News

Wednesday 22 December 2004
Wednesday Dec 22 2004

I just want you all to know that I can proudly announce that my brother Francois won the Porterville Serial Challenge held in Porterville from the 11th to the 19th of December and in doing so, moved from #5 to #3 on the South African National ranking. There is a slight possibility that he might represent South Africa in the World Paragliding Championship in Brazil in March next year.

Another great de Villiers feat!

I have since with Gideon’s and my father’s help taken out all the sails and flushed them with fresh water and after they dried folded and stored in our shed with all the other equipment and sailing gear. IT’s waterline is already sticking out six inches above the water. We also moved IT to her new slip at the marina and will soon put her on the dry and give her bottom a good scrub and wash.

My uttermost thanks to Truda and Dennis at the Serendipity Resort and Marina for the excellent organization at the Marina. Thank you too for making The Bay House available for us.

T-SHIRTS AND RECEPTION DINNER
I have tracked down the T-shirt orders!
To those who were expecting their T-shirts on Sunday, I owe you an apology. They were dispatched from Austin on Saturday afternoon to arrive in Port Lavaca early on Sunday. When they did not ship in, they were tracked to Corpus Christi! I have just received notice that they have arrived in Port Lavaca! I will pick them up this afternoon and they will be shipped to you as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience.

Regarding the Reception Dinner - please keep checking the website and do sign in if you have not already done so and would like to attend. See Homecoming on the site. The expected date for this reception will be towards the end of January. It will be held in either Port Lavaca or Palacios.

Tuesday December 21, 2004
Since my last log entry, after dodging oil platforms and a tanker at anchor, we were welcomed by the US Coast Guard who escorted us through the Matagorda Bay Channel. The Coast Guard in fact stayed with us all the way up through the inter-coastal waterway and then towards the Palacios Ship Channel. A small powerboat with three people onboard took pictures of us and in the heavy winds and seas I felt sympathy for them as they got pretty badly soaked. Soon "Clueless Waters" with Randy and friends from the yacht club approached and once hailing them, they followed us. It was not long and "Mariposa" with Norris at the helm and "Heart and Soul" with Tommy skippering joined us too. All of them had members of the Palacios Yacht Club on as crew and they waved and congratulated me. A large powerboat soon joined the flotilla as well as two large gulf shrimp-boats with their outriggers fully out.

As we approached the harbor entrance I could see the marina was stacked with people.
Wanting to give them a good show, I shot a parachute signal flare off from IT’s bow as we crossed the finishing line. I then took two handheld bright red flares and ignited them and walked up alongside IT’s port rail, holding the flares triumphantly above my head. I became very emotional as we passed the crowd who cheered and clapped holding up banners with “welcome home” slogans. Once we passed the crowd I motored to the end of the harbor and turned around, heading back to the marina’s "Blue House" jetty where the crowd was waiting and in the process lit another handheld flare!

Once I had docked, with Gideon and friends tying up the lines, I jumped off and held Bev, Sharleen and Gideon closely. My Family, how great that felt! I hugged Mom too, and then looking up could not believe it, my dad was also there, all the way from South Africa! - we hugged and then I asked Pastor Ron and his wife, Kathleen Shott to give a prayer of thanks.

That done, I escorted the customs agent inside IT where he checked that all my papers were in order and we completed the necessary customs report.
Bev then introduced me to the Mayor of Palacios, John Conner, who welcomed and congratulated me on behalf of the community. He read a proclamation stating that December 19 was to be Charl de Villiers Day in Palacios. I was taken aback and felt honored to receive this accolade!

Next I received another proclamation from the Port Lavaca, and Calhoun County Chamber of Commerce honoring me as their Gold Star. Wow !!

Also presented to me was a special tribute from the Governor of Texas, Rick Perry. Wow again!!

Also presented were many beautiful drawings from children at the local schools.
Wow and wow again! Thank you so much.

My fellow Kwagga rugby players, Philip, Jaco and Hugo then squirted and soaked me with champagne and picked me up and held me triumphantly on their shoulders!

After posing for pics and a brief interview with the television and newspaper reporters it was time to greet all my friends, supporters and well-wishers. I took my time and enjoyed chatting briefly with everyone there who came to congratulate me.

Posed for more pics.

It was an overwhelming welcome!
I thank you all from the bottom of my heart!! Bless you all!!

And to all those around the world that have followed my daily travails on the net. Thank you all. You will never know how much it meant to me to always be aware that you were all out there - watching and caring and praying for me.

Please be sure to check the website every week as I will continue to write and let you know what happens from here!

Once again - thank you one and all.
Charl

HOME AGAIN
Charl and Island Time arrived safely yesterday at 1:00 pm as promised!
He was greeted by 300 wellwishers and it was a sight that I will remember for the rest of my life.
He was overwhelmed as you can imagine!
He enjoyed a relaxing bath, had a much needed shave and slept in his own bed for the first time in almost 10 months!
He is well, very exhausted, but happy as can be.
He will write his log later today when he has taken care of Island Time and the last of the paperwork.
Thank you dear Lord for Your Hand in this magnificent adventure.
God Bless all
Bev

COUNT DOWN!
D-DAY IS TODAY!

Arrival: Sunday, 19 December
Time: Between 1:00 and 2:00 ON SCHEDULE
Place: Serendipity Marina, Palacios, Texas

Contact: Bev at silentvoyager1@yahoo.com

PLEASE US AT SERENDIPITY TO CHEER AND CONGRATULATE CHARL WHEN HE SAILS IN!

Directions to the Marina:
From 59: Take the Palacios exit - follow Palacios signs and continue all the way into Palacios. Do not turn right onto 35, continue on as though you are going towards the waterfront. The road will take a sharp curve to the right - and then you will pass the library and pharmacy and Ace hardware - and a set of lights. Continue on and you will approach the harbor area and will see the shrimp boats - just before the shrimp boats, you will see Serendipity Marina.
PLEASE STOP AT THE OFFICE AND CHECK IN. YOU WILL BE SHOWN WHERE TO PARK.

From Port Lavaca/Point Comfort/Edna etc : 35 will take you all the way to Palacios. Once passing the golfcourse, watch for the road to the right which goes towards the waterside. Follow this road, it will curve, you will pass the shrimp boats and the Marina will be immediately on your right.
PLEASE CHECK INTO THE OFFICE FIRST, YOU WILL BE SHOWN WHERE TO PARK.

Home Stretch
0700 hrs CST ( 1300 hrs UTC )
Approaching Matagorda Bay Channel
5 miles to go, then once in Bay, 20 miles to Palacios.

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