Thursday, December 19, 2013

Peace

So there I was...snowshoeing through the forest yesterday morning following the tracks of a small herd of deer up a steep incline.  Halfway up the hill the melted indentations in the snow let me know that they bedded down here where they had protection from the wind and predators.  The quiet that the snow and location offered me was a reassuring reminder that in a world filled with all manners of stress inducing situations that are laid in our path, peace can still be found.  It's almost Christmas, celebrating the birth of Jesus.  The angels appeared to the shepherds in the fields to announce this birth and concluded with the words, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men."  Peace is important, first between us and God, then between us and others.  Sometimes, between me and myself.  I pray the peace of God will touch you this season and it might feel like snowshoeing through a quiet snow enveloped forest.  Merry Christmas.

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Bad Hobie Cat

So there I was...watching from the porch of my brother's cottage as my Hobie Cat catamaran sailboat took off sailing across the lake without a person onboard.  It happened many years ago when I trailered the boat to the Berkshires to have some fun with family on this beautiful and often times windy lake.  After a bit of sailing, I tied the boat to a very heavy chunk of stainless steel used as a mooring just offshore in front of the cottage.  I left the sails up, but all of the lines loose, so the boat would point into the wind floating docile until my return from lunch.  Then the fast moving thunderstorm came over the western mountains that rim the lake.  It came on so quickly and with such ferocity, accompanied by bolts of lightning, that I couldn't get to the boat to drop the sails.  As the Hobie whipped around with the strong winds, the loose lines snagged around part of the rudder system allowing the sails to fill with air and the boat took off dragging the mooring behind it.  Once the mooring hit deeper water it no longer dragged but just hung on it's line.  Now the boat really took off.  It was heading for the dam at the other side of the lake and I was so relieved when it flipped over, effectively stopping it, about half way to it's destination with the lightning still keeping me pinned down in the cottage.  Shortly after the storm passed multiple people from around the lake, assuming that some fool had sailed out into the storm, got in their boats and sped to the overturned Hobie.  Not seeing anyone, they started diving around the boat looking for a body.  Then we heard the siren of the emergency vehicle responding to the call that there was a possible injury or drowning on a boat that went out in the middle of the storm.  I hustled to get out to this debacle in my brother's ski boat to ease everyones fears.  After eating much crow, we got the Hobie back to the cottage and dropped the sails immediately.  Never underestimate the power of the wind or an ill-behaved Hobie Cat.

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Cuttyhunk

So there I was...several years ago cruising into the very protected harbor of Cuttyhunk, a small island off the Massachusetts coast at the western entrance of Buzzards Bay.  Seeing other boats anchored in one section of the harbor I picked an open spot and told Kim to drop the anchor as I backed the boat.  Once the anchor was set a guy on a neighboring boat called over saying it may not be the best idea to have backed our boat beyond the buoy that was floating there.  Asking what the buoy was there for,  he pointed to a sea plane that was coming in for a landing and said that it marked where his water runway was located.  Needless to say, I yelled to Kim to pull the anchor line in, post haste, while I started the engine.  Great amounts of adrenaline were being expended on the part of myself, Kim and probably the pilot.  We just cleared the area as the pontoons touched the water.  Lesson learned.  The island is a quiet little paradise and one of our favorite things to do there is an early morning hike to the Cuttyhunk Fishing Club, a bed & breakfast/restaurant located high on a hill overlooking Vineyard Sound and the western shores of Martha's Vineyard.  There we've had wonderful breakfasts on the covered front porch with the most spectacular views.  These are the memories that come to mind on cold dark winter days.  Can't wait to sit on that porch, again.  Think I'll stay away from the buoy this time.