He
didn’t have to twist my arm too hard.”
The retired couple said special treatment by dock
owners has been the rule and not the exception during
much of their trip. But they added that Calabash Marina
was the first place they were charged no dock fee.
Mrs. Finley, 60, said the two had sailed about four
times and a total of five hours before setting out on this
journey. "It’s been an experience I’ll tell you. We just
learn as we go. and you learn something every day."
Finley said they left their Texas home out of boredom
more than anything eLse. “Man, did you ever watch the
grass grow?"
He said four acres of lawn in the “semi-tropical”
area of southern Texas can get out of hand. “By the Ume
you finish mowing at one end. you have to go back and
start over again."
“We thought ‘there has got to be more to 'life than
this.’ ’’
“And we found it," he added.
The couple said they have traveled approximately
4,500 miles during the past year, going as far north as
Hartford, Conn., where they were greeted by the mayor.
Finley said the “Illogical” has been through two
motors and a few dozen storms during its maiden voyage.
“That boat sometimes looks more like a submarine with
all the storms we’ve seen."
He added, "There’s an old saying which says sailing
is 95 percent boredom and five percent panic. It seem.s
like it’s been the other way around on this trip "
Mrs. Finley said the emotional high of ib'' trip so far
was when they passed under the Statue of l.ibert\ m New
York Harbor. “1 just looked up and .said Thank yon [‘m
so happy to live in thLs country.’
The Finleys said they have met many interesting
people on their trip, from Cajuns in 1/juisiaiia, to
Spanish-speaking people in Florida and t’ne New
Englanders.
"They say the world is a cold place to live, that peie
pie just don’t care anymore." said Finle> • Well, we
realize that just isn’t true. Everyone has taken ii.s m
There are literally thousands of little Calabashes up and
down the coast."
They are heading home right now aiui liope to be
there by Christmas. But as Finley said. "When you're
traveling at a speed of 5 knots, it takes a wbilo to go
anywhere."
Finley said he may sell his hou.se when he gets back
so he can by a bigger boat and sail to South America or
Europe. “Would I do it again? Hell, yes'."
He added, "A lot of people say they have a lot to lose
by just picking up and sailing for a year or two. But I just
tell them that they don’t realize how much they have to
gain."
Mrs. Finley concluded, "It's been frightening, terri
fying and adventuresome at times. But there liaw been
days when we’ve said, ‘If there was an\ thing better than
this, God must have kept it to himself ‘ “
^ Ryund IVfylavDrite On A
Pioneer SaiKy Cliih Oi ifinoi
“I collect l^vcious Moments.
They arc little figurines that I find
vco^ artistic and...wcll...c{)llcctiblc.
iVnd, since my husband and 1
joined tlic Pioneer Savings Bank
Senior (]luh, we’ve had some pre
cious moments of our own.
“The diini» we like best about
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Wb’ve tal^en most of die trips
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found my favorite Precious
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(]lub oiitint*.
“My all-time favorite Senior
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(Christmas to see all the decora
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“1 have also enjoyed the
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*Tll
SAVINGS BANK
The Senior Club
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(kmieto Pioneer Sa\'in4s Bank
and find out how you can hec( )ine
a Pioneer Senior (]lub Member.
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