I quickly turn the helm and placed Aleph Tav in reverse hoping to slow down our forward motion as the happy old kayaker paddled off around us.  An unexpected change in course and speed while preparing to dock, only serves as a test to the integrity of the dock posts, and adds another scratch to your hull…

“Darn!…” I complained as we bumped the dock with a heavy thud.  Gabriel and Andre promptly cleated the lines.  Lisa searched on her phone for the nearest grocery store and Noah peeked out of the hatch curious to see where we were.

The marina folks left immediately after we checked in, leaving me searching  for anyone who could give us directions to the nearest grocery store. There was no one left; no one except the old kayaker who by now had put his small boat away, and was walking toward a road.  He was not exactly the person I would have chosen to ask, but having no other choice, I called his attention.

“The closest grocery store is about ten miles away.  And by the way, right next door, there is a bakery that makes a world renown cinnamon raisin bread.  Make sure you stop and get it.”  The man answered.

“Ok,” I responded, “we’ll just call a cab.”

“A cab?…” The old man chuckled, “Your in a private gated Plantation… a cab wouldn’t be able to come here, but…” he pondered for a moment, “If you don’t mind walking to my house, I’ll give you a ride there.  That is, if my truck starts.  Haven’t driven it in months…”

Andre, Gabriel and I, walked with the man for a little while, and I took the opportunity to share the purpose of our journey.

“Ok, let’s see if we can get this truck going.”  He said seemingly unmoved by what I shared.

The truck started on the very first turn of the key.  “Hey! Look at this!… You folks have good karma…” He noted with a surprised smile.

“Well… You have a good truck!” I responded with a smile.

Before heading off to the grocery store, man took us on a tour of the private gated Plantation.  “The food is amazing, and the bread is delicious… Well, not quite as good as the world renown cinnamon raisin bread that your gonna get where I’m taking you.”  He continued as we drove past a fancy restaurant. “Only members of the Plantation are able to eat here.”

Having passed by tennis courts, golf courses, and beautiful homes connected by perfectly groomed lawns and winding sidewalks, we approached a gate.  A guard came out and waved us through.

“You can only enter back into the Plantation if you are a member, or if you are guests.  When you docked at our marina and signed in, you became the marina’s guest, and now you are with me.”  The old man explained as he drove into the outside world.

Some time later we arrived at a shopping plaza.  The man drove past the grocery store as if he was still giving us a tour.  “There!…” He pointed at a little bakery store. “Make sure you get the cinnamon raisin bread.”

The boys and I spread out through the store, each with a portion of Lisa’s grocery list, and quickly reconvened at the cashier.  Outside, the man was waiting patiently next to his truck.  We placed the grocery bags in the trunk and off we went.

Because the man seemed more interested in talking about the Plantation then hearing about the purpose of our journey, I sat awkwardly silent as we drove all the way  back to the dock.

“Thank you so much… What can I do to bless you?” I asked the man while holding a bunch of grocery bags in my hands.

“You already did something to bless me…  Your presence… You allowed me to be in your presence.  That, was my blessing” he said as he waved us off.

The boys and I walked down the ramp leading to the boat dock… “Hey!!!” Came a voice behind us, “you forgot something…”

I turned around.  It was the old man.  He was carrying a bag I did not recognize, but he insisted, so I took the bag and returned to Aleph Tav

To be continued