9/19/18 Harraseeket River, Freeport, Maine
Our last night on Grace this year, this boating season. We scrambled to get enough groceries and clothes (for a chilly night) and bedding together, having little idea what was still on the boat for "living" even overnight. We'd planned to go to the Goslins or French Island or even Big Bustins but winds from the north changed our minds. So, just up river near the other Grace (power boat belongs to our friends, Jan and Al) and Surrender belonging to another friend, Ken. We're in good company tho' the humans attached to these boats aren't here, only the boats. Our Grace will keep them company tonight.
David and I planned dinner but the Brie and crackers on the aft deck took the need for dinner away. Music. Sunset. Clouds and fog rolling in. Lanterns and propane heater putting out light and heat. I shiver with gratitude and recaptured delight in being/living on Grace, the boat and Grace the spiritual support. I've missed this in my land-based life these past 3 months, as much as I've loved land-based living. But it is soooo busy with so many responsibilities and opportunities to be distracted and feel unworthy and ineffective. Somehow boat-based living shaves away the profusion of distractions. I miss the mental space that seems easily available on the boat but requires major discipline to achieve on land.
We'll strip the sails, take the booms off tomorrow and expect Carter and Kathy will take the masts down tomorrow or Friday. Saturday morning we'll take Grace farther up-river to Porter's Landing and have her hauled, delivered to our boat shed. How all this will get done on such a tight schedule will be miraculous. Then we'll have an entire week to close the shed with Grace tucked inside before we leave for a short visit to NC family and friends at the end of this month.
Neighbor, Kyra, is caring for Amelia tonight and tomorrow morning. It is a trial run for kitty care during the week we're in NC. I had a meltdown regarding Amelia and her future and care yesterday, pretty sunk all day with lots of tears. Amelia seems such a happy, very old cat. Even with her chronic illnesses she purrs, sits on my lap, takes morning walks to the pond, lifts her tail when petted and caterwauls when she can't find us. She likes our company. Thus, I regret leaving her for a week and will not stress her with a long trip away from her home. She doesn't seem in pain. It is me that is experiencing pain, separation pain (short term and long term) and we're not even separate yet. Well, except for tonight. Twelve hours. Ugh.
The other Grace next t us with her blue/white aft light is a mysterious sight.There are patio-type doors aft on this power boat with an additional long window on each side of the doors. Probably some sort of curtain coverings on all those windows. The effect is of these columns or multiple doors floating in dark space. As the boat swings in wind and current the configuration shifts slightly or the one light is reflected as 2 or 3 lights. Add the pale blue/white misty light. Magical. Mysterious. A great set for dance or theater. What happens in this environment? Something other-worldly.
David has headed for bed. I want to join him. I want to stay up, awake with the red chart table light, the music, the oil lantern, the warm hued wood....this supreme comfort, darkness outside with a few shore lights drifting by as we drift.
My joy is melancholy. Bittersweet. Endings and exits as the season turns.
Blessings, All.
Wednesday, September 19, 2018
Saturday, June 2, 2018
Blog break, Freeport, ME
6/2/18 . Freeport, ME
This is likely to be the last blog post for awhile...as we're no longer sailing on Grace.
We three - Amelia, David and I - have all been on land for a week now and Grace, the boat, is in the harbor on her mooring.
Amelia, kitty, is LOVING being on land. Even though we are in a different house for a couple weeks - same neighborhood - she is taking a morning constitutional walk down to the pond all on her on. Has a bunch of drinks of water, lays in the sand, then I arrive and we walk home together. And she roams the yard to eat grass, not being too concerned about the neighbor cat who wants us to adopt him.
She had a visit with her doctor today. Dr. confirmed that she was loosing muscle mass, has a racing heart which contributes to catabolism. I've noticed that she stumbles, but she still jumps.
We discussed healthcare options/interventions and will take none. We will help her live out her life as comfortably as possible. Dr. said keeping her hydrated will certainly help keep her more comfortable and we'll continue that. She also suggested how Amelia's diseases might progress, what symptoms were likely and how she might pass over. Makes me so very sad. AND she, and we with her, has had a great life span together...18.5 years and counting. I am so very grateful that she has lived long enough to get back to land home. She is much happier here, less bored, more active.
David and I are doing projects at our friend house as planned and promised. I am, as I've written before, moving back into life on land slowly; taking my time contacting friends and seeing people; actively considering where I want to be involved and where I want to remain...aloof...absence. I'm not yet ready to make any commitments. I did plant my flower pots and will, perhaps tomorrow, collect the tomato plants from my neighbor. It feels selfish. It is. But I don't want to just launch into what others expect of me. I DID dance this morning. Ten whole minutes of improvising after 20 or so minutes of stretching and some yoga. Delicious. And I've begun - again - reading Free Play: Improvisation in Art and Life. Perhaps this will be my morning meditation ritual...stretch, dance, read, notice life, practice joy.
So, expecting David and I will do a little cruising in Maine waters this summer but nothing extensive. I'm looking forward to visiting with friends and family, doing a little dancing/studying in July and laying pretty low for the summer. Of course, who knows what will be.
Our plan (always subject to change) is to put Grace up in our boat shed this fall/winter and do some renovations on her galley then splash her again next spring. So no cruising south on Grace this next winter. It's fun to look forward but not too far forward.
This moment is perfection. I am, we all are, surrounded by love.
This is likely to be the last blog post for awhile...as we're no longer sailing on Grace.
We three - Amelia, David and I - have all been on land for a week now and Grace, the boat, is in the harbor on her mooring.
She had a visit with her doctor today. Dr. confirmed that she was loosing muscle mass, has a racing heart which contributes to catabolism. I've noticed that she stumbles, but she still jumps.
We discussed healthcare options/interventions and will take none. We will help her live out her life as comfortably as possible. Dr. said keeping her hydrated will certainly help keep her more comfortable and we'll continue that. She also suggested how Amelia's diseases might progress, what symptoms were likely and how she might pass over. Makes me so very sad. AND she, and we with her, has had a great life span together...18.5 years and counting. I am so very grateful that she has lived long enough to get back to land home. She is much happier here, less bored, more active.
David and I are doing projects at our friend house as planned and promised. I am, as I've written before, moving back into life on land slowly; taking my time contacting friends and seeing people; actively considering where I want to be involved and where I want to remain...aloof...absence. I'm not yet ready to make any commitments. I did plant my flower pots and will, perhaps tomorrow, collect the tomato plants from my neighbor. It feels selfish. It is. But I don't want to just launch into what others expect of me. I DID dance this morning. Ten whole minutes of improvising after 20 or so minutes of stretching and some yoga. Delicious. And I've begun - again - reading Free Play: Improvisation in Art and Life. Perhaps this will be my morning meditation ritual...stretch, dance, read, notice life, practice joy.
So, expecting David and I will do a little cruising in Maine waters this summer but nothing extensive. I'm looking forward to visiting with friends and family, doing a little dancing/studying in July and laying pretty low for the summer. Of course, who knows what will be.
Our plan (always subject to change) is to put Grace up in our boat shed this fall/winter and do some renovations on her galley then splash her again next spring. So no cruising south on Grace this next winter. It's fun to look forward but not too far forward.
This moment is perfection. I am, we all are, surrounded by love.
 |
| Mallards feeding in the pond, butts in the air. I observed that they have to paddle their feet to stay un-side down |
Monday, May 28, 2018
Lavers Pond, Freeport, ME
5/28/18 Freeport, ME
How easily I slip....The luxury. The waste... of running water, hot on demand, flush toilets, heat at the press of an index finger, a house of 5 rooms and a full basement. I'm shaking my head as I write. This opulence is as distressing as it is welcome. I despair (not really) at the efforts involved in balancing comfort/convenience and save the people and the planet.
And all those immigrant children that were separated from their parents at the border with Mexico and that our government has "lost!" My heart aches and I'm enraged at the cruelty. And my life goes on, apace. So I question again...how do I want to use my "free" time and energy? On which social challenges to focus - voting? ocean/waterway clean-up? Freeport theater? Freeport "arts council"? teaching dance? And what about my own creative endeavors and process? Writing? dancing? collaging? planting? I'll remember thatI want to give my energy to creating positive energy rather than fighting negative energy...the wolf I feed is the one that survives so let's make it the loving wolf rather than the greedy or hateful wolf. More physical activity for me and more meditative, praying activity on a regular basis. I do wish it would get warm as those activities would be easier then. Oh dear, I want "easier".
Grace, the boat, is moored in the Kennebunk River on our friends' mooring. I picked David and Amelia up on Saturday and now we're all ensconced in Lynne's house. We'll stay here for a couple weeks and do some of the repairs, refreshing on her house that need to be done to make it livable for renters or visitors. David fixed the plumbing in the basement so that we now have running water at every sink and flush toilets. Carrying water from the basement wasn't such a task but water in each faucet is better. Still no refrigeration except for bags of ice in the freezer. But that's working for us for the next couple of days. Tomorrow, or maybe tonight, I'll clean the mold from the inside of the refrigerator. Staying at Lynne's will allow us to focus on the work here, make a little extra cash and allow Spencer to stay in our house another week or so...and a little continued rent. I will, though, plant my pots with the flowers I bought on Friday and mow the yard and get some vegetable plants for the leach field pots...the place we have sun in the yard. But the house will remain Spencer's for a while longer.
Neighbors, Chris and Pam, are selling their house on the corner, having bought a bigger place with workshop to accommodate their boat(s). Chris was whipped out yesterday so David is helping him do stuff to make the house even more presentable befor going on the market tomorrow. Sweet house. Ask is $360,000. So that makes ours worth????? And, no, not yet ready to sell though this is a seller's market. No yet. Even though it is COLD today. I've three layers of long-sleeved shirts on, ending with a sweatshirt. I went to our house to find a hat! for warmth, not style.
We went to the Freeport Memorial Day celebration today, saw the RSU5 school bands play in the parade, and a couple of fire trucks and some children in various clubs walk by. Sweet, small town parade and memorial service in the town square park. A favorite of mine. Greeted Maggie and Shannon and congratulated Magz on her lacrosse tournament successes. She and Landon both played in the high school band. Got/gave hugs from/to both. Breakfast with the family at a local, crowded restaurant. This afternoon, after a nap, I went to Landon and Michael's house for a French horn "concert" by Landon. A new instrument for him. He enjoyed my attention. I enjoy him and his music and his energy. He and his dad seem to be in a more loving place than when I left. Perhaps the intensity of mourning Kelly, mom and wife, has subsided a bit and the possibility of life moving on in a positive direction is more apparent to both of them. I'm grateful to Divinity and to Kelly's spirit.
I'm so grateful, too, for the memorial celebration for Walter Stump. I got to greet his adult children - children do continue to grow into adults if we and they are lucky - saw some colleagues from my USM era (now 30+ years ago) most of whom I'd not seen in about that long. Ed Romanoff, FB friend, past USM student and fellow performer in summer musicals. What a delight to see him, Jeff Toorish and Bill Duffy again. Greeted two teacher colleagues who were never comfortable colleagues. In spite of the years I still think of them as greedy, dishonest, privileged white men who took advantage of every situation they could. I was totally surprised to note that one of those men was shorter than I am. I asked David about this surprising, to me, stature change. David said that man was never very tall. Hmmm. He was so intimidating to me, such a big personality, that I only remember being over-shadowed by him. Who knew? Clear to me that I have the confidence advantage now. I'm comfortable in my skin and with my life. No more fear of them or need to prove myself. Phew.
