Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
One fateful day, a forty-foot Morgan sailed into Lanai and spent a week in the sunny con-
fines of Black Manele Harbor. Gavin clicked immediately with the older man, Tom, and
Lynn, his young woman crew. In fact, they clicked so well that old Tom, who was a re-
tired bookkeeper from San Francisco and living his dream cruise, put such faith in Gavin's
seamanship that he decided to offer Gavin a free trip down to Australia. Gavin readily ac-
cepted. He was becoming bored and impatient with Lanai, and this offer was too good to
be true.
He announced his intention of sailing off with the crew of the Morgan one morning after
having dinner the evening before with Tom and Lynn. I was shocked and saddened but not
surprised. I could not blame him for wanting more than just being my twin, helping me sail
my boat around and just being there for me. He wanted to travel and see the world and meet
people. He loved people a lot and needed to be around them a whole lot more than I did.
That is a big difference between him and I; I am content to be alone, by and large, whereas
he thrives on company.
All too soon I was shaking his hand in farewell. I gave him some family photographs and
watched, a little teary eyed, as they sailed out of the harbor. I wondered when I would ever
see him again. I hoped he would be safe. I was down in spirits for a few days after his de-
parture.
“Nature abhors a vacuum.” So stated anthropologist Charles Darwin's wife. And so it was
that a few weeks after Gavin's departure, I was to meet Susanne (not to be confused with
the Susan at the Lanai Service Station). She was a flight attendant for United Airlines and
had flown in to Lanai with two girl friends for a week's camping trip.
I met her on one of my walks down to the beach early one morning. Of course it was young
Murphy that broke the ice. Susanne, who happened to be walking along in the surf in her
swimsuit, saw him and broke into a charming smile all over her lovely face, “Oh, what a
cute kitty!” she exclaimed. “Is he yours?”
“Yes, that's Murphy,” I grinned shyly back at her. She was very sexy with huge, green eyes,
long, wavy, reddish blonde hair and a voluptuously firm and sexy body. I was amazed to
hear that she picked up on my accent straight away. “Where are you from? Are you Eng-
lish?”
“No, I'm South African.”
“South African!” she said in amazement. “You are a long way from home, aren't you?” She
had a very pleasing face and a lovely, sunny smile with dazzling,white teeth. I was very
attracted to her.
“Are you camping here?” I asked.
