Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Another Great Harbor

So there I was...sitting in the cockpit of Eventide last night in the quietest of harbors on my way to Thousand Islands and Montreal.  The fish were jumping all around the boat as Kamikaze moths dove into the large citronella candle I had burning.  The outline of the shore was quickly fading with the last remnants of light and I couldn't think of anywhere I'd rather be.  Earlier in the day I crossed the bay and tied the dingy at a dock a block away from this great out of the way bakery called the Fly By Night Cookie Company.  So much character to this place and the cookies (plural) were so good.  Chatting with the locals and a swim off the back of the boat was in order followed by dinner and aforementioned wildlife encounter.  Speaking of wildlife, I watched an eagle soaring near the anchorage today.  Sometimes it's difficult to leave when you find these gems but there are adventures waiting.  In the words of Captain Ron from the movie of the same title, "If it's gonna happen, it'll happen out there."  Time to pull anchor.

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Sodus Bay

So there I was...cruising across Lake Ontario yesterday on my way to Sodus Bay, NY.  The winds were coming out of Northeast Canada creating a wave pattern that bumped and twisted Eventide beyond uncomfortable.  Pair that with how tired I was from getting boat and house together for my departure and low and behold, I got sea sick.  Nothing worse than knowing you have hours of travel time left and you're the only one to run the boat when this dreaded infirmity jumps on your innards.  Using every known remedy that I've collected over years of playing this game, I barely made it to Sodus Bay without succumbing.  Once here, I anchored in a quiet harbor and all was right with the world and my stomach.  Sitting in the cockpit watching the sun go down I wondered if this scenario wasn't an analogy for life.  As bad as it sometimes gets and as long as the suffering sometimes lasts there is a quiet beautiful anchorage waiting that will make the journey worth all the trouble.  He promised.

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Thanks

So there I was...upside down in the bilge of Eventide struggling to loosen a nut that the manufacturer never intended to be reachable by a mans hand.  How am I ever going to get to this thing?  Enter Kim.  This scenario has played out so many times that I've lost count.  Her willingness and small hands have been invaluable and saved us thousands of dollars not having to turn jobs over to the boatyard experts.  We just finished a large and difficult fiberglassing job rebuilding half of the cockpit floor and Kim was with me every step of the way.  If I have had a full and exciting boating experience, my wife has to be credited with making it possible.  As often happens, too much time goes by without expressing our appreciation to the people closest to us for making our lives full and meaningful.  Thirty one years ago when the minister spoke the words, "and the two shall become one" I had no idea how true this would be.  Thanks Kim.  I couldn't do it without you, nor would I want to.

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Bill

So there I was...enjoying a beautiful morning in Hamburg Cove having coffee with Bill on our boats that were tied together.  So there I was...spreading the ashes of a good friend from Bill's boat on an outgoing tide in Long Island Sound.  So there I was...scuba diving with Bill as we serviced our moorings that we owned near each other near Mystic, CT.  So there I was...laughing hysterically with friends as Bill did one of his many satirical impressions.  So there I was...etc.  I wasn't with Bill as he was hit head on by another car that will possibly alter the rest of his life.  This has been heavy on my mind this past week.  Bill is a survivor and I know he won't quit but it's what he's already done that inspires me most.  He has lived a full and exciting life with many friendships forged and stories to tell.  He has not shied away from change or the unknown and has shown himself to be giving and multi-talented.  Had he put off living the adventure for somewhere in the future and then had this happen to him, that would have been sad indeed.   Tomorrow has never been promised to us and the quality of a life will always trump quantity.  Let's take stock of what God has given us today and never let fear or procrastination rob us of having the adventure of a lifetime.  Things may have changed for Bill, but trust me, his adventure is not over.  He's wired that way.