Had I been compelled to speak in the open mic section of remembering Walter I would have said: "Walter, Always a pleasure, sometimes a challenge. We did a bit of growing up together and made some important changes. Thank you for all the opportunities you opened before me. I'm deeply grateful and love you forever." It was sweet to see, through the stories his oldest son told and the video he put together, the family man and adventurer aspect of Walter. I only knew him as college professor, director, man who hired me and appreciated my ideas and energy...not as a dad, a husband, a man with life beyond the college theater department. Oldest son, Greg, looks like his dad; younger son, Geoff, is softer and less the performer; the youngest, Kim, is living in the family home in Gorham. I knew/know her the least. I was pleased to be there and glad I went alone, not having to mediate my attention to David with attention to others, or stand in his shadow. Just so I remember...I saw those mentioned plus Flash and Tina, Ron Cole who was chair of music department when I was at USM, Vicki pianist now teaching in RSU4, Lucy Rioux retiring from public school this year, Brenda who was secretary in theater dept, Glen Cummings, President who I've known in several different lives. It gives me joy to re-meet and remember these people.
My life is rich.
How easily I slip....The luxury. The waste... of running water, hot on demand, flush toilets, heat at the press of an index finger, a house of 5 rooms and a full basement. I'm shaking my head as I write. This opulence is as distressing as it is welcome. I despair (not really) at the efforts involved in balancing comfort/convenience and save the people and the planet.
And all those immigrant children that were separated from their parents at the border with Mexico and that our government has "lost!" My heart aches and I'm enraged at the cruelty. And my life goes on, apace. So I question again...how do I want to use my "free" time and energy? On which social challenges to focus - voting? ocean/waterway clean-up? Freeport theater? Freeport "arts council"? teaching dance? And what about my own creative endeavors and process? Writing? dancing? collaging? planting? I'll remember thatI want to give my energy to creating positive energy rather than fighting negative energy...the wolf I feed is the one that survives so let's make it the loving wolf rather than the greedy or hateful wolf. More physical activity for me and more meditative, praying activity on a regular basis. I do wish it would get warm as those activities would be easier then. Oh dear, I want "easier".
Grace, the boat, is moored in the Kennebunk River on our friends' mooring. I picked David and Amelia up on Saturday and now we're all ensconced in Lynne's house. We'll stay here for a couple weeks and do some of the repairs, refreshing on her house that need to be done to make it livable for renters or visitors. David fixed the plumbing in the basement so that we now have running water at every sink and flush toilets. Carrying water from the basement wasn't such a task but water in each faucet is better. Still no refrigeration except for bags of ice in the freezer. But that's working for us for the next couple of days. Tomorrow, or maybe tonight, I'll clean the mold from the inside of the refrigerator. Staying at Lynne's will allow us to focus on the work here, make a little extra cash and allow Spencer to stay in our house another week or so...and a little continued rent. I will, though, plant my pots with the flowers I bought on Friday and mow the yard and get some vegetable plants for the leach field pots...the place we have sun in the yard. But the house will remain Spencer's for a while longer.
Neighbors, Chris and Pam, are selling their house on the corner, having bought a bigger place with workshop to accommodate their boat(s). Chris was whipped out yesterday so David is helping him do stuff to make the house even more presentable befor going on the market tomorrow. Sweet house. Ask is $360,000. So that makes ours worth????? And, no, not yet ready to sell though this is a seller's market. No yet. Even though it is COLD today. I've three layers of long-sleeved shirts on, ending with a sweatshirt. I went to our house to find a hat! for warmth, not style.
We went to the Freeport Memorial Day celebration today, saw the RSU5 school bands play in the parade, and a couple of fire trucks and some children in various clubs walk by. Sweet, small town parade and memorial service in the town square park. A favorite of mine. Greeted Maggie and Shannon and congratulated Magz on her lacrosse tournament successes. She and Landon both played in the high school band. Got/gave hugs from/to both. Breakfast with the family at a local, crowded restaurant. This afternoon, after a nap, I went to Landon and Michael's house for a French horn "concert" by Landon. A new instrument for him. He enjoyed my attention. I enjoy him and his music and his energy. He and his dad seem to be in a more loving place than when I left. Perhaps the intensity of mourning Kelly, mom and wife, has subsided a bit and the possibility of life moving on in a positive direction is more apparent to both of them. I'm grateful to Divinity and to Kelly's spirit.
I'm so grateful, too, for the memorial celebration for Walter Stump. I got to greet his adult children - children do continue to grow into adults if we and they are lucky - saw some colleagues from my USM era (now 30+ years ago) most of whom I'd not seen in about that long. Ed Romanoff, FB friend, past USM student and fellow performer in summer musicals. What a delight to see him, Jeff Toorish and Bill Duffy again. Greeted two teacher colleagues who were never comfortable colleagues. In spite of the years I still think of them as greedy, dishonest, privileged white men who took advantage of every situation they could. I was totally surprised to note that one of those men was shorter than I am. I asked David about this surprising, to me, stature change. David said that man was never very tall. Hmmm. He was so intimidating to me, such a big personality, that I only remember being over-shadowed by him. Who knew? Clear to me that I have the confidence advantage now. I'm comfortable in my skin and with my life. No more fear of them or need to prove myself. Phew.
Had I been compelled to speak in the open mic section of remembering Walter I would have said: "Walter, Always a pleasure, sometimes a challenge. We did a bit of growing up together and made some important changes. Thank you for all the opportunities you opened before me. I'm deeply grateful and love you forever." It was sweet to see, through the stories his oldest son told and the video he put together, the family man and adventurer aspect of Walter. I only knew him as college professor, director, man who hired me and appreciated my ideas and energy...not as a dad, a husband, a man with life beyond the college theater department. Oldest son, Greg, looks like his dad; younger son, Geoff, is softer and less the performer; the youngest, Kim, is living in the family home in Gorham. I knew/know her the least. I was pleased to be there and glad I went alone, not having to mediate my attention to David with attention to others, or stand in his shadow. Just so I remember...I saw those mentioned plus Flash and Tina, Ron Cole who was chair of music department when I was at USM, Vicki pianist now teaching in RSU4, Lucy Rioux retiring from public school this year, Brenda who was secretary in theater dept, Glen Cummings, President who I've known in several different lives. It gives me joy to re-meet and remember these people.
My life is rich.
Saturday, May 26, 2018
Land-bound, Freeport, ME
5/26/18 Freeport - Lynne's house
I did sincerely try to do nothing. Nada. didn't work. So the striving was to do only what interested me. Okay. But I was awake and up at 4:30 A.M. and it was light outside. I puttered in lynne's house. Separated, finished separating 6 months of mail in to "his, hers, ours, boat" piles. TIAA got its own separate pile. The piles are spread on the kitchen counter and there's a large bag of paper to recycle as well.
The azalea is at the side of our driveway. Another is purple and at the back side of the house.
Visit and feed Shannon's cats I think Alex has a bladder infection or something. He's mean and he is not a mean cat and he licks his behind a lot. Ugh. Then to the resale stores in town looking for a light sweater to wear. This in spite of the fact that I lament the fact that I have so may clothes. When searching our house yesterday I found my rain jacket. I'll make another small search tomorrow to see what I have that will keep me warm on chilly tomorrow. I'd like to spread everything from the cedar chest out and start eliminating ast but resist until I've seen our tenant, not wanting to tread on his space.
Shower, trim my hair.
Visit the Freeport Players/Community Chorus yard sale. Bought a book and made my annual donation.
Lunch from the Nappi's store.
Home to Lynne's for a nap - that 4:30 a.m. rising was now getting deflated.
This garden by the front door needs "refreshing." But the bleeding heart thrives.
I did take my coffee down to Kelly's swing overlooking the pond. We have red winged black birds this spring. Joy
Met Lynne for tea/coffee outside Brunswick and we went together to buy plants for our flower pots. On my! that was an expensive trip...in the rain. Tomorrow it is supposed to be cold so not sure when I plant.
All day I was conscious of not wanting to fall into those unconscious patterns of behavior and purposefully did other things...out of pattern. I DID buy chocolate this afternoon....and enjoyed it tonight after dinner.
David made it to Kennebunk and is on a friend's mooring tonight. I'll pick him and Amelia up tomorrow morning. Decided to not try to organize moving off the boat after the long day of motoring. And after dinner here I did some major cleaning just to make Lynne's house more comfortable for me/us for the next several days while the winds, again, loose their breeze. I did not make it to the play I want to see. There are so many responsibilities on land, many fewer on the boat. Too much stuff. Too many attachments...to things and places.
The azalea is at the side of our driveway. Another is purple and at the back side of the house.
Visit and feed Shannon's cats I think Alex has a bladder infection or something. He's mean and he is not a mean cat and he licks his behind a lot. Ugh. Then to the resale stores in town looking for a light sweater to wear. This in spite of the fact that I lament the fact that I have so may clothes. When searching our house yesterday I found my rain jacket. I'll make another small search tomorrow to see what I have that will keep me warm on chilly tomorrow. I'd like to spread everything from the cedar chest out and start eliminating ast but resist until I've seen our tenant, not wanting to tread on his space.
Shower, trim my hair.
Visit the Freeport Players/Community Chorus yard sale. Bought a book and made my annual donation.
Lunch from the Nappi's store.
Home to Lynne's for a nap - that 4:30 a.m. rising was now getting deflated.
I did take my coffee down to Kelly's swing overlooking the pond. We have red winged black birds this spring. Joy
Met Lynne for tea/coffee outside Brunswick and we went together to buy plants for our flower pots. On my! that was an expensive trip...in the rain. Tomorrow it is supposed to be cold so not sure when I plant.
All day I was conscious of not wanting to fall into those unconscious patterns of behavior and purposefully did other things...out of pattern. I DID buy chocolate this afternoon....and enjoyed it tonight after dinner.
David made it to Kennebunk and is on a friend's mooring tonight. I'll pick him and Amelia up tomorrow morning. Decided to not try to organize moving off the boat after the long day of motoring. And after dinner here I did some major cleaning just to make Lynne's house more comfortable for me/us for the next several days while the winds, again, loose their breeze. I did not make it to the play I want to see. There are so many responsibilities on land, many fewer on the boat. Too much stuff. Too many attachments...to things and places.
Friday, May 25, 2018
transportation, Freeport, ME
5/25/18 . Freeport, ME
It all started with a dinghy ride and a brisk walk. Then the commuter train from Gloucester to Boston, the Orange Line and the Red Line from North Station to South Station. Then Concord CoachLines, then a car, another car, my feet and here I am.....at Lynne's house on Laver's Pond Road, just two houses down from my house. Ta Da!!!
I said goodbye to Amelia and David and I dinghyed to the other side of Gloucester Harbor. Had a lovely chat with Harbor Master, Chad, who helped us with directions to the Commuter train. A beautiful morning for a walk and Gloucester has such varied and interesting architecture. The train was a double-decker. I gave David a smooch, on the lips! something we'd not been doing since his virus illness. He's recovered enough and, besides, I am going to be away for at least 4 days. Full frontal smooches are required under these circumstances.
I totally loved the top deck of the double decker train. I loved looking out to sea through the islands we'd just passed yesterday on our way to Gloucester, but seeing them (sort of) from the land perspective. It was so GREEN! I've been obsessed and inundated with blue lately and on land there is so much spring GREEN. And flowers, colorful flowers. (I'm going to buy and plant some tomorrow!!!! And go to the Bath Farmers' Market if it isn't raining....maybe.)
I kept thinking about the train going underground for a long way but realized I was thinking of the commuter trains in NYC. The Boston bound train was underground only briefly. I exited into the subway station and, thank goodness, there are now "navigators" at the ticket vending machines to guide innocents like me. I could always R E A D the instructions and figure it out but how civilized to have someone ask if I needed help and then figure out what I needed to do - take the Orange line to somewhere, TownCrossing?, and trade for the Red Line to South Station. Piece of cake. The navigator put my money in the vending machine, gave me my ticket and two tokens. Tokens??? Yep. The vending machines give you your change in tokens. That must mean another trip to Boston in the not too distant future. Or else mail them to some friends going to Boston.
