Well – its about time I wrote something in this bog. When I retired about 12 weeks ago, I decided not to write anything until I finally got the boat underway. A fellow who I inadvertently insulted in one of my post suggested that I did not really have any competency to speak about sailboats and cruising, because I had not yet left the dock. Although we have sailed over 3,800 hundred miles around the northwest during our weekends and vacations, and 2,500 offshore miles beteen Easter Island and Chile – he was right – we had not left the dock. I liked this fellow, even though he was sort of uppity and full of himself, and we had a number of good conversations about outfitting and sailing before I made him mad. Well, now I have left the dock – we have made it to Canada – so – I guess my competency extends that far.
I had read many account by cruising pundits about how hectic it would be to finally get underway. Its true. I never thought it would extend to us – meticulous planners that we are, but it was crazy getting out of Seattle. The packing, storage, getting things in the storage pod in Kent and out of Larry’s basement, cleaning out the dock box, and the buying of supplies while we had a vehicle and knew where all of the supplier were, was truly insane. We were driving around Market street throwing thousands of dollars out of the truck. A new course computer – why – because I read so many posts about the need for a gyro sensor on the auto pilot to control the downwind course. Engine spares for the outboard ($500), a tension gauge to tune the rig, a collision mat, ditch bag components, and hundreds of the small parts needed to maintain the boat – it was truly amazing.
So – all of those pundants were right. Maybe you can believe some of the stuff you read. The chapters in Beth Leonard’s book on getting away were right on the money – though a bit out of date.
We left the truck with Larry – we did not really need the hassle of selling it, and we might use it later on when we return in late July for a haul out. Larry made us a wonderful duck dinner (OH- my favorite). Ann and Eric made us another great meal of lamb, and Jim took us out for all of the Sushi we could eat. A wonderfully send off by our very closest friends – we will miss all of them.
So now we are in Sidney. I started working on getting us here last August. When I first called about temporary moorage for February and March, they said call back in December. When I called in December, they did not return the call. When I tried again in early January, they said yes – a slip just came open for those two months. So here we are.
Its truly amazing to finally be getting underway. We started really sailing in 1998. Bought our second sailboat (Gallant Fox) in 2001. We sold the house in 2003, and moved aboard in April, 2003, almost four years ago. I retired after 22 years in late 2006, and Marianne quit in December after 6 or so jobs in 22 years. All of our stuff fits into a plywood pod that is 5x7x8. We have no debts, and a $1600 income from the US gov. (plus health benefits) for the rest of our lives, and own our boat. Let me tell you, its been a long 25 years getting here. We have no car, house, or land based worries. We can sail anywhere we want to go, only limited by the seasons – its a great feeling.
A fond reminder of Shilshoe Marina – where we spent four happy years……
This is ODIN – the drilling barge that has lived next to us at Shilshoe for the last 4 weeks – ODIN is big, loud,impressive, and makes a lot of noise. We paid lots of money to live next to ODIN while he was drilling a new pier – he will not soon be forgotten.
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