So, What IS the difference between adventure and adversity?
14 November 2011 | The Bay Bridge and Sillery Bay
Tim/ Clear, cold and windy
So, What IS the difference between adventure and adversity?
There is a great sailing Magazine that uses that as a tag line. I love that question though and I have used it a lot when out on some of our own adventures.
One might ask, (and reasonably so) why would Monday's BLOG post start with this question. Well, we would have to look back at this week-end to answer that. In fact, we would have to go back to the Oct 17 post titled Sunday sails and sore legs. We were supposed to go to the Bay bridge that week end to catch "the big one"...or one(S). The Captain made the command decision (because that is what captains do of course.) to fish at Ft Carol and to not travel all the way to the bay bridge. The fisher men and women reeled in about 15 fish. But alas, none of them were "the big one".
This last week-end was the make-up trip to the Bay Bridge. Nothing was going to stand in the way of catching "the big one". Ice was purchased, worms were checked, coolers prepared, a plan was made just in case the cooler was too small...for "the big one".
We left the dock around 13:30 Sat under sail with winds from the south west. Boat speed around 6.2 kts. Excitement and anticipation running high. Captain and crew in good spirits. We anchored at sunset in Sillery bay near Dobbins Island with the expectation that Sunday was the day. (This is the adventure part). In fact our on board fishermen and women wetted their lines in preparation. The rest of the crew wetted our lips with a sailors portion. A great dinner, a movie, some more sailors portions...then to bed, anticipating "the big one" in the morning.
Sunday arrives, the fishermen (and women) slept till 0800. Off the hook by 0900 to the bridge to catch "the big one". 2-4 ft waves, 24-30 kts from the south. Rocking and rolling as we go. (This is the adversity part) The fisherman was content to stop at the light house north of the bay bridge. Anchors away in about 35 ft. Anchor dragged. Boat rotated over the chain. Control was regained, anchor stowed, the decision was made by the captain (because that is what captains do of course.) to drift and fish. Rocking and rolling and dumping a very good breakfast complete with juice onto the deck below. But not before the Captain was able to eat (because that is what captains do of course). By this point the fishermen (and women) were starting to not feel so well. The very compassionate Captain made the decision (because that is what captains do of course.) to raise sail and run for home putting the boat on a direct down wind run to minimize roll and allow the crew some recovery time.
A two hour down wind run, to a jibe to port for the two hour reach up the Patapsco, 7+ kts for a good portion of the return. In the slip by 3pm, chicken for dinner.
Then the Raven's game where we asked the question.... What IS the difference between adventure and adversity?
Attitude my friends...It is all about Attitude...Life is short, enjoy the adventures, deal with the adversity and be thankful for good friends. (Because that is what captains do of course).
Tim