South Station. Bought my bus ticket. Stood in line and chatted with strangers and less strangers as it turned out. Talked with a woman who'd "helped" with David's campaign the first time he ran for the legislature. She'd done a numerology reading for hi and predicted he would win by a very close margin. That's how it happened.
Bus to Portland. Sharyl arrived to give me a ride to Freeport. Lunch together. Drop me at Shannon's where I petted the cats, checked their food and water and picked up mail and my car. Phew! Almost home. Food store and post office and.....stopped in our house to pick up the keys to Lynne's house, saw down the hill Sue who invited me to hotdogs over the fire pit on the beach. Perfect!
I unloaded the car at Lynne's, walked around my house but didn't want to explore too much, especially inside. First, it feels a little as if I'm invading our "renters" privacy even though both encouraged me to stay there as they are out of town. But, no. I also want to do that particular piece of re-entry with David. I'm noticing that it would be so very easy to fall back into exactly the same routine and habits we've developed at/in that space of our home.I'd like to interrupt that unconscious return to habits, would rather examine them more carefully and make a clear decision. Habits are good in that they often save time. If I put my glasses in the same place when I take them off, or the keys in the same place when I come home, then I'm less likely to have to search, high and low, for them each time they're needed.
But not all habits are helpful. Being gone from land home for six months gives opportunity to explore habits to keep and ones to release. Similarly, I loved going to Sue and Kris' for hotdogs. I rarely do that. Such fun to chat with them and daughter, Emily, and Kris's mom....Mrs Jennings. Post dogs I stopped at Landon and Mike's just to say hello. I could tell they were glad to see me. This re-entry stuff is....I'm being cautious. I could have gone to the last "Just Deserts" community concert. I love the band that is playing and I'd have enjoyed the music and the company but it is too soon to engage with a bunch of loved people. I'll take a couple at a time rather than the group.
Cautious. Looking for variety, maybe...something different than my regular habits. What I enjoy on the boat, among many things and aspects, is living with less, engaging differently with people. Not sure exactly what/how differently but...something. It is just too easy to do the same things I've been doing here on land for the past 5 years....being responsive to various groups Ive supported in various ways, seeing the same people but, often remaining only on the surface...maintaining a "position" with people. Hmmmm.
So now I'm in Lynne's house and will go in the morning to hang with Shannon's cats, maybe to the Farmers' market not to buy stuff but to look at the abundance, maybe get flowers there (?). Perhaps I will go into our house to get some work shorts and socks so I can plant and weed - my favorite things. Lynne's house is not comfortable. It has been vacant - abandoned, un-lived-in - for too long...dirty, dusty, moldy, refrigerator doesn't work and the water in the basement work sink can't be turned off when the water main is turned on. And I don't want to just start taking care of Lynne's house....again. And I appreciate its availability to me and to past visitors.
Blah blah blah blah blah blah. Missing David and Amelia, pleased to see Sharyl and to "dine" with the Jennings and to be here, now.
It all started with a dinghy ride and a brisk walk. Then the commuter train from Gloucester to Boston, the Orange Line and the Red Line from North Station to South Station. Then Concord CoachLines, then a car, another car, my feet and here I am.....at Lynne's house on Laver's Pond Road, just two houses down from my house. Ta Da!!!
I said goodbye to Amelia and David and I dinghyed to the other side of Gloucester Harbor. Had a lovely chat with Harbor Master, Chad, who helped us with directions to the Commuter train. A beautiful morning for a walk and Gloucester has such varied and interesting architecture. The train was a double-decker. I gave David a smooch, on the lips! something we'd not been doing since his virus illness. He's recovered enough and, besides, I am going to be away for at least 4 days. Full frontal smooches are required under these circumstances.
I totally loved the top deck of the double decker train. I loved looking out to sea through the islands we'd just passed yesterday on our way to Gloucester, but seeing them (sort of) from the land perspective. It was so GREEN! I've been obsessed and inundated with blue lately and on land there is so much spring GREEN. And flowers, colorful flowers. (I'm going to buy and plant some tomorrow!!!! And go to the Bath Farmers' Market if it isn't raining....maybe.)
I kept thinking about the train going underground for a long way but realized I was thinking of the commuter trains in NYC. The Boston bound train was underground only briefly. I exited into the subway station and, thank goodness, there are now "navigators" at the ticket vending machines to guide innocents like me. I could always R E A D the instructions and figure it out but how civilized to have someone ask if I needed help and then figure out what I needed to do - take the Orange line to somewhere, TownCrossing?, and trade for the Red Line to South Station. Piece of cake. The navigator put my money in the vending machine, gave me my ticket and two tokens. Tokens??? Yep. The vending machines give you your change in tokens. That must mean another trip to Boston in the not too distant future. Or else mail them to some friends going to Boston.
South Station. Bought my bus ticket. Stood in line and chatted with strangers and less strangers as it turned out. Talked with a woman who'd "helped" with David's campaign the first time he ran for the legislature. She'd done a numerology reading for hi and predicted he would win by a very close margin. That's how it happened.
Bus to Portland. Sharyl arrived to give me a ride to Freeport. Lunch together. Drop me at Shannon's where I petted the cats, checked their food and water and picked up mail and my car. Phew! Almost home. Food store and post office and.....stopped in our house to pick up the keys to Lynne's house, saw down the hill Sue who invited me to hotdogs over the fire pit on the beach. Perfect!
I unloaded the car at Lynne's, walked around my house but didn't want to explore too much, especially inside. First, it feels a little as if I'm invading our "renters" privacy even though both encouraged me to stay there as they are out of town. But, no. I also want to do that particular piece of re-entry with David. I'm noticing that it would be so very easy to fall back into exactly the same routine and habits we've developed at/in that space of our home.I'd like to interrupt that unconscious return to habits, would rather examine them more carefully and make a clear decision. Habits are good in that they often save time. If I put my glasses in the same place when I take them off, or the keys in the same place when I come home, then I'm less likely to have to search, high and low, for them each time they're needed.
But not all habits are helpful. Being gone from land home for six months gives opportunity to explore habits to keep and ones to release. Similarly, I loved going to Sue and Kris' for hotdogs. I rarely do that. Such fun to chat with them and daughter, Emily, and Kris's mom....Mrs Jennings. Post dogs I stopped at Landon and Mike's just to say hello. I could tell they were glad to see me. This re-entry stuff is....I'm being cautious. I could have gone to the last "Just Deserts" community concert. I love the band that is playing and I'd have enjoyed the music and the company but it is too soon to engage with a bunch of loved people. I'll take a couple at a time rather than the group.
Cautious. Looking for variety, maybe...something different than my regular habits. What I enjoy on the boat, among many things and aspects, is living with less, engaging differently with people. Not sure exactly what/how differently but...something. It is just too easy to do the same things I've been doing here on land for the past 5 years....being responsive to various groups Ive supported in various ways, seeing the same people but, often remaining only on the surface...maintaining a "position" with people. Hmmmm.
So now I'm in Lynne's house and will go in the morning to hang with Shannon's cats, maybe to the Farmers' market not to buy stuff but to look at the abundance, maybe get flowers there (?). Perhaps I will go into our house to get some work shorts and socks so I can plant and weed - my favorite things. Lynne's house is not comfortable. It has been vacant - abandoned, un-lived-in - for too long...dirty, dusty, moldy, refrigerator doesn't work and the water in the basement work sink can't be turned off when the water main is turned on. And I don't want to just start taking care of Lynne's house....again. And I appreciate its availability to me and to past visitors.
Blah blah blah blah blah blah. Missing David and Amelia, pleased to see Sharyl and to "dine" with the Jennings and to be here, now.
Thursday, May 24, 2018
uncluttered space, Scituate, MA
5/25/18 Gloucester, MA
The trip from Point Judith to Scituate, MA was calm and lovely as I recall. The regular lookout for lobster pots (now instead of crab pots), other boats, wakes. I sort of remember that it was beautiful, sunny and calm. David is mending but still I'm at the helm most of the day.
I was at the helm as we left the port of refuge, David on the foredeck securing the anchor. He scurried back to ask if I knew if the water was deep all the way to the breakwater. Yes. It is easy to be annoyed at his surprise (?), lack of confidence (?) in my abilities and attention. Then, we all can loose focus or attention. But, YES, I do know the water is deep enough where I'm steering. Let's see, I've been managing this boat for more than three days now.
Point Judith, up the coast was mostly uneventful. David did some time at the helm while I read my new-to-me mystery novel by Louise Penny...the Inspector Gaumach mysteries. I enjoy them and have now completed three and looking forward to the next one I find. I was told to read them in proper sequence but I can't manage that in the give/take sailor libraries. No matter.
I was back at the helm as we entered the channel leading to the Cape Cod Canal. Our plan was to stop overnight at Onset and visit friends, Jayne and Gary. I woke David a couple of miles from our turn into Onset. We had a quick discussion and decided to keep going. We had the current going into the canal and exiting the other side. Only another day of good traveling weather before the winds pick up too much. So....
Apologies and regrets to Jayne and Gary and on we steam past that turn...not taken.
David and I both commented how beautiful and wonderful it is that the canal constructors (Army Corp of Engineers?) also make bike/run pathways/green spaces all along the canal. This is true of the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal, too. Such a wonderful "gift" of nature to citizens along the way...both boaters and land lovers.
The Mass Maritime Academy is at the southern end of the canal. This tower and its mate are on the bridge across from the Academy and the entrance to the canal. The hat of the tin man.
I buttoned everything down to exit the northern end as my first experience with the CCC was coming into that end and being in a fast washing machine cycle. Scared and pissed.
This time? About as calm as anyone could ask!
And at the other end of the canal......
Massachusetts was at my back on the port side of the boat. Cape Code is way out there in the distance to the starboard side with one boat on the horizon. But really....this is the joy of sailing and open space, uncluttered space.....
of course, the sunny, CALM seas, and light wind make it possible to enjoy the open, empty space.
the passage to Scituate, MA, was so fine.
David took the helm about 6:30 PM because...I was tired and don't see well at night and he was rested up and feeling pretty good. He brought us into the harbor and we "borrowed" a mooring overnight. An easy dinner by "candle light" (little solar lights). Bed early for an early start tomorrow....both to vacate our borrowed mooring and the beat the increasingly windy weather. The early part of the trip was pretty bouncy. Settled an hour into it.
We came into the harbor and borrowed another mooring so we could change the oil while the engine/oil was still hot. A necessary task completed. And while we were in our work clothes be decided to empty the composting toilet. That was a more disgusting than usual job but also completed.
Into the inner harbor to Brown's Marine Yard. We love Valarie who is the dock person there. We have a four year history with her now.
Fuel. Water. Get rid of garbage. Get rid of the sea trash we'd collected - two plastic buckets and a partly full 5 gallon oil bin. We passed up another 4 or 5 balloons that we just couldn't get.
And now we've been to the laundry mat and have clean underwear and clean sheets...also some outer clothes, too. Joy. And we're on a mooring looking out to sea but we're in calm waters. Beginning to bob up and down on the mooring as the wind increases.
Tomorrow morning I get on a train and a bus to go to Freeport. Sunday I'll attend a memorial service for a beloved colleague who passed in the fall. He hired me to teach at University of Southern Maine and we grew up a bit together. Seems I've said this before. Dr. Walter Stump directed summer musical theater for which I choreographed and performed for a number of years. And for 10+ years I was the dance program at the college. I loved the teaching, and choreographing and directing student choreography for the Spring Dance Performance each year. I'm looking forward to seeing other people who loved Walter.
David and Amelia will sit out Friday and maybe travel on Saturday to Portsmouth. I'll join them again, somewhere, on Monday or Tuesday.
