* Melbourne, FL. *
It has been one year since we disembarked abruptly and went home to Indiana with our pup, Remy, to seek further medical attention for her. We still believe that angel of a pup led us home to deal with multiple family matters and a lot of heartache. In the past year, we said goodbye to Tasha’s mom, both of David’s sisters, fixed David’s heart, and then two weeks ago, said goodbye to our beloved first dog, Remy. Our crew of three is sadly now a crew of two.
Last photo of Remy at home with one of her beloved hedgehogs
We are now in the throes of getting ready to cruise again, with broken hearts, the journey will go on as we will continue our cruising of America’s Great Loop. We are struggling to focus on our preparations. We just arrived in Melbourne with a truck load of items we think we will need but probably won’t. We had stripped the boat of a lot of gear last June as we prepared her for hurricane season. While David spent time here over the winter, he did not reload or put her back together as we thought we might have one more hurricane season at home with Remy. It was not meant to be.
Remy did very well at home this past year until she didn’t. We are thankful beyond measure for the 15 years, 8 months, and 27 days she was on this earth – and close to 15 years as our rescue and the best official boat dog. There is nothing she loved more than the water. Whether it be swimming, fishing, floating, cruising, or dock life, Remy was all water dog. She is with us in spirit, and we miss her terribly.
Our water pup!
Gone are all of Remy’s things (it’s hard to believe how much space was devoted to our pup). But how quickly that space has been filled with “other” things that we brought back. After thoroughly going through every cabinet, drawer, locker, nook, and cranny to remove or reorganize, we now have a truck load of items we’ll be taking home prior to untying the lines around May 1.
We both have several projects at hand. David has a couple mechanical in nature projects including the sh$! job of rebuilding a sewage vacuum pump, cleaning out AC lines, and programming our power management system for remote operation. Tasha is focusing on making a hatch cover, a cushion for the front seat of the dinghy, and a mending and enhancing a couple former sewing projects. Our hope is to complete these before we depart.
Water and sunshine is good for the soul and our broken hearts
Melbourne Harbor Marina has been so good to our family. We came a year ago for two nights, extended to one month, then 6 months, now a year, and they said YES to us returning in November for the winter. Our loose plan is to cruise the intra-coastal up the east coast at a leisurely pace with no set agenda and as far North as the Chesapeake Bay, then return to Melbourne for the winter. In the spring of 2024, we will scoot up the East Coast and traverse the New York and Canadian canals and waterways into the Great Lakes for the summer.
More of our water pup!
We will take our time exploring Americana, one community at a time, escaping the tumultuous world, and mending our hearts from the past year. We’re excited to be re-engaging in cruising life but saddened our crew is just the two of us. It’s hard to believe Remy isn’t continuing the adventure.
The salon of the Now or Never, Remy forever with us!
Remy captaining our houseboat photo will forever cruise with us as it has from the start of our loop. What a pup!
Our drive to Florida included much discussion about our cruising plans. Upon our arrival in Melbourne, one of our first tasks was securing winter moorage in Florida, so we could build our cruise plan from that location. We aren’t prepared (especially mentally) to complete our great loop this year. For us, it has always been a multi-year journey and that has been extended even more by our year at home. We are a little behind the eight ball in securing winter moorage as most Florida marinas are full a year or more in advance. Our first choice was to return to Melbourne. Melbourne is far enough south to be warm, on the East Coast so not so much back tracking, and we are feeling very comfortable and at home here.
We sure do miss that sweet, wild, little red head. She will forever be our amazing boat dog and hold a piece of our hearts front and center. RIP sweet Remy.
She loved the water, the middle photo is the first day she joined our family!
Cheers! David, Tasha, & Remy forever in our hearts!
Follow us on facebook for more frequent updates. Mann Aboard
Dear Cousin Davey and your Tasha,
Joe and I express our utmost sympathy for your losses.
Your sisters and Tasha’s mother have been hard blows.
And the loss of your dearest canine family member crushing, dearest Remy.
We have lost through the years our family members
Wok, Lhasa Apso
Myrtle, Cairn Terrier
Neyll, Scottish Terrier
Mungo Moose, Scottish Terrier
I too have had five way bypasses and am on approaching in May the fifth year of recovery.
Have lost massive amounts of weight and have made many life chances also.
I certainly can relate to your journeys.
I would love to speak with you again and catch up.
I have much news of the family and of Auntie Mary for instance.
Please give me a call.
Patty Chaney Gantt
865-318-4074
john_seventeen@charter.net
olivercamper1@proton.me
olvercamper1@duck.com
Thank you Patty.
While Remy will not be physically with you on this part of your journey, she will always be part of the Now or Never. I find it amazing how our furry children become so much a part of our lives and remain even when they are gone. Although you sail with heavy hearts the joy of Remy will remain forever with you.
Thank you Judy. We feel her presence everyday. She was an incredible companion.
It’s been a very rough year for you both, physically and mentally. We were so sorry to hear about your beloved Remy and your family members that passed. I hope and pray for better days, travels ahead. You both are together with your health. Take plenty of memorable photos to share. We miss seeing you both. On a lighter note, Edinburgh is building a new fire station that looks like a barn. While watching it come together I thought and expressed to Shelby the overhead doors look like the 8 foot doors at our house. Well I was right all of the overhead doors are residential not commercial especially for fire trucks. They all have to be torn out and install correct doors in width and height. The ambulance wouldn’t fit let alone a 110 foot arieal truck. Very costly screw up, hilarious. Who ever drew those plans should be hung. 😆 🤣 Be safe in your travels, have fun.
Thanks Dave. We’re looking forward to being on the move again with Remy’s memories in tow. What a costly error – had to be several that missed the doors in the plans!
Dearest Dave, Tasha and Mimi, my heart aches for you with the losses you have incurred hugs and prayers on your journeys. May your new memories fill your hearts know that REMY he’s right there with you in spirit and in love we will miss you and look forward to many photos and your stories of Bobby and Tammy
Thank you – we left so swiftly didn’t get to see you again – prayers for a great recovery and that you’re feeling like your old self once again soon!
This was a wondeful tribute to Remy. The memories will flood over you at times and take your breath away and there will be a sweet breath of a reminder that will make you smile and take you back in time, just for a flash, then its gone. The best time with our puppers, is the senior years. So sorry for your loss. Love you both. Deb
Thanks Deb. Her spirit is alive on the Now or Never!
So happy to hear you are venturing back onto the waters. I know you will have many lonely days without sweet Remy. Life won’t be the same but you will always have your sweet memories always with you.
We will look forward to seeing you someplace, somewhere as always,
Love Dan and Mary
Thank you Mary and Dan – you’ll need to venture to the East coast of Florida next winter!
I am so sad that sweet Remy is gone, but she will be forever in our heart. Glad that I got to see her twice lately.
I am glad that David is well and that you are back on the water together.
We will miss Remy and her visits.
Thank you Jonita. Remy loved to go to the office – one of her favorite places and people!