Traveling offers opportunities to meet some awe-inspiring, out-of-the-ordinary people.
Ray is just one example.

Courageous, Captain Ray Gaines

Billy and Akaisha Kaderli

Captain Ray Gaines

I first met Captain Ray Gaines while sitting at my poolside office in Chiang Mai, Thailand, with my good friend Paul Terhorst. Paul and I were discussing the important events of the day, including the wonderful poolside scenery that had just been freshly imported from France.

It was then that Capt. Ray introduced himself and asked us about taking an elephant trek with his two teenaged grandkids. Paul and I dismissed the small talk and quickly asked why he was traveling in Thailand with these young college-age men? Ray proceeded to tell us that his wife of 60 years had just passed away. One of her final wishes was that instead of giving the kids money, she wanted Ray to take them anywhere in the world they wanted to travel. In this case it was Thailand.

She was one smart lady!

Recently, I met up once again with the adventurous eighty-year old Captain Ray, while he was holding court at the local donut shop in Ajijic, Mexico. Having my full attention, he proceeded to tell me about some earlier travels he had made through Mexico while serving as a Wagon Master of RV caravans deep into the country.

The Adventurer's Guide to Chapala Living, 3rd Edition

Ray proudly shows me his Rig in Ajijic, Mexico

These were cliff-hanging tales, no doubt, but what I really found spellbinding were his stories about organizing RV barge trips on the Ohio, Mississippi, and Tennessee Rivers.

He would connect as many as seven narrow river barges together and load them up with RV´s, becoming a flotilla RV park traveling the inter coastal waterways of the US! To ensure customer satisfaction, these barges had complete facilities including a 150-seat restaurant, laundry, freshwater to drink and waste disposal facilities.

Each RV had their own hookups and enough space between them to put out their awnings.

Captain Ray organized all the stops and entertainment for his passengers. When he and his flotilla docked into port, there were buses already waiting to take them into the local town. All one had to do was hop on board the bus to go to classic restaurants, partake in homegrown festivals, or go souvenir shopping.

This long, slender barge was his smallest!

Because it was such a unique, all-inclusive experience, word of mouth insured that he had a constant flow of repeat customers - A sure sign of success! This became a twelve year operation of adventure, travel and camaraderie for the innovative Captain Ray and his wife.

After serving for 40 years and in three wars in the Armed Forces, Ray has certainly earned the title of Captain. Now he's calling Ajijic, Mexico his home, but he still has traveling on his mind as his "itchyfoot" email address so aptly suggests.

As we left our rendezvous we had the clear understanding we'd meet up again in some far off, exotic location.

Everyone needs heroes in their lives; someone who inspires us on to an even greater expression of who we are. Captain Ray Gaines is by far this sort of mentor. At a spry 80 years of age, he continues to grab Life with both hands.