Thanks for reading No Return Ticket, Leg One. I hope you enjoyed your time on deck. Before tantalizing you with a preview of No Return Ticket, Leg Two, allow me please to touch on what became of crew who were important in this first read.
TONY ROWLAND-BELOVED SON
Shortly after arriving in Australia Denise and I received a letter from my dad including the following heart-breaking news:
I am sorry to report that over Thanksgiving weekend your x-wife Barbara called. Tony is back in California and in jail. Her details were sketchy but apparently a supply boat he worked on in Tahiti was part of a drug ring and Tony became addicted. I know this isn’t the news you want, but I would be guilt ridden not to keep you informed.
If it’s any comfort to you I’m told his sailing with you, and later Denise was the best time of his life.
Affectionately, Dad
I sat paralyzed, the letter in my lap and recalled; I smelled a rat in the woodpile when Tony first wanted to work on the alleged ‘work/supply boat for the fishing fleet.’ Why—why hadn’t I spoken up right then? Maybe I could I have prevented this? Was I too headstrong? This must be what was bothering him when we argued in Raratonga. Why had I not put it together.
I began to weep. Denise came to my rescue; “I see the rain in your eyes Skip. I love Tony too. Even my trained nurses eyes didn’t see signs of drugs. Tony hid it well my captain.”
Denise held me close helping my world begin to heal.
As I edit this material for publication in 2016 Tony continues to battle the demons of drugs but is leading a reasonably healthy life in California with his wife and two fine youngsters we are pleased to call our grandchildren.
KYLE-TONY’S FRIEND AND PACIFIC CREW
Kyle left us in Tahiti to permanently work on the ‘supply ship’ we later learned was an integral part of a major international drug ring. About the time we crossed the International Date Line DEA officers busted the boat, Kyle was arrested, and for all we know still remains in a Tahitian grey bar hotel wearing blue striped pajamas.
TOM PEEK-VAGABOND FROM MINNESOTA
After voyaging with us Tom settled on the volcanic Big Island of Hawaii where along with being a mountain guide, firefighter and exhibit writer at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Tom also taught writing and editing to islanders while working on his own fiction. When writing this book Denise and I found Tom’s old business card from Bora Bora and tracked him down through the Internet. Still in Hawaii Tom is an award-winning author (Daughters of Fire) and became my writing coach for what you have just read.
MIKE MULHOLLAND-OAKLAND NURSERY OWNER
Mike was surely the biggest ‘character’ ever to walk our decks. He didn’t get enough of the Rowland’s and returned to sail with us aboard Endymion from Darwin to Singapore adding his wit and wisdom (?) to further enrich the lives of everyone he encountered. Mike eventually sold his Oakland nursery, married a Thai lady and lives happily retired in California. To this day he remains a crappy fisherman—but we still love him.
Moving on I continued writing this true story because readers remarked there never seemed an end to our adventure—that so many unusual, sometimes frightening, sometimes humorous, but always interesting events involved Endymion and her crew. We didn’t ask for these things—they just happened. And they continued in Australia.
In my second book No Return Ticket-Leg Two we race with Tall Ships, rocket down a flooding Australian river and are attacked by pirates in the Malacca Strait. Love conquers all and there are humorous moments of course. I’m told it’s a compelling read. I hope to have you aboard.
Captain Skip Rowland
Box 1194
Northport, WA 99157