Our "away" journey is nearly ending for this year. It has not been an easy journey this winter...boat mechanical issues and often lousy weather. Still....great to be....and be onboard with David.
Some leftover photos:
The trip from Point Judith to Scituate, MA was calm and lovely as I recall. The regular lookout for lobster pots (now instead of crab pots), other boats, wakes. I sort of remember that it was beautiful, sunny and calm. David is mending but still I'm at the helm most of the day.
Point Judith, up the coast was mostly uneventful. David did some time at the helm while I read my new-to-me mystery novel by Louise Penny...the Inspector Gaumach mysteries. I enjoy them and have now completed three and looking forward to the next one I find. I was told to read them in proper sequence but I can't manage that in the give/take sailor libraries. No matter.
I was back at the helm as we entered the channel leading to the Cape Cod Canal. Our plan was to stop overnight at Onset and visit friends, Jayne and Gary. I woke David a couple of miles from our turn into Onset. We had a quick discussion and decided to keep going. We had the current going into the canal and exiting the other side. Only another day of good traveling weather before the winds pick up too much. So....
David and I both commented how beautiful and wonderful it is that the canal constructors (Army Corp of Engineers?) also make bike/run pathways/green spaces all along the canal. This is true of the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal, too. Such a wonderful "gift" of nature to citizens along the way...both boaters and land lovers.
The Mass Maritime Academy is at the southern end of the canal. This tower and its mate are on the bridge across from the Academy and the entrance to the canal. The hat of the tin man.
I buttoned everything down to exit the northern end as my first experience with the CCC was coming into that end and being in a fast washing machine cycle. Scared and pissed.
This time? About as calm as anyone could ask!
And at the other end of the canal......
Massachusetts was at my back on the port side of the boat. Cape Code is way out there in the distance to the starboard side with one boat on the horizon. But really....this is the joy of sailing and open space, uncluttered space.....
of course, the sunny, CALM seas, and light wind make it possible to enjoy the open, empty space.
the passage to Scituate, MA, was so fine.
David took the helm about 6:30 PM because...I was tired and don't see well at night and he was rested up and feeling pretty good. He brought us into the harbor and we "borrowed" a mooring overnight. An easy dinner by "candle light" (little solar lights). Bed early for an early start tomorrow....both to vacate our borrowed mooring and the beat the increasingly windy weather. The early part of the trip was pretty bouncy. Settled an hour into it.
 |
| This "Pinky" sailed by our mooring. A beauty! |
Into the inner harbor to Brown's Marine Yard. We love Valarie who is the dock person there. We have a four year history with her now.
Fuel. Water. Get rid of garbage. Get rid of the sea trash we'd collected - two plastic buckets and a partly full 5 gallon oil bin. We passed up another 4 or 5 balloons that we just couldn't get.
And now we've been to the laundry mat and have clean underwear and clean sheets...also some outer clothes, too. Joy. And we're on a mooring looking out to sea but we're in calm waters. Beginning to bob up and down on the mooring as the wind increases.
Tomorrow morning I get on a train and a bus to go to Freeport. Sunday I'll attend a memorial service for a beloved colleague who passed in the fall. He hired me to teach at University of Southern Maine and we grew up a bit together. Seems I've said this before. Dr. Walter Stump directed summer musical theater for which I choreographed and performed for a number of years. And for 10+ years I was the dance program at the college. I loved the teaching, and choreographing and directing student choreography for the Spring Dance Performance each year. I'm looking forward to seeing other people who loved Walter.
David and Amelia will sit out Friday and maybe travel on Saturday to Portsmouth. I'll join them again, somewhere, on Monday or Tuesday.
Our "away" journey is nearly ending for this year. It has not been an easy journey this winter...boat mechanical issues and often lousy weather. Still....great to be....and be onboard with David.
Some leftover photos:
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| The Galley on a better day than post-thunderstorm |
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| The Port Washington Swan family |
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| They are just TOO CUTE |
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| Port Jefferson sunset |
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| The amazing Maggie, my great niece, who will play on the Maine Lacrosse team in Port Jefferson this weekend! |
Tuesday, May 22, 2018
tired of rain, Point Judith, RI
5/22/18 Point Judith, RI (who knew Point Judith was in RI? Not me. Google rocks)
Tired of rain. tired of cold. tired of sick sail mates. tired of being at the helm all day. Just tired.
And, I've loved the quiet of David sleeping through the days as I guided (with the help of the GPS) Grace over the water. Watching the water go by. Sometimes reading. sometimes crocheting. Always checking the surroundings for surprise boats or waves or lobster pots or ferry wakes or just checking around and enjoying the sun that was yesterday all day with fair winds and seas. Hard to resolve the conflicting feelings - loving the quiet observation time and being tired of the responsibility and work of paying attention all the time....has something to do with rain and cold, today/tonight...the difficulty.
This (to the right) is where my day started. Truly, how bad can life be if I can sink my feet into white sand, salute the sun facing the sun on this beach with my eyes closed. There were tracks in the sand among my own...fiddler crab and seagull tracks...and a sandcastle community protected by a moot that had leaked all its water.
The Thames Yacht Club where we had a slip because the mooring balls were not yet out. Nobody home at the club but folks we met on the dock let us in for showers, two within three days. My skin might fall off it's so unaccustomed to such showering attention.
And here's the sunset from the night before, that would be Monday, 5/21. It's beautiful here. I didn't know the river had a beach. I wonder where David Dorfman's house is and where does he keep his boat? Couldn't easily reach him but did try...sort of...email.
Yesterday morning David was still not well, even after sleeping much of the day from Port Washington to Port Jefferson. So I nixed the trip to Shelter Island to visit Don & Diane. I was just not willing to chance my having to anchor or dock or even navigate a complicated passage among islands without David's full participation.
So we called D & D and Dick & Nora to let them know we'd had to change plans, not wanting to expose them to whatever germs David had either. But before we left....
the local swans came by...we thought just to say hello and to welcome us. Nope. Beggars. Entrepreneurs. Opportunists. And so very elegant.
They circled the boat a couple times. I gave them some raisin bran flakes. Totally not what they wanted.
There were also geese but they kept their distance and I saw one large white-tailed deer.
We left Port Jefferson around 8:30 knowing we had at least an 8 hour day of travel in order to get to New London. David slept most of the day, not eating, bathroom/head visits, more sleep. Fever, which worried/worries me. It was a beautiful, beautiful day of sun and quiet, easy passage...except for being alert and in charge alone, rather than shared. Of course, had there been questions or danger, David would have awakened and helped. No need.
The GPS, electronic chart showing the topography of the Long Island Sound bottom we were going over. This was somewhere a little more than half way across. It was so interesting. The surface of the water swirled and made eddies and ripples and wiggles just like the chart pictured below. Nothing vigorous or violent but definitely similar to the contours of the bottom, some 94'-157' below me.
Reminds me, also, of the patterns in oak flooring in the Bath dance studio that I love. I find it really beautiful and want to color it.
On to New London and this very formal, very British (?), very collegiate looking lighthouse at the entrance to the Thames river.
I had a great night's sleep, back in the berth with David but not on his end of the bed. Still suspicious of his illness and not wanting to share his germs, though I did appreciate his warmth.
This morning after the beach sun salute I Ubered to the grocery store. David was not feeling up to a trip to Defender so, for sure, he is under the weather, still. He did hydrate Amelia while I was away and check the engine oil and was ready to leave when I returned.
Not quite as long a day at the helm, only about 5 hours. Tomorrow will be another long day of 8+ hours. Our goal is to get to Onset tomorrow so we can visit with Jayne and Gary before they head to Martha's Vineyard for their summer chartering.
And, hopefully, my captain will be well by then. He's hungry now. We had potato soup...homemade by me...for dinner. Being hungry is a good sign and the fever has broken. It is raining and a little windy tonight but skies are predicted to clear and be warmer by morning.
Tired of rain. tired of cold. tired of sick sail mates. tired of being at the helm all day. Just tired.
And, I've loved the quiet of David sleeping through the days as I guided (with the help of the GPS) Grace over the water. Watching the water go by. Sometimes reading. sometimes crocheting. Always checking the surroundings for surprise boats or waves or lobster pots or ferry wakes or just checking around and enjoying the sun that was yesterday all day with fair winds and seas. Hard to resolve the conflicting feelings - loving the quiet observation time and being tired of the responsibility and work of paying attention all the time....has something to do with rain and cold, today/tonight...the difficulty.
This (to the right) is where my day started. Truly, how bad can life be if I can sink my feet into white sand, salute the sun facing the sun on this beach with my eyes closed. There were tracks in the sand among my own...fiddler crab and seagull tracks...and a sandcastle community protected by a moot that had leaked all its water.
The Thames Yacht Club where we had a slip because the mooring balls were not yet out. Nobody home at the club but folks we met on the dock let us in for showers, two within three days. My skin might fall off it's so unaccustomed to such showering attention.
Yesterday morning David was still not well, even after sleeping much of the day from Port Washington to Port Jefferson. So I nixed the trip to Shelter Island to visit Don & Diane. I was just not willing to chance my having to anchor or dock or even navigate a complicated passage among islands without David's full participation.
So we called D & D and Dick & Nora to let them know we'd had to change plans, not wanting to expose them to whatever germs David had either. But before we left....
the local swans came by...we thought just to say hello and to welcome us. Nope. Beggars. Entrepreneurs. Opportunists. And so very elegant.
They circled the boat a couple times. I gave them some raisin bran flakes. Totally not what they wanted.
There were also geese but they kept their distance and I saw one large white-tailed deer.
We left Port Jefferson around 8:30 knowing we had at least an 8 hour day of travel in order to get to New London. David slept most of the day, not eating, bathroom/head visits, more sleep. Fever, which worried/worries me. It was a beautiful, beautiful day of sun and quiet, easy passage...except for being alert and in charge alone, rather than shared. Of course, had there been questions or danger, David would have awakened and helped. No need.
Reminds me, also, of the patterns in oak flooring in the Bath dance studio that I love. I find it really beautiful and want to color it.
On to New London and this very formal, very British (?), very collegiate looking lighthouse at the entrance to the Thames river.
I had a great night's sleep, back in the berth with David but not on his end of the bed. Still suspicious of his illness and not wanting to share his germs, though I did appreciate his warmth.
This morning after the beach sun salute I Ubered to the grocery store. David was not feeling up to a trip to Defender so, for sure, he is under the weather, still. He did hydrate Amelia while I was away and check the engine oil and was ready to leave when I returned.
Not quite as long a day at the helm, only about 5 hours. Tomorrow will be another long day of 8+ hours. Our goal is to get to Onset tomorrow so we can visit with Jayne and Gary before they head to Martha's Vineyard for their summer chartering.
And, hopefully, my captain will be well by then. He's hungry now. We had potato soup...homemade by me...for dinner. Being hungry is a good sign and the fever has broken. It is raining and a little windy tonight but skies are predicted to clear and be warmer by morning.
Sunday, May 20, 2018
growing webs between our toes, Port Washington, NY
5/19/18 Port Washington, NY
Slept in. Seriously. until 9:00 a.m. Even Amelia stayed snoozing, only up twice during the night but had snacks in bed both times. If she was only 15 years old I'd be worried about her. At nearly 19 I'm thinking she's doing the visits with her angel relatives...which looks like sleeping in humans...and I don't want to disturb her too much, only checking occasionally to see if she is still breathing. Perhaps we'll try to hydrate her again tonight. Wanting to keep her comfortable if we can figure out what that is and how to do it.
We moved around noon today to get fuel. A mystery in that we used much less fuel than expected for no reason we can think of. Our fear is that during the T-storm when we took water into the boat, we may have also taken water up the vents into the fuel tank. So as I write David is pumping fuel from the bottom of the starboard tank to see if there is water there. Stinky boat! But a necessary precaution.
