Race 10 - Day 14
Crew Diary - Race 10 Day 14: Seattle to Panama
14 May
Further Tales from the Big G Diner
Ronni looked tired and stressed as he poured over a mountain of paperwork perched on the edge of his seat, busily making notes. I’d kept him supplied all morning with coffee and doughnuts.
Just after eleven June arrived and took a seat opposite him. He seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. June worked for Ronni. Some say she was his secretary or maybe his PA but the word on the street was that she was his ‘miss fixit’ and, in reality, ran the show.
A limo pulled up outside. Two strangers walked in wearing dark jackets, the guy with white framed sunglasses, the blond haired girl wearing a headband, both accompanied by an older more distinguished looking gentlemen, and, seeing Ronni, they made their way to the table. The logo on the jackets and headband looked vaguely familiar. I took an order for more coffee and doughnuts. The older gentleman had an accent like Prince Charles. He must have been important, as Ronni and June stood up and referred to him as ‘Sir’.
By the time the Limo sped away it was almost 12 o’clock. Ronni and June gathered up the mountain of papers and sorted out their check. Ronni seemed quite animated and excited. ‘What are you up to now Ronni?’, I asked. He grinned from ear to ear, like the cat in Alice in Wonderland. As he walked out the door he turned and paused. ‘I’m going round the world Dr G, round the world’......
As I cleared the table I noticed a brochure where June had been sitting. The cover had a photo of a man standing on the front of a boat. I recognised him, Ronni’s visitor, the man with the accent.
Graham, that’s the retired airline pilot, must have heard some of the chatter. He was peering over my shoulder looking at the picture. He quickly scribbled down an email and website address. He hurried back to the corner and tapped away fervently on his iPad. He had that grin, the one I’d seen on Ronni earlier.
As I walked home that evening I couldn’t stop thinking about Ronni’s latest venture. That logo, the inspiring title about ‘Race of Your Life’, the photo of Ronni’s important visitor standing on the front of a yacht like some intrepid explorer.
As I came to the crossroads to turn left for home I paused. What if, I thought, I turned right instead? Or just carried straight on? I had a strange feeling inside, a sense of mischievous adventure, and I’m pretty sure I had that cheshire cat grin.