One of those wonderful dock encounters: an elderly crew that did it. Did what? They made it around the mud ball. Yesterday late, I noticed a boat tied along the dock way out at about position 1300. There were no other boats near. I noticed the female of the crew crossing the dock with a gallon water jug making trips between the boat and the water faucet. I decided to offer them our water hose as it would take about 140 trips to fill water tanks a gallon at the time. A glass of rotten grapes in hand I strolled way out there to make the offer. As I approached, it was clear the couple has many miles under their keels. Both appeared to be in their late 70's. She, on the small fragile side and he a bit withered but hearty. The boat name was Das Sine Wir, of Holy Island, Ga. I spoke, she answered in a quiet voice barely loud enough to hear. I did not understand her reply as it was in German. Then she replied that they only needed a few gallons to get home and thanked me for the offer. She switched to proper English, which I recognized since Bear taught it for years and I have cat like reflexes in that way. I continued in modified English which she tolerated. The gentleman cautiously joined the banter. They were just returning from the Chesapeake and encouraged us to visit and have plenty of time to enjoy that area. They then told me that their 31 feet Beneteau was a fairly new to them and that they decided to make this their last boat and confine their exploits to the Atlantic coast for the duration. Said they had their adventure back when they were younger. The story they then told was out of the book of legends. One summer many years ago, they climbed on a 32 feet sloop and literally sailed the world. They left Germany and spent the next four years circumnavigating the world. They completed their voyage in Germany then decided to head to the place that impressed them the most, the Atlantic coast of the US. Then they immediately got aboard and crossed the Atlantic landing in Georgia, their new chosen home. They became US citizens late in life then sailed to Mexico, again to the Caribbean and to Central and South America. Now, they plan to spend the final years of their life simply cruising near here. To look at them, one can see the marks left by high seas, broken boat stuff, long, wet, cold nights mid ocean and also the joys of seeing that same stuff at first light. As the saying goes, the idea is not to arrive at the end of life perfectly preserved but totally used up and proclaiming "wow what a ride". I said good bye and headed back to Why Knot. A few steps away, I turned for another look at their boat name and they were gone- mid channel heading south. They have done it all.
Well, boys and girls, it is decision time. Ordinarily, it would be a no-brainer to leave after five weeks in one spot. However; we have some usual and some unusual considerations in the mix. The usual includes where to go next. If we have any type of goal it is to make the Chesapeake before turning around with the crowds and heading to the islands in the fall. Had we not stopped for a total of over two months for stuff beyond our control, we would already be there and beyond. From here, stops get a bit distant for the next hundred miles or so which is at least two plus days underway (more on that later). Then there is weather related geography. Huh, you ask? If one considers the Atlantic coast relative to the normal track of Atlantic storms, Jacksonville, Florida is about as far west as one can get on the Atlantic coast. Going north from there brings one ultimately to Cape Hatteras which sticks way out east toward the normal track of late season storms. We are just over half way out of the notch from Jacksonville to Cape Hatteras. To me, we are effectively increasing the chances of getting in harms way by heading east at this time. That brings us back to the why we cannot simply put the pedal to the metal and whip past Cape Hatteras area. First, Bear has to take it easy for the next 20 weeks or so to protect the healing process underway in her back. That really means no offshore work until around the end of the year. Another reason contributing supporting that decision is that Danielle will be throwing huge waves ashore as early as this weekend (9 footers offshore). Eric will follow close behind and there is a third one leaving West Africa now. The pattern is full and it looks like we are in the active part of the season. At least for the next several days, we might as well settle for weather driven decisions. Even with optimal weather, we cannot do really long days underway at this stage of her recovery. We have not made the decision to stay in Charleston yet but will do so today depending on something- not sure what. After all our credo is No plan, no destination and no schedule. Food, folks and forts are all good here. Coffee at the dock office is free and gourmet. Dang! What to do--- or not.
No comments:
Post a Comment