Sleepless Night

The winds from Ernie seemed to have settled down by mid-night last night. But I was still wired from the stress of the storm. At some point I managed to fall asleep, but was awoken at 4 AM to the howls of the wind. The wind didn't just rock the boat gently like a woman cradles her baby and rocks them to sleep. No, the wind kept grabbing hold of the top of the mast and shaking it, vibrating the mast down into the boat and sending those vibrations through the boat. It was a fitful sleep and I wondered if the same thing would happen if not tied to a dock.

Live Free or Die

It came to my mind again today, as I was cleaning the sailboat and smiling at the New Hampshire license plates I have afixed to Alexis Dares' stern rail, which can be seen in some of the photos I have posted...
The state's moto, "Live free or die"
For a state with so little coast line to escape to the sea, it seems to me their moto rings true of a sailor's heart.

What does one do in the rain on a boat?

What does one do in the rain on a boat while the tail end of a tropical storm goes by?
Read, write, "play," play games, nap...
Perhaps clean one's boat !!!!

The "breeze" was kickin', the sky was spittin', in the boat hid the kittens. Up on deck, Jen was a scrubbin'.

I hadn't cleaned the sailboat for quite some time. Earlier in the year, during the winter dry season when the Osprey were constantly leaving "presents," it seemed all I was doing was cleaning the boat. Having the Osprey finally fledge and the mast off the boat for some time, I enjoyed a clean boat. With mast back up, I've had some presents, but it hasn't been too bad yet. No catfish wings or backbones of late.
However, this green algae-like stuff appears to have started growing on the boat, along with some other mildewy type growths. Being from New England this type of growth reminds me of something that should occur on the North side of a tree or rock, or anywhere if you're in Maine ;)
but not Florida, the sunshine state! how can that be?
Well, I guess this stuff likes the Florida rainy season cause it liketh my boat!

For some reason cleaning the sailboat clears my head in some ways and lets thoughts, ideas, and creativity flow in others. At one point, I even thought I felt the spirit of Alexis Dare, the current name of the sailboat, even though I lovingly call her Athena. With the denaming and renaming planned for the fall equinox, September 23rd, just 24 days away, I become a little nervous about changing her name. But, I sense that she just wants to enjoy the last few weeks as Alexis Dare, but knows Athena will take her into the next part of her story. The actual history of a boat can never truly be taken away or changed. Silly for the sailor to develop a denaming ritual that removes all traces of her past. Although most guidance I had found suggested destroying all notation of the boat's name before denaming and renaming, I think I will follow the guidance of my good friend Capt. John, who suggested afixing her old name on her somewhere. I feel that is something I must plan to do.

All cleaned, I stood on Alexis Dare and watched the fading feeder bands of Tropical Storm Ernesto sweep across the sky whispering of the louder center storm.

Sunset Before Storm

The evening before Tropical Storm Ernesto's arrival, the sunset was breathtaking.

Trail Angels on the Trail of Life

As I was writing my last post on friends as great examples of compassion, I was reminded of two other trail angels on the trail of my life. Brian & Beth, very fondly known as B&B.
The night before I was to leave for my trip back "home" to MA, all kinds of karma was flying around me; at the time I thought it was bad. Time then passed and upon reflection I realized the karma was likely good karma in a strange package. The Universe protects us in unexpected ways by means that may not seem to have a positive pull, not to mention my angels know I can be very stubborn and it takes some working to get me to change a set course!!!!
Having returned home from work after a very strong thunderstorm had passed, there was no power to the sailboat, which meant no AC for the cats. During FL summer, it's much too hot for the cats to be left on the boat without AC. As the rain continued, I attempted to get power back to the boat to no avail. Scrambling to finish all tasks to leave for vacation, the time grew too late for me to drive to the east coast, the first leg of my trip home to MA. At 10pm, B&B took me and the cats in. Me for one short night, and the cats for a week. The next morning I drove to the east coast; I saw a number of bad accidents on the roadways. I believe there was reason my angels didn't want me driving that night before. Upon return home after the week in New England, the power was mysteriously returned to the sailboat.


While I was away, the cats did play, and Beth let me know that I could take the cat out of the boat, but I couldn't take the boat out of the cat ! I guess Patty wants to go kayaking ;)




And, as usual, words cannot express how grateful I am for B&B.
They are two very important trail angels on the trail of my life.

Tropical Storm Ernesto Preparation

I learned a buddhist meditation last week that I absolutely love. I see every day how the meditation can be done within one's self, and even how it manifests outside our selves and into our actions.
Simply, the meditation is wishing and breathing away the pain and suffering of others and breathing back compassion and the light of love, all the while destroying one's own ego.

Expect nothing in return for your compassion and no ego is yours.
Friends are amazing examples of compassion.
With the help of my friend Capt. John, Athena was secured in prep for Tropical Storm Ernesto.

I learned about cow hitches (which were promptly renamed tofu hitches, in the name of veganism!), proper tie placement on pilings, proper tensioning of lines, preferred types of lines, etc. etc.
Pulled off the dock a mere 4 feet, it may as well have been 50, because that was just enough to sit fear like lead in my feet from stepping off the boat and onto the dock.

Capt. John, Thank you for the hand.

There is nothing that warms the heart like the light of love from a friend.

Patty Spots take 3

In preparation of Tropical Storm Ernesto, the cats visited my office.

As usual, Patty found places to explore :)

"Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps" - Cake (a great musical band)
perhaps perhaps perhaps, my office will be clean some day...

Evil in the World

My trip to New England reminded me of the hidden unexpected evil that exists in this world too.
This picture may seem innocent. But upon return to this spot, the spirit had left the sea gull's body. My friends and I debated whether or not it was really the same bird lying lifeless at the edge of the tide.
Be weary of those that seem to have the ability to tame others. Their intentions may not be compassion.

But... Life goes on... As these pigeons are well aware !!!!

Did one bird spirit need to be lost for another to be gained?

The main Maine Goal

Visiting New England refreshed in my mind one of my goals...
The Maine Goal.
Sail from Florida to the coast of Maine.
Will I be doing this single handedly...
Only the Universe knows...

New England Home

I took a week off from living on the boat and went back "home" to New England.
My favorite beach for family memories in Salisbury, MA, with New Hampshire not far in the distance.
I love the New England coast.

First Month - August 15, 2006

First month.
I'm loving living on the boat :)
For the past week I've been sleeping in the Vbirth on newly covered cushions.
See fluff napping in back corner :)

Although content with the space I have now. The size of the space changes depending on who I have on the boat... Some personalities make the boat seem too small, others fit right in. I wonder if the difference I feel is somehow connected to how that person feels about the size of the boat, even without expressing it verbally...

7 inch shaft

Is it a new-age link tang or a modified pump shaft from a wastewater treatment plant ??? It's both !!!!
The most creative artistic craftsman, Bill (i.e. crane operator extraordinaire during demasting and Erection parties), came to the rescue when I discovered I needed a connector between the new roller furler-headstay and bow of the boat.
Seven inches between pin eye centers, this solid stainless steel shaft is bound to create shaft envy amoung sailors ;)

Instead of being right on top of the anchor, the new shaft has raised the roller furler drum up above the anchor, giving it more of the cruiser style :) Everything happens for a reason...

With shaft in place, the rigging was tuned and the jib raised :)
A little tug from the wind, a little tug on my heart.
Stainless Steel the wind from my breath... Let's go sailing !!!!!