A FALL MORNING
October 4, 2011
I am an early riser unlike Bear who has perfected REM sleeping after sunrise. That means the day starts in silence with the early rays of the sunlight of the new day. This morning in the Hill Country I got a glimpse of the kind of morning that is so enjoyable in the boat, specifically in the Low Country of the Carolinas. We would have slept with the hatches open at anchor in some anchorage along the endless miles of ancient rivers in that area. The temperatures are starting to moderate and that means fewer insects. The open boat means that the night was without the noise of the a/c so sleep was uninterrupted. The first rays of sunlight have made it possible to see the savannah like marsh grasses and the critters starting to stir. The best time is just before the sun is visible and the wisps of fog are hugging the top of the grass. It is 0600 and this place is ours. There are no other boats nearby. The welcome sound of Bear’s deep sleep and the last gurgle of the coffee pot signal the start of the show. The short trip up the companionway steps, being careful not to spill the coffee is rewarded with the view grander than any IMAX picture. There is heavy dew on the cockpit cushions and one cannot see through the dodger. That’s ok since the old cockpit towel will make a dry spot in which to sit. The little flurry of waking up gives way to the moment when you settle into the cushion and a gaze into the sunlight still coming through the trees. The dolphin are working the shoreline a few yards away. Every once in a while a few of them will swim close by to look at the human sitting there. The air is thick but wonderful. The feeling is comfort in pure form. The day’s questions are forming as they did yesterday and the day before. What will Bear want for breakfast? What is the destination for today? When do we weigh anchor? Or---- do we just stay here another night or two?
It is hard to describe the first light wake up in a remote anchorage. It suffices that most are awesome and that one is glad and lucky to experience such. There are darn few that chose meet the day aboard. That is equally true of those that camp or RV. An early morning in a new place is, to us, one of the great rewards for the effort. The absolute reward for me is to hear stirring below and to hear the first words of Bear. It is then that the morning is perfect.