We had to get our showers at the yacht club before this fuel distraction event. The club is having its Commissioning this afternoon. I assume that means new Commodore and beginning of the sailing season. A dressy do and they didn't want us transients steaming up the showers. Totally understand and totally appreciate the hospitality of guest mooring and shower and get rid of garbage.
It has been pouring rain for about 12 hours now. There was a brief break in the drops as we came back from showers. Now it is just misting but a heavy, steady misting. I've hung my wet jeans along the overhead rail in the saloon and lit the oil lamps, hoping for some drying effect. Also tied my sneakers up there. It might be hopeless until the sun comes our...tomorrow, we think.
No water in the fuel. Maybe we - David - just tried to put fuel in too fast and it burped out at him, causing him to think the tank was full. When measuring the fuel level with our trusty stick it measures about 4" low which, spread over 10" by 4" could be 15 gallons. I was never very good at those "volume" math problems.
This light house and house is on Execution Rock, near the entrance to Manhasset Bay where we've been the past couple of days, our port after the thunderstorm and where our friends, Lisa and Greg, have their boat. I want to read the history. Did executions happen there on purpose? Or was it just a horrible shipwreck site?
**********
5/20/18 Port Jefferson, LI, NY
And now it's Sunday and we're on the hook just over a beachy sandbar in Port Jefferson harbor. Easy and short travel day. Thunderstorms predicted this afternoon. Having had our fill, for the rest of our lives, of thunderstorms while underway we chose to stop early, just in case. We did have our ginny up part of the morning.
One of the LARGE ferries that go from Port Jefferson to the CT shore. This is likely to be one that Maggie and Shannon will ride next week to get Maggie to her Lacrosse game out here on Long Island. We saw this one and another as we came toward Port Jefferson harbor.
I was a large deer on the sandbar/island and 2 geese. Lots of flies, the biting kind today. The wind is strong enough that I'm surprised they are a problem but they were. Not so much at the moment.
David and Amelia are snoozing. David has a bit of a stomach virus. I'm staying clear. Amelia is just old. I just finished my book, The Witch of Portobello. A favorite sentence, "The energy of love can never be lost - it is more powerful than anything and shows itself in many ways." Another: "You are what you believe yourself to be." Another: "Love is."
And this longer passage:
"Reprogram yourself every minute of each day with thoughts that make you grow. When you're feeling irritated or confused, try to laugh at yourself.Laugh out loud at this woman tormented by doubts and anxieties, convinced that her problems are the most important things in the world. Laugh at the sheer absurdity of the situation, at the fact that despite being a manifestation of the Mother, you still believe God is a man who lays down the rules."
Those are ideas I can try to incorporate.
Warm, filtered sun. There IS a drying effect.
And now...start a new murder mystery? crochet? nap? Ahhhh, such good choices.
Slept in. Seriously. until 9:00 a.m. Even Amelia stayed snoozing, only up twice during the night but had snacks in bed both times. If she was only 15 years old I'd be worried about her. At nearly 19 I'm thinking she's doing the visits with her angel relatives...which looks like sleeping in humans...and I don't want to disturb her too much, only checking occasionally to see if she is still breathing. Perhaps we'll try to hydrate her again tonight. Wanting to keep her comfortable if we can figure out what that is and how to do it.
We moved around noon today to get fuel. A mystery in that we used much less fuel than expected for no reason we can think of. Our fear is that during the T-storm when we took water into the boat, we may have also taken water up the vents into the fuel tank. So as I write David is pumping fuel from the bottom of the starboard tank to see if there is water there. Stinky boat! But a necessary precaution.
We had to get our showers at the yacht club before this fuel distraction event. The club is having its Commissioning this afternoon. I assume that means new Commodore and beginning of the sailing season. A dressy do and they didn't want us transients steaming up the showers. Totally understand and totally appreciate the hospitality of guest mooring and shower and get rid of garbage.
It has been pouring rain for about 12 hours now. There was a brief break in the drops as we came back from showers. Now it is just misting but a heavy, steady misting. I've hung my wet jeans along the overhead rail in the saloon and lit the oil lamps, hoping for some drying effect. Also tied my sneakers up there. It might be hopeless until the sun comes our...tomorrow, we think.
No water in the fuel. Maybe we - David - just tried to put fuel in too fast and it burped out at him, causing him to think the tank was full. When measuring the fuel level with our trusty stick it measures about 4" low which, spread over 10" by 4" could be 15 gallons. I was never very good at those "volume" math problems.
This light house and house is on Execution Rock, near the entrance to Manhasset Bay where we've been the past couple of days, our port after the thunderstorm and where our friends, Lisa and Greg, have their boat. I want to read the history. Did executions happen there on purpose? Or was it just a horrible shipwreck site?
**********
5/20/18 Port Jefferson, LI, NY
And now it's Sunday and we're on the hook just over a beachy sandbar in Port Jefferson harbor. Easy and short travel day. Thunderstorms predicted this afternoon. Having had our fill, for the rest of our lives, of thunderstorms while underway we chose to stop early, just in case. We did have our ginny up part of the morning.
One of the LARGE ferries that go from Port Jefferson to the CT shore. This is likely to be one that Maggie and Shannon will ride next week to get Maggie to her Lacrosse game out here on Long Island. We saw this one and another as we came toward Port Jefferson harbor.
I was a large deer on the sandbar/island and 2 geese. Lots of flies, the biting kind today. The wind is strong enough that I'm surprised they are a problem but they were. Not so much at the moment.
David and Amelia are snoozing. David has a bit of a stomach virus. I'm staying clear. Amelia is just old. I just finished my book, The Witch of Portobello. A favorite sentence, "The energy of love can never be lost - it is more powerful than anything and shows itself in many ways." Another: "You are what you believe yourself to be." Another: "Love is."
And this longer passage:
"Reprogram yourself every minute of each day with thoughts that make you grow. When you're feeling irritated or confused, try to laugh at yourself.Laugh out loud at this woman tormented by doubts and anxieties, convinced that her problems are the most important things in the world. Laugh at the sheer absurdity of the situation, at the fact that despite being a manifestation of the Mother, you still believe God is a man who lays down the rules."
Those are ideas I can try to incorporate.
Warm, filtered sun. There IS a drying effect.
And now...start a new murder mystery? crochet? nap? Ahhhh, such good choices.
Friday, May 18, 2018
for no good reason, Port Washington, NY
5/18/18 Port Washington, LI, NY
For no good reason I was in a funk today. It is windy. It is damp. It is chilly. We're sort of captured on the boat because it is too unpleasant to get off the boat.
I was up early to talk with a friend, Betsy. All good. Coffee and much later breakfast. All morning David and I tried to figure our travel plans...always relative to the weather. This week two challenges:
1) can we get to Shelter Island to visit Diane and Don?
2) how to get me to ME for a memorial for friend and colleague, Walter Stump, over Memorial Day weekend (Sunday).
All works for Shelter and getting me to New London to either 1) rent a car; 2) take the train; 3) hitch a ride with friends (Rachel) but getting to New London in time for the hitched ride requires a shortened visit with Don and Diane. If not for predicted bad weather, we could sail and motor all the way home and be there in plenty of time for me to get to Gorham, ME for the Memorial Service. We could even get home if we could motor on Wednesday - Sunday. But....weather is a no-go from Thursday - Sunday next week.
Now the plan is that friends, Dick and Nora, are also visiting D & D and I'll hitch a ride back to Maine with them and take the train from Saco to Freeport, pick up my car from Shannon and move into Lynne's house for several days. Amelia and David will stay on the boat in New London and I'll re-join them on Monday or Tuesday wherever they are. Onset to also visit with Jayne and Gary would be my ideal. But as we've been saying, "our plans are fluid."
My funk was, I think, because I was looking at the weather, plotting course and time/distance math and "what if's" all morning. And I'm really sick of bad weather that I/we have to work around. I'm not being very spiritual about all this weather stuff.
And then I couldn't figure out how to start my crochet project that I've put off since January. Really. How difficult could this Basic Beginner Beanie bonnet (hat, but I'm into the alliteration) be. David got a bunch of stuff done to improve the boat...bungs in the trim piece, table leg glued back together.
I've been saved by Lisa's starting my crocheting project for me. We\ went over to their boat around 5:00 for wine and snacks. Lovely visit and she reminded me how to do various crochet things.As soon as I saw them I remembered but reading the instructions is so much more complicated that a hands on demonstration. We visited for a couple hours then came home for dinner. They leave tomorrow and we're not likely to see them for another year or so...unless they visit in Maine. Their son, who was arriving at the Maritime Academy at King's Point when we first met, graduates next weekend. Nice book ends to our friendship which we hope will last far beyond his graduation.
Tried to hydrate Amelia but the needle fell out...we weren't holding it in...and she only got maybe 30 ml rather than the 50 we usually give her. Her ankle is really giving her trouble, and she's limping badly. Ugh. Poor kitty.
We'll move to a different mooring tomorrow, across the bay to the yacht club where we can get showers and do the laundry. Both are needed and welcome.
For no good reason I was in a funk today. It is windy. It is damp. It is chilly. We're sort of captured on the boat because it is too unpleasant to get off the boat.
I was up early to talk with a friend, Betsy. All good. Coffee and much later breakfast. All morning David and I tried to figure our travel plans...always relative to the weather. This week two challenges:
1) can we get to Shelter Island to visit Diane and Don?
2) how to get me to ME for a memorial for friend and colleague, Walter Stump, over Memorial Day weekend (Sunday).
All works for Shelter and getting me to New London to either 1) rent a car; 2) take the train; 3) hitch a ride with friends (Rachel) but getting to New London in time for the hitched ride requires a shortened visit with Don and Diane. If not for predicted bad weather, we could sail and motor all the way home and be there in plenty of time for me to get to Gorham, ME for the Memorial Service. We could even get home if we could motor on Wednesday - Sunday. But....weather is a no-go from Thursday - Sunday next week.
Now the plan is that friends, Dick and Nora, are also visiting D & D and I'll hitch a ride back to Maine with them and take the train from Saco to Freeport, pick up my car from Shannon and move into Lynne's house for several days. Amelia and David will stay on the boat in New London and I'll re-join them on Monday or Tuesday wherever they are. Onset to also visit with Jayne and Gary would be my ideal. But as we've been saying, "our plans are fluid."
My funk was, I think, because I was looking at the weather, plotting course and time/distance math and "what if's" all morning. And I'm really sick of bad weather that I/we have to work around. I'm not being very spiritual about all this weather stuff.
And then I couldn't figure out how to start my crochet project that I've put off since January. Really. How difficult could this Basic Beginner Beanie bonnet (hat, but I'm into the alliteration) be. David got a bunch of stuff done to improve the boat...bungs in the trim piece, table leg glued back together.
I've been saved by Lisa's starting my crocheting project for me. We\ went over to their boat around 5:00 for wine and snacks. Lovely visit and she reminded me how to do various crochet things.As soon as I saw them I remembered but reading the instructions is so much more complicated that a hands on demonstration. We visited for a couple hours then came home for dinner. They leave tomorrow and we're not likely to see them for another year or so...unless they visit in Maine. Their son, who was arriving at the Maritime Academy at King's Point when we first met, graduates next weekend. Nice book ends to our friendship which we hope will last far beyond his graduation.
Tried to hydrate Amelia but the needle fell out...we weren't holding it in...and she only got maybe 30 ml rather than the 50 we usually give her. Her ankle is really giving her trouble, and she's limping badly. Ugh. Poor kitty.
We'll move to a different mooring tomorrow, across the bay to the yacht club where we can get showers and do the laundry. Both are needed and welcome.
