We just anchored off the docks at Joe Wheeler State Park when we heard, "Nellie D., Nellie D., this is Annie on channel one six." So began our serendipitous and most enjoyable encounter with Ron Beberniss.
Ron and I Ford a Creek in his Jeep
It was a few days earlier in Florence, AL, that we first heard about Ron, Annie--the 52' boat he built, Annie's calliope, and Ron's stream whistle collection. This, I remember thinking at the time, is an interesting guy.
Annie's Home
We invited Ron to breakfast. He invited us to use the empty slip next to him. Bicki's breakfasts are good, but a free covered slip? I think we got the better deal :-)
Nellie Next to Annie
After the pro forma, three minute tour of Nellie, Ron showed us through Annie. In a word, Wow! Annie took 15 years to build. Given her high level of finish I'm surprised it didn't take longer. Annie's all-teak joinery is furniture grade: raised panels, insert doors, custom fiddle rails, winding stairs and everywhere the wood is curved. It's unusual to see someone so good at so many things. Did I mention that Ron built Annie while holding down a full time job as an emergency room physician?
Riverboat Annie
Annie's done the 2500 mile round trip to Pittsburgh twice and will be doing it again this summer.
Star, Ron's Favorite of His Ten Miniature Donkeys
Ron collected over 1000 stream whistles. Nellie's two whistles don't work very well. Oh, did I have some questions for him!
Walls Full of Beautiful Steam Whistles
On Annie's cabin top is a calliope, think pipe organ. At sunset we took Annie out on the Tennessee River and were serenaded with calliope music that Ron had arranged.
Annie's 5 Octave, 61 Whistle Calliope
When Mozart was my age he'd been dead for 25 years. I get the same sort of wonder when contemplating all that Ron has done.
It was only 300 yards from our anchorage into the slip but that ups our total to 1800 miles. In a 60', covered slip at Joe Wheeler State Park. DBH
