Three years ago today, I was just eleven days into the rest of my life. I told people at the time that I intended to cruise in Strider ”until I have to be carried off the boat”. Part of me knew that wasn’t likely but it created the mental space for an experience very different than a cruise with a planned end date. If you have a lot of time, you can read the story of my two and a half years living aboard and my voyage home here:
http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/forumdisplay.php?f=142
I learned much on the thousands of mostly solitary miles between Halifax, NS and Coco, FL. A great deal of that would be along the lines of my quip Cruising is just life and life is cruising. We tend to believe that choosing the right path will make us happy and forget that a path is just the route along which we seek and find joy. I have seen the alcohol glazed look in many cruiser’s eyes which shows the disappointment of learning that life afloat is just another road and happiness comes from what you do along the way.
Almost a year ago, I met a woman with whom I have a connection of the rarest quality. My experience of life with her has shown me that cruising is not at all essential to my happiness. I have also come to know that I would like more contact with people and community than I can find on the cruising road. So, my days of full time cruising are over, a decade or move before I expected when setting out. Another quip: The essence of cruising is being able to change your mind.
However, learning how unessential cruising is to my happiness just creates mental freedom. There is no reason to give it up although I know that I want to do less so as to create space for a greater variety of experiences.
I have a seaworthy and proven craft with the skill and experience to take her far with a minimum of fuss and anxiety. I have a love and companion who wants to see the coast of Maine under sail. So, why not run the 1600 nm from Catskill, NY around through the Cape Cod Canal to Canada and back?
Strider is scheduled to depart Saturday on the next phase of her adventures which will be more the way most people cruise, out and back and and not as a wandering liveaboard. Still, it will be the magic month of September in Maine and I am confident of even fuller and richer experiences.
Our present vision of the upcoming jaunt is as follows:
Board on Saturday or Sunday depending on weather and move out to anchor for the night.
Dinner with forumite RonRelyea in New Hamburg the next night.
Anchor the next day at Croton-on-Hudson.
The always thrilling rounding of New York City, anchoring at City Island or Port Washington depending on weather and mood.
Arrive Milford, CT Wednesday or Thursday evening.
We will then provision boat for the long haul to Maine with the aid of Dreameagle’s brother and family after which I resume singlehanding for a delivery style passage to Casco Bay. I wouldn’t mind having some crew for this leg but all the usual suspect seem to be off on other boats.
A ten day art class for Dreameagle and time with my boys for me will keep us in Casco Bay until August 25 when we will head downeast as fast as we can go via the scenic route. Our goal is to get to Saint Andrews, NB before turning back. We will then return at a more leisurely pace, exploring and visiting along the way.
We intend to be back in the Hudson for sailing here during foliage season and expect to haul the boat for the winter. However, continuing on down to Georgia is not out of the question because, who knows what our state of mind will be by then?
Check back here to see how this all unfolds.
http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/forumdisplay.php?f=142
I learned much on the thousands of mostly solitary miles between Halifax, NS and Coco, FL. A great deal of that would be along the lines of my quip Cruising is just life and life is cruising. We tend to believe that choosing the right path will make us happy and forget that a path is just the route along which we seek and find joy. I have seen the alcohol glazed look in many cruiser’s eyes which shows the disappointment of learning that life afloat is just another road and happiness comes from what you do along the way.
Almost a year ago, I met a woman with whom I have a connection of the rarest quality. My experience of life with her has shown me that cruising is not at all essential to my happiness. I have also come to know that I would like more contact with people and community than I can find on the cruising road. So, my days of full time cruising are over, a decade or move before I expected when setting out. Another quip: The essence of cruising is being able to change your mind.
However, learning how unessential cruising is to my happiness just creates mental freedom. There is no reason to give it up although I know that I want to do less so as to create space for a greater variety of experiences.
I have a seaworthy and proven craft with the skill and experience to take her far with a minimum of fuss and anxiety. I have a love and companion who wants to see the coast of Maine under sail. So, why not run the 1600 nm from Catskill, NY around through the Cape Cod Canal to Canada and back?
Strider is scheduled to depart Saturday on the next phase of her adventures which will be more the way most people cruise, out and back and and not as a wandering liveaboard. Still, it will be the magic month of September in Maine and I am confident of even fuller and richer experiences.
Our present vision of the upcoming jaunt is as follows:
Board on Saturday or Sunday depending on weather and move out to anchor for the night.
Dinner with forumite RonRelyea in New Hamburg the next night.
Anchor the next day at Croton-on-Hudson.
The always thrilling rounding of New York City, anchoring at City Island or Port Washington depending on weather and mood.
Arrive Milford, CT Wednesday or Thursday evening.
We will then provision boat for the long haul to Maine with the aid of Dreameagle’s brother and family after which I resume singlehanding for a delivery style passage to Casco Bay. I wouldn’t mind having some crew for this leg but all the usual suspect seem to be off on other boats.
A ten day art class for Dreameagle and time with my boys for me will keep us in Casco Bay until August 25 when we will head downeast as fast as we can go via the scenic route. Our goal is to get to Saint Andrews, NB before turning back. We will then return at a more leisurely pace, exploring and visiting along the way.
We intend to be back in the Hudson for sailing here during foliage season and expect to haul the boat for the winter. However, continuing on down to Georgia is not out of the question because, who knows what our state of mind will be by then?
Check back here to see how this all unfolds.