A big change is imminent
We change our lifestyle. And it is a big change, a big change in many dimensions. So what exactly do we change.
From land to sea
We bought the Duro in 2015, converted from a military vehicle to a motorhome during 2.5 years. On August 1, 2018, we started our exploration of the world. So we have already changed our lifestyle back then. From socially and socially accepted working life to the uncertain, unprofitable travel life. We haven’t regretted it for a single second. With the Duro we drove through countless roads, villages, cities and landscapes. We never counted the villages and towns. In total, however, we drove 115,798 kilometers. We have traveled to 14 countries with the Duro. In the USA, we drove through and explored 24 states. Yes, we have experienced a lot with the Duro. From the quiet Sahara Desert to stopping the cartel in Sinaloa, Mexico – we have experienced a lot. Beautiful colorful cities and villages in Mexico and Guatemala to deserts in Arizona, Texas, Utah, Nevada to dense forests in Quebec, Ontario, Newfoundland. We froze in Durango, Colorado and Sedona, Arizona and almost died of the heat in Lake Havasu City, Arizona at 53.3 degrees Celsius during the day and 44 degrees at night, and at 3 months 45 degrees in Baja California Sur during the day. Without air conditioning – only with a fabulously good parking heater from Eberspächer.
And then the moment came
We saw an ad for a catamaran. An owner’s version, 44 feet long, stable, not too old, priced a little above what we really imagined. Nevertheless, we have made an appointment for a viewing. In Oriental, North Carolina. At that time we were in Denver, Colorado. However, when we visited Oriental, NC, the broker informed us in advance that he could not be present at the first tour of the catamaran. However, the owners of the boat offered to show us the catamaran. And certainly this was the best thing that could have happened to us.
We meet Misto
We meet Howard at the local café “The Bean” and drive from there to the dock where the catamaran is parked. We stroll through the small forest on the private property onto the dock. We come out of the bushes onto the dock and there she stands – Misto. This is the current name of the ship. Howard and Ros show us the entire ship. We touch the interior fittings. Haptically and visually exactly what we were looking for. And we have been looking for them for years. The first owners then offer us to go on a short trip the next day. We don’t think twice and so we meet on Sunday for a short drive. After we have been outside for about an hour, a pod of dolphins with about 30 animals surrounds us. Even Howard and Ros have never experienced this in the Neuse River. And the image of dolphins at the salon door is further supported by this encounter. We are thrilled. First of all, we say goodbye to the two experienced sailors and promise that we will announce our decision for the next step to them shortly. The next step would be to either withdraw from further interest or have a survey carried out. But we need a few days to do so. So we explore the area around Oriental and drive to Morehead City and Beaufort.
In Beaufort we want to visit the Maritime Museum. Very interesting what can be learned here in terms of seafaring history. And there is a huge old library in the back of the building. In it, I, Thomas, simply head straight ahead towards a shelf. In front of me is the section of books on sea creatures. One book catches my eye. The author of the book is world-famous – Jacques Cousteau. The name of the book “Dolphins”. A thought runs through my head. As a 10 or 12-year-old, I had a book by Cousteau called “Dolphins”. I take the book off the shelf – I don’t know if that’s allowed in this ancient library. I open the book and what do I see? The absolutely identical picture on the first inside page, which was in the same place in my dolphin book at the time. I keep leafing through. All pictures are 100 percent identical to my youth book. It’s the same book. After more than 4 decades, I hold my very first book in my hands that I have ever read. That’s too many of the coincidences. The ship is supposed to have something like dolphin in its name. And so Claudia and I agree that we will take the next step – the inspection of the ship. We are looking for a surveyor, an appointment and a marina that can lift the ship out of the water so that the underwater hull can also be inspected.
Survey, Sea Trial, Haul out
The day has arrived and we meet with the surveyor, the broker and Howard at the jetty where Misto – as the ship is still called at that time – is subjected to an appraisal. Such an assessment involves 3 steps. The Surveyor searches every conceivable and accessible corner of the ship for cracks, scuffs, leaks, repairs, rust, leaks, technical defects or none of these. The second step is a haul out. This means that the ship is lifted out of the water to inspect the underwater hull for bubbles, leaks, holes, damage. The third step is a sea trial, which means that the ship is tested under engine load and sails and whether the standing and running rigging (rigging, ropes, lines, pulleys, engines, saildrives, etc.) works. The Sea Trial is usually one hour long. However, since we have to drive from Oriental to the haul out in New Bern, the Sea Trial is a three-hour undertaking which is an absolutely great test for engines and sails. As long as there is wind. After the haul out and survey we drive back to Oriental. During the parking maneuver, there is a violent crash at the end of the port. As Howard then tells us, something seems wrong with the port motor, saildrive. We can just about dock with an engine at the dock. Open the engine compartment, check. Superficially and optically no defects to be seen. Howard promises to look into the matter and investigate. Steve, the surveyor we have hired, promises to send us the survey report within a few days. And we have to fly back to Denver, because that’s where our Duro is. After just one day, Howard has found the cause. The screw – i.e. the propeller – on the port side (that is on the left) said goodbye during the maneuver. Has fallen off. Plop – just like that. Howard gets a new propeller and we receive the survey report. Meanwhile back in Denver at the Duro, the decision has basically already been made. We agree to buy Misto for Howard.
Denver to Oriental
Now that we have accepted and paid the deposit, we now have to drive the Duro from Denver, Colorado to Oriental, North Carolina. And as we all know, a Duro is not a Porsche. As a result, we are still the slowest on the interstate. So we decide, if possible, not to drive an interstate but over land and something else to see of the area. The road runs parallel to Interstate 70. From Denver to the east, for the first time, there is nothing but land and desert. At some point we see the state sign “Welcome to Kansas” in front of us. So we will drive through the entire state of Kansas from west to east. There is not much to report about this. The most exciting moments were when, after about 60 kilometers, there is a slight curve. Under no circumstances should we drive too fast – because of the centrifugal forces – these can carry us out of the curve. Hahahahaha…. We briefly touch the state of Missouri and drive into Arkansas. Many Europeans pronounce the name of this state as it is spelled. We Swiss even have the “ä” in it. So “Arkänsäs”. Hihi… No, it’s pronounced “Arkansaw”. We continue into Tennessee. And here we visit the house of Elvis Presley – this is a must as an old Presley fan. And it is impressive. You almost think you can still feel Elvis’ presence – mystical. Further across Tennessee. Soon we reach North Carolina in the west and drive through this state.
We reach Oriental on August 16, 2024 by Duro. Just in time – for the date for the second haul out, because the ordered propeller is to be remounted and a few smaller underwater hulls can be done immediately. Claudia and I work on the underwater hull all weekend long. Then Misto goes back into the water and we chug back to Oriental. Later we catch up on the Duro and we are allowed to stand on the owners’ property here until we have sold the Duro.
We sell the Dubu
All data on the sale of the Duro has been collected and we are advertising vigorously. In the local newspaper, in the local news website www.towndock.net. And so there are a few contacts or interested parties and finally a buyer of our Duro. The Duro is now in Whistler, BC, Canada and delights its new owner.
Imagination meets reality
That’s how we wanted it to be. We imagined that we could drive the Duro right next to the ship and transport our belongings from there to the ship. Yes, we couldn’t park that close to the ship. But the jetty from the parking lot to the ship is not far – 50, 60 meters and we can comfortably carry our things from the Duro into the ship. Wishes come true. Man oh man – we carried goods from the Duro into the ship for 3 days. Who would have thought what we could accommodate in the Duro. Crass.
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