Thursday, May 17, 2018
Renewal in the mail , Port Washington, NY
5/17/18 Port Washington, LI, NY
Such a sound and deep sleep last night. Amelia did her regular "food" three times after midnight but David got up for one of the feedings. Both up by 8:00 a.m. to meet our friends, Ken and Lisa, who were going to take us to the post office.
I spent the morning reading in the P.O. while David collated, checked, re-checked all the paper work for his Captain's license renewal. By 11:30 the Registered Mail envelope was being addressed. In the mail. Noon and we celebrated with a slice of pizza. We DO know how to have fun.
We walked down the Main Street of Port Washington. Went into the LI Railroad train station and got a schedule but doubt that we'll use it this trip. Only a half hour and less than $5.00 to get to Penn Station, though. Tempting.
We went to the Consignment store. I needed another long sleeve shirt if it was going to continue to be 59 degrees, cloudy and damp here. Scored, and a colorful pullover sweater, too.
Walking on down the hill toward the waterfront a woman pointed these swans out to us. She was showing her son.
Six babies. Are they swanlins? Swanettes? Petit cygnets?
The adults were very much into preening...or cleaning. Necks twisted around all over the place. Big tails twitching side to side. Top of head rubbing under wing. Chin (?) massaging along sides.
And the MOST cunning thing....the babies were doing the same sort of movement with their much shorter necks!!! We watched for about 1/2 hour but I was okay staying all afternoon.
I don't know why the difference in color...4 grayish chicks and 2 champagne ones. Little fluff balls with legs and necks. Sweet. sweet. sweet!
Back on Grace I started cleaning up the decks from THE storm on Tuesday (I think it was Tuesday - recently in any case). Had a look at the shredded inner jib that was flying when the squall his us. In this photo it has the lovely sense of fringed curtains. Andrew Wyeth effect.
Not the case. A shredded sail. No chance of restoration. In talking with another sailor we spoke of how glad we were that the sail did wrap itself around its stay. That diminished the windage during the storm. Less area to catch the wind and push us when we didn't want to be pushed.
While I took the sail hardware off, wrapped it into the sail bag and hung the lines to dry - looked something like octopus tentacles hanging all around the deck - David dove into the engine. He wanted to see how the batteries had fared during the storm and put the new "sender" unit in the engine...to measure oil pressure.
I finished my work, started rice for dinner and sat on the aft deck to read. A new book - The Witch of Portobello by Paulo Coelho. He also wrote The Alchemist which I enjoyed but am like this one even better.
Similar to The Alchemist , this current book follows an individual in her, in this case, spiritual quest. Easy narrative. Very thought provoking. Causes me to want to follow other instructions of being quiet, silent...getting away form the constant activity of doing, fulfilling another's agenda or expectations or just getting away from...silence.
Being on the aft deck, reading, watching, thinking, not thinking, limited planning...such a treat.
Dinner.
A gentle day. Conversation with friend Don, of Don and Diane who we are hoping/planning to visit when the weather allows...maybe traveling to Shelter Island on Sunday and Monday for a brief visit on Tuesday. Tomorrow promises rain and Saturday the wind is from an "unfavorable" direction. So, we'll hang here in Port Washington. Perhaps a yoga class and laundry mat for me tomorrow. And maybe friend, Lisa, will help me get started on my beanie. I bought the yarn way back there in NC while heading south in January. Finally measured my head but now will have to do it again. I forgot.
Almost time to re-hydrate Amelia. She is very vocal but is she hungry? No. Thirsty? Apparently not. Constipated? shrug/who knows, doesn't seem to be. Bored? Possibly but not willing to go out when I open the door. Maybe just dehydrated. So we'll do that tomorrow morning. Meanwhile, she snores, she purrs, she sleeps with her head turned upside down so that under her chin is totally exposed. And she is completely love.
Such a sound and deep sleep last night. Amelia did her regular "food" three times after midnight but David got up for one of the feedings. Both up by 8:00 a.m. to meet our friends, Ken and Lisa, who were going to take us to the post office.
I spent the morning reading in the P.O. while David collated, checked, re-checked all the paper work for his Captain's license renewal. By 11:30 the Registered Mail envelope was being addressed. In the mail. Noon and we celebrated with a slice of pizza. We DO know how to have fun.
We went to the Consignment store. I needed another long sleeve shirt if it was going to continue to be 59 degrees, cloudy and damp here. Scored, and a colorful pullover sweater, too.
Walking on down the hill toward the waterfront a woman pointed these swans out to us. She was showing her son.
Six babies. Are they swanlins? Swanettes? Petit cygnets?
The adults were very much into preening...or cleaning. Necks twisted around all over the place. Big tails twitching side to side. Top of head rubbing under wing. Chin (?) massaging along sides.
And the MOST cunning thing....the babies were doing the same sort of movement with their much shorter necks!!! We watched for about 1/2 hour but I was okay staying all afternoon.
I don't know why the difference in color...4 grayish chicks and 2 champagne ones. Little fluff balls with legs and necks. Sweet. sweet. sweet!
Back on Grace I started cleaning up the decks from THE storm on Tuesday (I think it was Tuesday - recently in any case). Had a look at the shredded inner jib that was flying when the squall his us. In this photo it has the lovely sense of fringed curtains. Andrew Wyeth effect.
Not the case. A shredded sail. No chance of restoration. In talking with another sailor we spoke of how glad we were that the sail did wrap itself around its stay. That diminished the windage during the storm. Less area to catch the wind and push us when we didn't want to be pushed.
While I took the sail hardware off, wrapped it into the sail bag and hung the lines to dry - looked something like octopus tentacles hanging all around the deck - David dove into the engine. He wanted to see how the batteries had fared during the storm and put the new "sender" unit in the engine...to measure oil pressure.
I finished my work, started rice for dinner and sat on the aft deck to read. A new book - The Witch of Portobello by Paulo Coelho. He also wrote The Alchemist which I enjoyed but am like this one even better.
Similar to The Alchemist , this current book follows an individual in her, in this case, spiritual quest. Easy narrative. Very thought provoking. Causes me to want to follow other instructions of being quiet, silent...getting away form the constant activity of doing, fulfilling another's agenda or expectations or just getting away from...silence.
Being on the aft deck, reading, watching, thinking, not thinking, limited planning...such a treat.
Dinner.
A gentle day. Conversation with friend Don, of Don and Diane who we are hoping/planning to visit when the weather allows...maybe traveling to Shelter Island on Sunday and Monday for a brief visit on Tuesday. Tomorrow promises rain and Saturday the wind is from an "unfavorable" direction. So, we'll hang here in Port Washington. Perhaps a yoga class and laundry mat for me tomorrow. And maybe friend, Lisa, will help me get started on my beanie. I bought the yarn way back there in NC while heading south in January. Finally measured my head but now will have to do it again. I forgot.
Almost time to re-hydrate Amelia. She is very vocal but is she hungry? No. Thirsty? Apparently not. Constipated? shrug/who knows, doesn't seem to be. Bored? Possibly but not willing to go out when I open the door. Maybe just dehydrated. So we'll do that tomorrow morning. Meanwhile, she snores, she purrs, she sleeps with her head turned upside down so that under her chin is totally exposed. And she is completely love.
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| New York City skyline |
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| Sunset: 5/17/18, Port Washington, Long Island, NY |
Wednesday, May 16, 2018
Damp and chilly, Port Washington
5/16/18 Port Washington, NY
Up several times during the early morning to pee. Took some time on one of those early bathroom breaks to shiver my shoulders and discharge some of the fear from yesterday's boat ride. Then slept late.
David spent the day collecting and collating the information for his Captain's License renewal. I did some more cleaning up after our stormy experience. Boat is cleaner and more organized than its been in several weeks, maybe months.
We saw our friends Ken and Lisa on Quest pass by and called them. Made a date for later in the day. They offered to take us to get David's papers copied and to the post office. Their son is just finishing college here so they have access to a car. We made it to the library to copy stuff but the post office was closed before we finished. So we decided to have dinner out together and will get up early so they can take us to the p.o. as they head over to the college to do some volunteering. Perfect.
Sort of a day of rest. It IS cold and damp, though. May either have to go to bed really early or get the heater out. Easy day. Nice to reconnect with our boating friends.
Up several times during the early morning to pee. Took some time on one of those early bathroom breaks to shiver my shoulders and discharge some of the fear from yesterday's boat ride. Then slept late.
David spent the day collecting and collating the information for his Captain's License renewal. I did some more cleaning up after our stormy experience. Boat is cleaner and more organized than its been in several weeks, maybe months.
We saw our friends Ken and Lisa on Quest pass by and called them. Made a date for later in the day. They offered to take us to get David's papers copied and to the post office. Their son is just finishing college here so they have access to a car. We made it to the library to copy stuff but the post office was closed before we finished. So we decided to have dinner out together and will get up early so they can take us to the p.o. as they head over to the college to do some volunteering. Perfect.
Sort of a day of rest. It IS cold and damp, though. May either have to go to bed really early or get the heater out. Easy day. Nice to reconnect with our boating friends.
stormy weather - Port Washington
5/15/18 . Port Washington, LI, NY
Nothing like a life threatening experience to make you want to dance! Rocking out in the pilot house to Mavis Staples "Have a Little Faith".
After THE storm - that would be the one with squall winds above 40 knots, rain, lightening - David has photos of the double rainbow but this half with reflection is also brilliant.
We were surprised - after the major distress of the storm - to discover that we were outside the turn to Port Washington. Amazing how time flies when your trying to survive. So, we turned in. By this time the major aspects of the storm were past. Thanks to all the storm gods for that relief.
Thank you Grace - the boat and the spirit.
The day started with pea soup fog at our anchorage. I remember thinking that it would be good to see this side of Coney Island during the day since I didn't see much last night. Forget that. Couldn't even see the navigational buoy that was a couple hundred feet from us. We stayed up until it was apparent that we weren't going to make the morning tide to go through the East River/Hells Gate. David went back to bed. I waited until around 11:00 to go snooze again. There was some relief to having a fog morning.
Both up. No fog. Beautiful day. Go now and we'll just go slow but maybe beat the storms that are predicted. Off to the races....with storms. Spoiler: we couldn't out run them.
I was a little skittish, still, from last night's inability to figure out how to steer the boat to its anchoring spot. Amazing how quickly confidence dissipates when tired. The waters were rough-ish around the Verrazano Bridge and a bit of traffic. Better that David takes the helm. After The Narrows at the bridge the waters and winds were very calm and manageable. Photos along the East River past NYC's East Side:
Lady Liberty somehow has a greater meaning to me these days, given the anti-immigrant attitude apparent in the USA. How quickly we forget our roots and our heritage
These modern dinosaurs were doing some important construction or loading work in Brooklyn as we passed
A lot of these old Brooklyn buildings are being renovated into living quarters. The chimney.
This wisteria hangs over the highway. Not sure who grows it but it is beautiful greenery and the fact that it hangs over a highway is bliss!
I love this little building with the ivy covering the "over the door" work sort of at center. This is Roosevelt Island, a "sky tram" ride beside the Queensborough Bridge at 59th Street. I texted my friend, Diana Simkin to say this was a must visit the next time I was in NYC. There is a monument to the right of these ruins. The other end of the small island is tall condos or office space. Don't know, yet, what these buildings were used for.
Dance partners with the chaperone - Chrysler Bldg, pointed one - keeping its watchful distance in the background.
These buildings were just going up this time two years ago. The one on the left really has a "swayed back". Not as apparent now as when they were going up. I wonder what it would be like to have an office at the water side where there is a connection between the bldgs? Someone's google search.
I've two photos of the UN, the hope of so many people near and far. Lots of good work goes on here.
This left photo represents more for me since there are sail lines in it somehow underscoring the notion that people from away came on sail or at least in boats, some of their own free will, others in bondage.
