I got to meet him on one of our first trips to Tampa at a pool party before the show. I believe that was my only time ever talking to him in person, but we bonded right away and talked a good half-hour straight. A great guy, indeed.
Sail on, Captain Steve. I'm a better person for knowing ya.
A most mysterious calling harbour
So far, but yet, so near
Where I see the day
When my hair's full gray
and I finally...disappear. BUT NOT YET!!
Last we communicated, he was heading down to PNS NAS to pick up his boat for a sail. I posted not to go towards towards the 3 mile bridge as we have had issues with the local contractor building it literally "running barges into it". Mostly during Hurricane Sally.
CNF always said that he was heading out towards the channel, leading into the Gulf of Mexico, or back into bay which heads down towards LuLu's in Gulf Shores.
In any means, when I take my boat towards LuLu's, there is a small island which "splits the pass". Going to the left is deeper and faster, but has more traffic. Going right has PNS NAS on the right hand side, and you have to wait for incoming and outgoing traffic, which is where CNF always came out of.
I will go right for now on and hold up a beer as I cross that entrance.
Our paths never crossed on the water, but plenty of times on the land.