April 17, 2011
Our “go box” grows as we prepare to return to the water world and head north toward a rendezvous with at least a few more forts and museums. We think this time we will be aboard about eight months unless some as yet unnamed storm wrestles Why Knot away.
Why Knot is 965 statute miles from Norfolk (mile marker 0). We have not been farther than Charleston at mile 460. It is a long way back to parts unseen. It will be difficult to sail past Charleston without spending some extended time in that wonderful city. By the time we make Charleston to begin the discovery of new waters, we will have been past the coast of northern Florida, Georgia and most of South Carolina three times. Does that give us “local” knowledge? Or, are there still places of great beauty we have not seen along the way? Ya think? The difference this time, as we retrace some of the ICW, is that we know what is around the bend. That Matanzas Inlet where the guides warn of boat sticking shoals won’t concern us so much. That turn in Jupiter Inlet where the current is a doozie will not surprise us again.
We met folks along the way from Texas but not in large numbers until we sailed to the Bahamas. We are now attempting to keep up with some boats and it is amazing where they are heading. One is staying in the Rio Dulce, one is heading across the Pacific to the Philippines, one to Labrador, one back to England, several to Cuba (Canadians) thence back to Canada (not quite the direct route), one is in the Yucatan area soon to head back to Texas, one in Miami will head back to Texas after a month in Key West, one in Norfolk will head north soon to revisit the Chesapeake, one is working its way around the western coast of Florida to spend time in the Tampa area, another is thinking about sailing to the Med and so it goes. We have no plan other than to mosey up the Atlantic Coast. Given all those boats and all the destinations, is it little wonder that the call of the sea is so wonderful? Life aboard is an amalgam of weather, both good and bad; of friendships grown quickly in an anchorage or a laundry room including goodbyes and hellos; of mechanical breakdowns; of navigation and chart work; of avoiding big things at night at sea; of flies, gnats, horse flies and no-see-ums; of short showers and uncomfortable places to sit; of health issues sometimes made more acute by the environment; of schedules if one chooses to have them; of unbelievable rhythmus of swells, waves and water passing the hull; of wind in the wire; of little birds hitching a ride at sea; and yes, even of some severely beautiful sunrises and sunsets. In short, it is about the opposite of life on land. We are fortunate in the fact that our decision to stay connected to our home in Texas yet spend extended periods of time afloat seems to work for us. We will be back aboard soon and look forward to more of the same.