24 | April 3, 2014 | Johns Creek Herald | northfulton.com
OPINION
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Sailing the Caribbean Sea with Captain Ron My Lady Wife and There was a quality I were all prepared in Captain Ron that to take our second said there is Eastern Caribbean cruise with Standard Time and her sister and brotherthere is Caribbean in-law. They are a Time. Captain Ron is Executive Editor salty pair, veterans of definitely always on hatcher@northfulton.com several cruises, and we the latter. And there is were looking forward no problem that can’t to sailing with them be solved with another again. beer. They made it a snap two years ago So with that in mind, our third on our inaugural cruise. We hardly day aboard this huge liner, Kathy and had to do much more than show up at I were stepping off the gangway for the airport. It was better than having our first shore leave. Personally, I was personal cruise directors. So we were happy to be standing on something that ready for more of the same when my didn’t move under me. The seas had sister-in-law got sick days before we been a little choppy, and I was only just were to leave and they couldn’t go. getting my sea legs. We were heartsick that they could The only problem is once you’re off not go, and apprehensive that now the ship, you don’t quite have your land we would have to solo. We were also legs back, which means you have a tenmore than a little worried that my Lady dency to lurch a little because the earth Wife and I would have to spend the isn’t rocking under you. next nine days together. Not “have a But I was determined to put a brave nice day, honey.” We’re talking 24/7 face on it, so off we went to find Captogether. tain Ron’s Pirate Cruise. Now his name No Thursday night poker for me and isn’t really Captain Ron, but he will forno Monday night quilt bees for her to ever be so called in my memory of that interrupt our constant companionship. excursion. The brochure on his website Just together. Was this going to be a said “Pirate Cruise aboard sailing ship vacation or a sentence? with snorkeling among wrecks and rum Then along came Captain Ron. punch.” If you saw the Kurt Russell movie Any brochure that ends in rum “Captain Ron,” then you know it is the punch sounded like a pretty good exstory of the uptight American couple cursion to me, so off we went. A 5-min(Martin Short and Mary Kay Place) who ute walk from the end of our pier, the hire Captain Ron to sail the boat they brochure said. What it didn’t say was inherited, but had to fly to the Caribfrom where we docked, it is a 15-minbean to bring it home. ute walk to the end of pier. Then we walked through the customs gate. Was this where we turn left for that 5-minute walk? No, I said 10 minutes later. That path led to the water taxis. But someone did point over to the next cove at some ragged brown sails sticking up on toothpick masts,
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That left the boat with ragged brown sails – more ochre now – not so much tied up at the end of the dock as holding on to it. to say that was our Pirate Ship. OK, so they don’t have the crispest directions and no hint of a sign anywhere. Fifteen minutes later we walked up to the marina and looked out at the three boats moored there. Which one would be the Pirate Ship? Certainly not the catamaran. Likely not the motor boat that would only seat four comfortably, either. That left the boat with ragged brown sails – more ochre now – not so much
CITY OF ALPHARETTA NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Along with previously advertised items the following will be considered by the City Council on Monday, April 28, 2014 commencing at 7:30 p.m. in the Alpharetta City Hall Council Chambers, 2 South Main Street, Alpharetta, Georgia. a. V-14-09/PH-14-07 Bridgeway Christian Academy Soccer Consideration of a request to change a previous condition of zoning in order to allow a sign on a soccer field. The property is located at 4755 Kimball Bridge Road and legally described as being located in Land Lot 163, 1st District, 1st Section, Fulton County, Georgia. b. V-14-11 Webb Bridge Low Impact Development Consideration of a request for a variance to the front yard setback from 35’ to 15’; a variance to permit storm water detention on a lot with a home; a variance to the typical City roadway section; and a variance to allow a 35’setback along Webb Bridge Road. The property is located at 4570 Webb Bridge Road and legally described as being located in Land Lots 158 and 159,1st District, 1st Section, Fulton County, Georgia. Note: Georgia law requires that all parties who have made campaign contributions to the Mayor or to a Council Member in excess of two hundred fifty dollars ($250) within the past two (2) years must complete a campaign contribution report with the Community Development Department. The complete text of the Georgia law and a disclosure form are available in the office of the City Clerk, 2 South Main Street.
tied up at the end of the dock as holding on to it. With snorkels and fins in hand, we casually walked to over to it – there are really only two directions to go when you’re on a pier, and it would be just too embarrassing to turn around to go the other way. There didn’t seem to be anyone in charge, just two twentysomethings who seemed to shamble around the boat to some obscure purpose I could never quite discern. After about 10 minutes of that, they got off what by now that hollow feeling in my gut told me was the Pirate Ship and got into the other boat – not the catamaran – and left never to be seen again. It was then I saw a head appear at the hatch and began to rise up out of the bowels of the boat. I didn’t know it then, despite the faded and stained billed cap with a fouled anchor patch perched over the bill, but this was Captain Ron. As much as I detest the words “To Be Continued,” I am forced by the exigencies of time and space that define the limits of a newspaperman’s world. I will have to haul before the wind on this lee shore until next week. There I promise weigh anchor and finish this yarn.
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