December 12, 2011

Monday, December 12, 2011

The aroma of coffee was lingering in the air as I woke up.  It was a beautiful day.  Mark, our neighbor from Toronto, sailing “Aster” rowed over to Casa Mare’ and pumped us for information on the trip ahead.  He is planning to make the same trip only further.  Yesterday he told us he was nervous and Fred even out me at ease as they talked about the crossing.  I told him about my brother Jim’s trip with Jennifer and Linda and he asked for Jim’s website and email address.  I had to confess that this was my first trip sailing there also.  The only thing I could really contribute to the conversation was the wonderful discovery of Ziploc bags that come with a pump to take all the air out of it.  A friend of our told us about them and they are my favorite provision on the boat!  I pumped everything here away...need the exercise anyway!  Later in the day Fred said, lets go to Monument Island.  I grabbed my camera and hopped in.  “You drive”  he said.  “Me???  Drive this thing? “ I said as I glanced at all the boats so close to ours.  Fred made it sound so easy but I have seen people start them in gear and had the wildest time of their life, nearly ramming everything in sight.  Under his instructions, I threw it in neutral, pulled the choke and gave it a bit of gas, hoping not to be like the beginners I had seen in the past.  Pulled the rope and about knocked my jaw out of place.  “Too close”  I thought and backed up a bit.  Again, but just couldn’t pull up the strength to start it.  Just when I was about to give up on one last pull, it started.  I was all over the place, it doesn’t drive like a car with a steering wheel...it goes in the opposite direction you point the stick and with me being dyslexic, I can’t tell you how my head spun.  Faster than the prop for sure.  Within a few yards, I was on a straight course to the Island.  It was the return that was so confusing.  I missed the boat...twice.  The first time I tried to back up since I over calculated my approach and ended up further from the boat so Fred had me turn around and start all over again, coming in at a 45 degree angle.  My problem, I was having a hard time determining where to start the 45 degrees...I was still all over the place.  Finally coming up close to the boat, Fred grabbed the stanchion pole and held us tight, commanding me to put in neutral.  “Yes sir” I thought.  Disembarking took a few times.  First time I fell back into the dinghy but the second time I swallowed my pride and climbed back aboard, knowing I needed more practice.  Fred gave me a proud smile and not another word was spoken about my first dinghy lesson.  I think I need more open waters and a buoy to practice in.  Dinner was Rosemary/garlic chicken on the grill, cucumbers marinated in soy sauce and rice.  Robert Goodreau called and we discussed the trip.  He was hoping we would be coming down to Key West.  What a great guy!  We shared family storied, living in Morocco stories as well as Island stories.  He seems very familiar with the Islands.  He said he may just fly over to see us after we get there.  It would be fun!  Fred beat me at 2 games of Backgammon tonight.  I did manage to get on the internet just long enough to post a few things then I lost connection.  It’s quiet, Fred is reading, I can hear the water lapping against the dinghy as we slowly rock from port to starboard, like being in a cradle.  I have never known such peace.