I was at the helm as we came through Hells Gate, a section where the Harlem River joins the East River is a squeezed waterway, ofter causing turbulence, even standing waves if the currents aren't running correctly. NO PROBLEM. Smooth, if SLOW, motoring. We were lulled into over-confidence. Put our inner jib up to help push us along faster.
And then the storm....we noticed the heavy dark blue clouds to our left and we knew the weather report for severe storms around 6 PM and it was around 6 PM.
SUDDENLY! we were smacked with high wind gusts and bouncing seas. David tried to get the jib furled, managed a little and then it fouled and slapped around mercilessly. We were smacked over three times. Two times rail in the water and water in the door. Alarms went off - literally. The shallow water alarm. The bilge alarm. No way shallow water. It was 60' seconds ago! We were so heeled over that the depth measure was out of the water! Slippery floor. I braced myself in the companionway, back against the starboard side and as many hands as I could manage on the wheel to steer...as if I had any, even imaginary control of the boat. David took the helm. Another smack over (but never down, thank you very much) this time without rail and water in. Grace, the boat, rounded up just the way she is supposed to. (I can say that now sitting on a mooring. Good Grace).
Amelia came running, sliding into the pilot house from aft cabin, caterwauling. "Sit down, kitty!" me shouting. She jumped onto the seat and hunkered, wide-eyed. After the first couple flips and flops, side to side of the boat she stretched out...and relaxed (!??!)...watched the action, feet braced against the armrest.
The wind abated a bit. Rain continued. A rescue vessel hailed us. They'd received a distress call from a black hulled boat. Nope, we'd not called but we were definitely distressed. The boat was at our port quarter, not too close. The rescue boat went on its way looking for one in distress since we'd not called. "Where's Active Captain?" David asked, and I found the iPad in the galley floor and opened it. Winds/seas "settled" enough to look at harbors. Can't go there, wind against us. Not there, too shallow. Nope, bridge too low. Carry on as we're near the end of the predicted worst of it. So we did. As slowly as possible...going in the direction we were wanting to go.
I took the helm so David could take the fouled jib down. Life jackets had been on both of us since the first smack. David took down not the sail but the entire roller furling structure. Sail was too wrapped around itself and its support. I noticed it was a little shredded, too.
Phew! And now...wait for it...we were at the turn for Port Washington! Our anticipated home for the next two days. "Turn now," from David. "Now? A little or a lot?" from me. "10 degrees now, and then another 10 and then another." In we came. Familiar territory and the winds have calmed themselves. We looked to see if our companion boat would make the turn in. He did and is moored next to us. French and speaks limited English, we think, though he may be fluent after the adrenalin subsides.
Had there been time to be terrified during this experience, I'd have been terrified. I had trouble touching the correct place on the iPad as my pointer finger was trembling so much. The reality, though, was that I/we were doing as much as possible to keep ourselves afloat, handling the boat as much as possible in this horrible situation. We managed. Nothing about managing was pretty and successful outcome was NOT a given. But in the middle of a difficult situation you just keep doing what you can do to correct the situation and secure a positive outcome. I'm reminded of James Shaw's comment that he wasn't a hero, he was just trying to save his own life.
In retrospect:
I wonder if the sailboat we were paralleling from Hell's Gate to Port Washington called the rescue boat (Coast Guard or TowBoat?) on our behalf...or his behalf.
Signs of impending danger were so present and available to us. We'd been lulled by easy Hell's Gate passage.
We were fool-hardy and stupid to put the jib up, wanting to go faster to get there sooner. (This is a place for both David and me to really take a look at our habits...trying too hard to push rivers)
We could have left Coney Island anchorage earlier. Results might have been less harrowing or not.
During our distress I kept hoping...we weren't endangering the other boat near us, our lines would not go overboard and into the prop, and that we'd all make it through.
The recuse boat mentioned King's Point just astern of us across the way. Familiar name. Yes, that is Port Washington but couldn't make that connection at that moment.
How long did this all last.
We cleared the mess, made a pathway for kitty who is talking to us again to get to the litter box. Emptied her litter box of all the forward cabin stuff that had fallen in. Put the chart table stuff back on the chart table. Other stuff on the seats in the galley. Soft stuff from the aft cabin sort of back in place. Dried off as much of the floor as possible. Shoveled the dirt spilled from the kitty grass pot. Made dinner.
DANCED!
Affirming life as we like it.
The sunset and rainbows were brilliant, more beautiful than ever before. All senses heightened, post emergency.
Grateful to be here.
Nothing like a life threatening experience to make you want to dance! Rocking out in the pilot house to Mavis Staples "Have a Little Faith".
After THE storm - that would be the one with squall winds above 40 knots, rain, lightening - David has photos of the double rainbow but this half with reflection is also brilliant.
We were surprised - after the major distress of the storm - to discover that we were outside the turn to Port Washington. Amazing how time flies when your trying to survive. So, we turned in. By this time the major aspects of the storm were past. Thanks to all the storm gods for that relief.
Thank you Grace - the boat and the spirit.
The day started with pea soup fog at our anchorage. I remember thinking that it would be good to see this side of Coney Island during the day since I didn't see much last night. Forget that. Couldn't even see the navigational buoy that was a couple hundred feet from us. We stayed up until it was apparent that we weren't going to make the morning tide to go through the East River/Hells Gate. David went back to bed. I waited until around 11:00 to go snooze again. There was some relief to having a fog morning.
Both up. No fog. Beautiful day. Go now and we'll just go slow but maybe beat the storms that are predicted. Off to the races....with storms. Spoiler: we couldn't out run them.
I was a little skittish, still, from last night's inability to figure out how to steer the boat to its anchoring spot. Amazing how quickly confidence dissipates when tired. The waters were rough-ish around the Verrazano Bridge and a bit of traffic. Better that David takes the helm. After The Narrows at the bridge the waters and winds were very calm and manageable. Photos along the East River past NYC's East Side:
Lady Liberty somehow has a greater meaning to me these days, given the anti-immigrant attitude apparent in the USA. How quickly we forget our roots and our heritage
These modern dinosaurs were doing some important construction or loading work in Brooklyn as we passed
A lot of these old Brooklyn buildings are being renovated into living quarters. The chimney.
This wisteria hangs over the highway. Not sure who grows it but it is beautiful greenery and the fact that it hangs over a highway is bliss!
I love this little building with the ivy covering the "over the door" work sort of at center. This is Roosevelt Island, a "sky tram" ride beside the Queensborough Bridge at 59th Street. I texted my friend, Diana Simkin to say this was a must visit the next time I was in NYC. There is a monument to the right of these ruins. The other end of the small island is tall condos or office space. Don't know, yet, what these buildings were used for.
Dance partners with the chaperone - Chrysler Bldg, pointed one - keeping its watchful distance in the background.
These buildings were just going up this time two years ago. The one on the left really has a "swayed back". Not as apparent now as when they were going up. I wonder what it would be like to have an office at the water side where there is a connection between the bldgs? Someone's google search.
I've two photos of the UN, the hope of so many people near and far. Lots of good work goes on here.This left photo represents more for me since there are sail lines in it somehow underscoring the notion that people from away came on sail or at least in boats, some of their own free will, others in bondage.
I was at the helm as we came through Hells Gate, a section where the Harlem River joins the East River is a squeezed waterway, ofter causing turbulence, even standing waves if the currents aren't running correctly. NO PROBLEM. Smooth, if SLOW, motoring. We were lulled into over-confidence. Put our inner jib up to help push us along faster.
And then the storm....we noticed the heavy dark blue clouds to our left and we knew the weather report for severe storms around 6 PM and it was around 6 PM.
SUDDENLY! we were smacked with high wind gusts and bouncing seas. David tried to get the jib furled, managed a little and then it fouled and slapped around mercilessly. We were smacked over three times. Two times rail in the water and water in the door. Alarms went off - literally. The shallow water alarm. The bilge alarm. No way shallow water. It was 60' seconds ago! We were so heeled over that the depth measure was out of the water! Slippery floor. I braced myself in the companionway, back against the starboard side and as many hands as I could manage on the wheel to steer...as if I had any, even imaginary control of the boat. David took the helm. Another smack over (but never down, thank you very much) this time without rail and water in. Grace, the boat, rounded up just the way she is supposed to. (I can say that now sitting on a mooring. Good Grace).
Amelia came running, sliding into the pilot house from aft cabin, caterwauling. "Sit down, kitty!" me shouting. She jumped onto the seat and hunkered, wide-eyed. After the first couple flips and flops, side to side of the boat she stretched out...and relaxed (!??!)...watched the action, feet braced against the armrest.
The wind abated a bit. Rain continued. A rescue vessel hailed us. They'd received a distress call from a black hulled boat. Nope, we'd not called but we were definitely distressed. The boat was at our port quarter, not too close. The rescue boat went on its way looking for one in distress since we'd not called. "Where's Active Captain?" David asked, and I found the iPad in the galley floor and opened it. Winds/seas "settled" enough to look at harbors. Can't go there, wind against us. Not there, too shallow. Nope, bridge too low. Carry on as we're near the end of the predicted worst of it. So we did. As slowly as possible...going in the direction we were wanting to go.
I took the helm so David could take the fouled jib down. Life jackets had been on both of us since the first smack. David took down not the sail but the entire roller furling structure. Sail was too wrapped around itself and its support. I noticed it was a little shredded, too.
Phew! And now...wait for it...we were at the turn for Port Washington! Our anticipated home for the next two days. "Turn now," from David. "Now? A little or a lot?" from me. "10 degrees now, and then another 10 and then another." In we came. Familiar territory and the winds have calmed themselves. We looked to see if our companion boat would make the turn in. He did and is moored next to us. French and speaks limited English, we think, though he may be fluent after the adrenalin subsides.
Had there been time to be terrified during this experience, I'd have been terrified. I had trouble touching the correct place on the iPad as my pointer finger was trembling so much. The reality, though, was that I/we were doing as much as possible to keep ourselves afloat, handling the boat as much as possible in this horrible situation. We managed. Nothing about managing was pretty and successful outcome was NOT a given. But in the middle of a difficult situation you just keep doing what you can do to correct the situation and secure a positive outcome. I'm reminded of James Shaw's comment that he wasn't a hero, he was just trying to save his own life.
In retrospect:
I wonder if the sailboat we were paralleling from Hell's Gate to Port Washington called the rescue boat (Coast Guard or TowBoat?) on our behalf...or his behalf.
Signs of impending danger were so present and available to us. We'd been lulled by easy Hell's Gate passage.
We were fool-hardy and stupid to put the jib up, wanting to go faster to get there sooner. (This is a place for both David and me to really take a look at our habits...trying too hard to push rivers)
We could have left Coney Island anchorage earlier. Results might have been less harrowing or not.
During our distress I kept hoping...we weren't endangering the other boat near us, our lines would not go overboard and into the prop, and that we'd all make it through.
The recuse boat mentioned King's Point just astern of us across the way. Familiar name. Yes, that is Port Washington but couldn't make that connection at that moment.
How long did this all last.
We cleared the mess, made a pathway for kitty who is talking to us again to get to the litter box. Emptied her litter box of all the forward cabin stuff that had fallen in. Put the chart table stuff back on the chart table. Other stuff on the seats in the galley. Soft stuff from the aft cabin sort of back in place. Dried off as much of the floor as possible. Shoveled the dirt spilled from the kitty grass pot. Made dinner.
DANCED!
Affirming life as we like it.
The sunset and rainbows were brilliant, more beautiful than ever before. All senses heightened, post emergency.
Grateful to be here.
