Friday 1 March 2013

BLOG FOR CAPTAIN BRI


The reason this Blog has been started is that I have decided to honour my good friend Captain Brian Garner who passed away October 7th 2012.
 
Brian and I planed for years to sail in the BVIs and in the winter of 2010 we finally got our act together and went.  Brian rented a boat and off we went trusting our Brian was an accomplished sailor.  It turned out he was excellent and we had the time of our lives.  I since went back with my son Bas in 2011. 

Brian had a very unfortunate set back having lost an argument with motor car while riding a scooter in Bermuda.  He was well on the road to recovery (and the BVIs once again) when he met his final demise while visiting friends in Michigan.

Having still not yet recovered from our loss of the Captain, I was feeling quite down about not being able to ever sail in the Caribbean with friends like that again.  While looking for somewhere to escape our colder than normal winter I came across an opportunity to take an American Sailing Association certification to enable me to someday rent a boat.  ME!!! 

So I am off to the BVIs at the end of the month to take a crash course in Basic Coastal Cruising, Bareboat Chartering and testing of Basic Keelboat.  I have a load of books and CDs that need to be reviewed and studied before I set out.  I hope to return with a certification so friends and family may once again sail the pleasant waters of the Caribbean.

So Captain Bri off we will go together once again to sail the "Drake".  Yes Captain Bri is coming with me as I'm sure he's getting a little anxious sitting in that little black box on a shelf in my garage.  I hope my sailing colleagues don't mind a few stops along the way so I may spread some ashes to rest the soul of my good friend.  
Brian Garner
May 13, 1953 - October 7, 2012


Captain Bri's temporary resting place was sitting in his little black box surrounded by some of his favourite things on my garage office shelf.
Since I'm off tomorrow on my quest to the BVIs I needed to open up the box to take some of Brian with me.  I'm not sure of the rules taking ashes across international boarders, planes etc. but I hope the powers that be don't read this until after I get there.  I need to smuggle Bri past 2 boarders and 2 plane trips.
Yesterday evening I recruited two of Bri's close friends to assist me in "divvying" up our Captain.  There are several friends and family that would like to have some of Bri to repatriate him in their own way.  I was somewhat Leary of opening the Bri box as I have no idea what these ashes would look like.  Does everything become ashes?  Will everything burn?  What about bones... or worst yet... TEETH!!!!
You see our old buddy had quite the set.  His good friend Shevawn wrote to me after his passing "Our tall, dark, handsome Canadian with the bluest of eyes and the shittiest of smiles".  She wasn't kidding about the smile part.
Anyway... we brought the box downstairs to the garage and had an "opening of the box" ceremony.  We surrounded him once again with some of his favourite things, a Chicago Bears cap, a bottle of Pusser's rum (empty... sorry Bri), a picture of young Bri, his "Captain" shirt and of course a Mercedes race car. Being somewhat apprehensive fearing the worst Brian P. (friend of Captain Bri) and I decided to let Joyce open the box.


OK... after seeing there were no teeth Brian and I took over to cut the tie wrap and gently spooned Bri out into several bags while Joyce sealed them up. 


Now I really hope I don't get searched at customs.  A Zip lock baggy containing white powder is not exactly what you want to get caught with.  Although our friend Captain Bri would get one hell of a kick out of it if I did!!
After the spooning was completed the 3 of us gave (yet another) toast to Captain Bri with some of the rum that was left over from his farewell party.


Now I have Bri neatly packed in my duffel bag ready for the journey to the sunny south.  The next problem I have is the approaching snow storm due to hit tonight and last well past my departure time tomorrow morning. 
I am going to be expecting a little divine intervention if you know who wants to make to the BVIs!!!!!!