Brian and Sierra

Those following my cruising blog have seen Brian and Sierra before.

These two decided some time ago that they had no interest in staying in their West Virginia mountain home, but rather wanted to live a life of travel and adventure. Through mostly slim times, they have made their way with perseverance, strong will, willingness (eagerness) to learn, and help from friends, Tom and I among them.

When their recent stint as crew for a usual-single-handed sailor fell through, we picked them up in Beaufort and set them up in our boat, while we stayed at Crawford's house. In appreciation, they did some boat work for us, and then began looking for a ride back to WV, where they had temporary work waiting. Thus our trip to this bar in North Myrtle Beach, a bar devoted to West Virginia - maybe they could pick up a ride from someone driving back home.

Failing in that quest, they finally rented a car and took off about a week ago. We hope to see them again when we get back up to Chesapeake Boat Basin in Virginia, where they live on their boat in the summer, run their fledgling dive business, and do other jobs as needed and as they come along.

Their feelings while here in Little River, a mixture of guilt and gratitude at what they saw as our generosity but what we saw as just helping out worthy friends, plus near-despair at not finding any work here, did not jibe with ours; we enjoyed very much having them aboard and visiting with them. It's easy to help people as unspoiled as they, and reminds us of how many people have helped, and continue to help, us.