Tuesday, May 15, 2018
long day - Coney Island, NY
5/14/18 . Coney Island, NY
Just a really long day - we were underway at 7:40 AM and turned the engine off in Coney Island at 9:02 PM. It was, for the most part, a gently rocking day with pretty sun and seas. Not too much traffic. Fog much of the day. Dolphins. We plucked two more balloons from the water and missed another five that we couldn't get. We'd estimated getting in by 8 PM but were slowed down by a current push back. 5.8 knots rather than the 6-7 we'd estimated. But then we were pushed by 18-20 knot winds (also unexpected) up to 8+ knots later in the afternoon. Still didn't make the time we'd hoped.
All in all a good day but really tired from being alert all day. Both David and I took hour long naps in the late afternoon. One at a time naps. We didn't trust Amelia to be on watch. She has trouble pushing the auto-pilot buttons.
While being a great helms person and navigation person in the daylight as night descends my eyesight and my confidence wan.
I was at the helm coming upon Sandy Hook, NJ and crossing the shipping lanes going into our anchorage at Norton Point on Coney Island, NY. Me, watching the water and the electronic chart and steering according to David's direction.
By the time we'd ferreted out the "best" anchor spot I could no longer tell which direction was which. "You better stay inside and tell me which way to turn if you want me to hit that 'x' spot." I said and he did. I just could no longer "be the boat" and steer appropriately looking at that little bullet on the screen. And my poorer night vision plus the very bright lights, I just could not orient me, the boat, land. Pretty scary for me, and no doubt for David. I'm chalking it up to TIRED. I did manage to cook dinner, a good dinner, especially for 9:30 PM, without blowing us up.
We had a hitch hiker for about an hour. She fluttered on board then flitted or hopped, making multiple tours of the deck...looking for rest? food? water? She even came inside briefly. We didn't encourage this inside behavior knowing we'd be distracted. But there she was on the chart table eating seeds left over from our bagel breakfast.
Then she flew out again.
Sweet.
two ears ago we had 3 hitch hikers who stayed on the aft deck for several hours. Catching a break from all the necessary flapping of migration.
Crossing from Sandy Hook to Coney Island after sunset gave us a good view of the Coney Island "space needle." Amazing display of lights running up and down the needle. Candy stripe, all red, all blue, white, another combination of spiral strips that I couldn't quite make out. Ostentatious. I realize, again, that in all my years of living in and visiting NYC I've never been to Coney Island, to the park or the beach. Gotta do it. Sometime. and eat a Nathans Hot Dog and Big Orange. Well maybe not the Big Orange whatever it is called.
A couple photos from our Atlantic City visit and another sunset from the shipping channel off Coney Island.
Another headless casino. A woman at the Aquarium said the town is really broke. Too many eggs in the gambling basket. There is still a fishing economy but hard to tell how affluent it is. Lots of clam draggers in and out of the cut we were staying in but.....
Fun to be there. Glad to leave and move onward.
Just a really long day - we were underway at 7:40 AM and turned the engine off in Coney Island at 9:02 PM. It was, for the most part, a gently rocking day with pretty sun and seas. Not too much traffic. Fog much of the day. Dolphins. We plucked two more balloons from the water and missed another five that we couldn't get. We'd estimated getting in by 8 PM but were slowed down by a current push back. 5.8 knots rather than the 6-7 we'd estimated. But then we were pushed by 18-20 knot winds (also unexpected) up to 8+ knots later in the afternoon. Still didn't make the time we'd hoped.
All in all a good day but really tired from being alert all day. Both David and I took hour long naps in the late afternoon. One at a time naps. We didn't trust Amelia to be on watch. She has trouble pushing the auto-pilot buttons.
While being a great helms person and navigation person in the daylight as night descends my eyesight and my confidence wan.
I was at the helm coming upon Sandy Hook, NJ and crossing the shipping lanes going into our anchorage at Norton Point on Coney Island, NY. Me, watching the water and the electronic chart and steering according to David's direction.
By the time we'd ferreted out the "best" anchor spot I could no longer tell which direction was which. "You better stay inside and tell me which way to turn if you want me to hit that 'x' spot." I said and he did. I just could no longer "be the boat" and steer appropriately looking at that little bullet on the screen. And my poorer night vision plus the very bright lights, I just could not orient me, the boat, land. Pretty scary for me, and no doubt for David. I'm chalking it up to TIRED. I did manage to cook dinner, a good dinner, especially for 9:30 PM, without blowing us up.
We had a hitch hiker for about an hour. She fluttered on board then flitted or hopped, making multiple tours of the deck...looking for rest? food? water? She even came inside briefly. We didn't encourage this inside behavior knowing we'd be distracted. But there she was on the chart table eating seeds left over from our bagel breakfast.
Then she flew out again.
Sweet.
two ears ago we had 3 hitch hikers who stayed on the aft deck for several hours. Catching a break from all the necessary flapping of migration.
Crossing from Sandy Hook to Coney Island after sunset gave us a good view of the Coney Island "space needle." Amazing display of lights running up and down the needle. Candy stripe, all red, all blue, white, another combination of spiral strips that I couldn't quite make out. Ostentatious. I realize, again, that in all my years of living in and visiting NYC I've never been to Coney Island, to the park or the beach. Gotta do it. Sometime. and eat a Nathans Hot Dog and Big Orange. Well maybe not the Big Orange whatever it is called.
A couple photos from our Atlantic City visit and another sunset from the shipping channel off Coney Island.
 |
| Foggy night in Atlantic City. Casino tops cut off |
Another headless casino. A woman at the Aquarium said the town is really broke. Too many eggs in the gambling basket. There is still a fishing economy but hard to tell how affluent it is. Lots of clam draggers in and out of the cut we were staying in but.....
Fun to be there. Glad to leave and move onward.
Sunday, May 13, 2018
Happy Mother's Day - Atlantic City, NJ
5/13/18 . Atlantic City, NJ
A rainy low pressure day (literally and figuratively, here at the Atlantic City Aquarium/Gardener's Basin dock.
A great day to indulge pensive and thoughtful, remembering my mom and her traits and actions and values, in retrospect. Many I appreciated when she lived, and expressed appreciation and love to her. But, post-death those same traits and actions get distilled to their essence. I can think about her with more, even more, love and clarity, ... for foibles and strengths. Continuing her love and nurturing efforts for the natural world, David and I clean the ocean of plastic as we are able. This balloon plucked from Delaware Bay, perhaps saving some sea life from painful death. Mother celebrates with us.
How much can my heart expand with love and gratitude before it explodes like an over-inflated balloon? We'll see, I guess. Love and gratitude continue to grow as years pass.
I appreciate her spiritual presence with me, now more than ever.
David and I slept late this morning, a first in a while and so needed. Amelia has continued to sleep most of the day. I think she was really stressed by our rolling morning at sea yesterday. David and I went to Gilchrist's for breakfast this morning, a short walk down the dock. Bacon! and great hot cakes (aka pan cakes) and an over easy egg for me. An award winning place and it was crowded. At least 4 people served us from host, to "something to drink", to taker of order, to server, to cleaner-upper. Labor union or just specialization to keep the flow flowing? Whatever, it worked for us.
Some emailing, some thinking about ACAF (Arts & Cultural Alliance of Freeport), groceries, left-overs for dinner, brownie cooking for a little heat in Grace. A look at the weather for possible travel tomorrow. Both David and I agreed - we're sick of "looking at the weather," even though earlier at the Aquarium we were applauding how "close to the elements" we are on the boat. Bah! Humbug!! It's damp, chilly and less than delightful today on the boat in these elements. We took the bus to the food store, watched lots of people, experiencing some of Atlantic City. We looked for a show at a casino but nothing tickled our fancy so, again, we didn't experience what AC is known for. It seems to be a town in further decline with pockets of improvement. A number of casinos have closed in recent years. Lots of "eggs in one basket" in terms of economic base. The Basin where we are docked looks like a sweet neighborhood with some commercial boating businesses, maybe oystering, dragging? Discovering public transportation offers opportunities and less isolated here.
Some photos from the last couple of days that finally uploaded after I rebooted my phone:
I'm fascinated by these nuclear power plants and views. Sort of that horror/mechanical, scientific beauty fascination. ..similar to the Norfolk war ships. I remember the first time we sailed past this power plant and how nervous I was...waiting, watching, fearful. The physical, structural shape is so iconic at this point, such clean and clear lines, grounded and solid which sort of defies the danger, the fragility of stability.
something weird about the solar, nuclear energy juxtaposition
As we traveled the C&D Canal I was struck by the beauty - a walking/biking path along the entire 10 mile (?) length, birds singing, spring greening, some houses visible, roads, cars but all a little away from our center on the Canal, mostly. David commented about how all those lives were going on, people eating breakfast, going to work or school, carrying on their regular lives. And we were "just passing through."
Yes. literally passing through. And I expanded that notion, philosophically/spiritually "just passing through" this earthly journey, not just the boat journey.
"Our time on this earth is sacred, and we should celebrate every moment." from the Paulo Coelho book I'm reading The Witch of Portobello.
No "shoulds" but may we all celebrate every moment to the very best of our abilities.
A rainy low pressure day (literally and figuratively, here at the Atlantic City Aquarium/Gardener's Basin dock.
How much can my heart expand with love and gratitude before it explodes like an over-inflated balloon? We'll see, I guess. Love and gratitude continue to grow as years pass.
I appreciate her spiritual presence with me, now more than ever.
David and I slept late this morning, a first in a while and so needed. Amelia has continued to sleep most of the day. I think she was really stressed by our rolling morning at sea yesterday. David and I went to Gilchrist's for breakfast this morning, a short walk down the dock. Bacon! and great hot cakes (aka pan cakes) and an over easy egg for me. An award winning place and it was crowded. At least 4 people served us from host, to "something to drink", to taker of order, to server, to cleaner-upper. Labor union or just specialization to keep the flow flowing? Whatever, it worked for us.
Some emailing, some thinking about ACAF (Arts & Cultural Alliance of Freeport), groceries, left-overs for dinner, brownie cooking for a little heat in Grace. A look at the weather for possible travel tomorrow. Both David and I agreed - we're sick of "looking at the weather," even though earlier at the Aquarium we were applauding how "close to the elements" we are on the boat. Bah! Humbug!! It's damp, chilly and less than delightful today on the boat in these elements. We took the bus to the food store, watched lots of people, experiencing some of Atlantic City. We looked for a show at a casino but nothing tickled our fancy so, again, we didn't experience what AC is known for. It seems to be a town in further decline with pockets of improvement. A number of casinos have closed in recent years. Lots of "eggs in one basket" in terms of economic base. The Basin where we are docked looks like a sweet neighborhood with some commercial boating businesses, maybe oystering, dragging? Discovering public transportation offers opportunities and less isolated here.
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| David contemplating the empty Delaware Bay |
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| light house |
 |
| deck line drying out |
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| Sails up...finally! |
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| Power...sun jewels, plus |
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| Nuclear boom |
I'm fascinated by these nuclear power plants and views. Sort of that horror/mechanical, scientific beauty fascination. ..similar to the Norfolk war ships. I remember the first time we sailed past this power plant and how nervous I was...waiting, watching, fearful. The physical, structural shape is so iconic at this point, such clean and clear lines, grounded and solid which sort of defies the danger, the fragility of stability.
something weird about the solar, nuclear energy juxtaposition
As we traveled the C&D Canal I was struck by the beauty - a walking/biking path along the entire 10 mile (?) length, birds singing, spring greening, some houses visible, roads, cars but all a little away from our center on the Canal, mostly. David commented about how all those lives were going on, people eating breakfast, going to work or school, carrying on their regular lives. And we were "just passing through."
Yes. literally passing through. And I expanded that notion, philosophically/spiritually "just passing through" this earthly journey, not just the boat journey.
"Our time on this earth is sacred, and we should celebrate every moment." from the Paulo Coelho book I'm reading The Witch of Portobello.
No "shoulds" but may we all celebrate every moment to the very best of our abilities.
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| Casino lost in the clouds |
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