Kathleen Of The Outer Banks
Page 12
Combustion Engineering was a fine company to work for until a union spoiled it all. I had worked there over eight years. I retired myself again; to move south to North Carolina to enjoy my boat longer than a few summer months. I developed a small marine railway yard of my own.
I sold out to run the marine part of Water Island Colony Club in U.S. Virgin Islands. There was too much black/white trouble to rest well; I departed before the first massacre.
Little Rhody (Rhode Island) on the sound was my next place to be. I ran the ferry “M.V. MANITOU” from Narragansett to the Block Island town. My time there I spent well. One trip I saved two fishermen that were on their way to hell.
America Cup races were quite a show. Many boats followed my little ship as if in toe. Then a heavy squall came to stop the race. I was off to my home on the Core Sound shore.
I was at home at Harkers Island near the Outer Banks, when I got an interesting call. The “BIG BAD JOHN” had hit her propellers at a long sand creeping shoal in the waterway. The Coast Guard boat had towed her to Elizabeth City. I was recommended to Jimmy Dean as the right licensed captain to pilot her to Florida. Jimmy Dean said, “Take her over, and after repairs take her to Bhatia Mar at Fort Lauderdale”. The cruise down the waterway was very cold; it was into December now before the repairs were completed. My wife was along, for my crew, Jimmy thanked her with a song. In the spring we were off to Englewood, above George Washington Bridge; the “BIG BAD JOHN” I saw no more.
I was hired by Luther and Misses Blount to captain the “M.V. MOUNT HOPE” for the smooth water cruises from Warren, Rhode Island to Canada. My last cruise on the so called “Mini Love Boat” was through the Cape Cod Canal on to Maine and then to return. The T.V. news said it was the first passenger ship into Maine since before the war. The nice write ups in the news sent me on my way to fame; to many pictures I signed my name. Oh! But, fame is fleeting and of very short time. The $300.00 bonus money was just fine.
The forty five foot ketch the “FROLIC”, I bought for my own. It was snowing that February morning that we (my son and I) departed Stamford Connecticut and motored into City Island, New York. The “FROLIC” sailed on south past the New Jersey shore and Delaware Bay and on. At Norfolk, Virginia into the waterway the weather got warmer. The “FROLIC” was berthed at Morehead City close to my home. The summer sails sure were fun but then came fall and the cold; Vera and I sailed on south to Florida for the winter months.
Palm Beach, Florida is a nice place to play. Come April and we were on our way. We sailed north to North Carolina for a short stay. Then we sailed through Pamlico Sound on into Albemarle Sound headed for Coinjock. The dark clouds indicated trouble ahead. I anchored the “FROLIC” secure with extra anchor line, for the night. The hundred miles per hour wind and squalls made for one miserable night. The “FROLIC” was a tough boat and was anchored secure. We pulled through while many ships and boats were blown ashore.
Into Wickford, Rhode Island after a stopover to see friends at Block Island; the “M.V. FIESTA CLIPPER” I did run. She ran charter party dances for summer fun out upon the bay. My next to last cruise was for Providence, prostitutes. The very last was for Newport, Rhode Island where the queers were (now called gays). I booked one more trip for these passengers to take; with another captain at the controls.
I said goodbye and sailed on south to Florida. This winter we docked at Daytona Beach. We watched the Expos as they practiced and played. Into April and ready to sail on again; an offer to buy my “FROLIC” came. I sold the boat and bought a mobile home at Edgewater, Fla. on the waterway. Golf and shuffling were fun for a while; I won trophies and some money too.
I left there and went to the Palms in Sebring, Florida, a retirement home. I did most of my writing here as I had time on my hands to spare. Then a few years later I lost my wife that had been with me for 65 wonderful years.
I had my grandson pick me up from Sebring and move me to Newport, North Carolina where I could be with my son Bob Kelley and his family. I have enjoyed being at the Crystal Coast for the nice scenery and fair weather. I have been going to the car races with my grandson Big Jim Kelley who drives the # K7 car. He has been very successful in winning 20 championships and nearly 200 feature wins. Now living with my family of five generations, the Kelley name will be around for a long time to come.
I have been writing of my experiences that I have had in my wonderful lifetime. I have many tales to tell; why should I not write some books, if only to see if I can set a hook.
Capt. Gardner Martin Kelley
Now 99 years old and going strong, 1-20-2012
List of 10 other books written by Capt. Gardner Martin Kelley
The Outer Banks Sea Gypsies
Cruising with Fred and his Unsinkable “MOLLY BROWN”
The Search for the “MOLLY BROWN”
Blackbeard, the Pirate vs. The Outer Banks Boy from Nowhere
Kathleen of the Outer Banks
The Hijack of the Trump “PRINCESS”
Murder on Liberty Ship Hull # 13
Escape from the Atomic Fallout
The “SPRIGHTLY LADY” and her Hurricane
Short Stories of the Life of Capt. Gardner Martin Kelley