Sitting here, waiting out the rain in a perfect spot for this weather, anchored in Croton, NY; I suddenly realized that I am home. So strange to have a journey end unexpectedly in the mind instead of the countdown of the ETE Destination on the GPS.
The GPS destination entered in Hampton, VA still lies 70 nm up the river. However, I’m finding that what the old Mainer’s say is true, “If your cat had kittens in the oven…you wouldn’t call ‘em muffins.”
My legal residence and Strider’s homeport are still in Maine but I’m feeling the powerful pull of my cellular memory here on this river. I’m now in love and partnership with a woman who spent her professional life in New York City and grew up just outside but with summers and weekends spent at a family cottage near the head of navigation. Many of my earliest memories are of Manhattan and I spent my first night on the planet outside the hospital less than a mile from Dreameagle’s family cottage.
My summers, as related in an earlier thread, were spent just half a mile from that cottage and the land and cottages I own with my family are still there and the center of my family’s life. When the leaves are off the trees, I can see my father’s study from Dreameagle’s porch. This valley, from the canal to the city, is certainly my homeland and, even though I haven’t sailed it all yet, that would make the Hudson my home waters.
I spent a few days going back and forth between City Island and Port Washington where I met up again with Michael Thurston, mentioned frequently in posts below. I met Drina, namesake of the boat which plans to be going through the Northwest Passage this summer. Drina has already circumnavigated in Drina when she was a pre schooler.
Dreameagle came down for a night so we were reunited right next to the town where she grew up. I ran around the next day into the river and here to Croton. I’ll join her in the city tomorrow and then we’ll return to the boat to move it on up the river Friday.
Saturday or Sunday, Strider will arrive at her new summer slip in Catskill and essentially be laid up except of an occasional daysail while we enjoy life at the lake. These posts will then stop for a while until we leave for a cruise to Maine and back August first.
The GPS destination entered in Hampton, VA still lies 70 nm up the river. However, I’m finding that what the old Mainer’s say is true, “If your cat had kittens in the oven…you wouldn’t call ‘em muffins.”
My legal residence and Strider’s homeport are still in Maine but I’m feeling the powerful pull of my cellular memory here on this river. I’m now in love and partnership with a woman who spent her professional life in New York City and grew up just outside but with summers and weekends spent at a family cottage near the head of navigation. Many of my earliest memories are of Manhattan and I spent my first night on the planet outside the hospital less than a mile from Dreameagle’s family cottage.
My summers, as related in an earlier thread, were spent just half a mile from that cottage and the land and cottages I own with my family are still there and the center of my family’s life. When the leaves are off the trees, I can see my father’s study from Dreameagle’s porch. This valley, from the canal to the city, is certainly my homeland and, even though I haven’t sailed it all yet, that would make the Hudson my home waters.
I spent a few days going back and forth between City Island and Port Washington where I met up again with Michael Thurston, mentioned frequently in posts below. I met Drina, namesake of the boat which plans to be going through the Northwest Passage this summer. Drina has already circumnavigated in Drina when she was a pre schooler.
Dreameagle came down for a night so we were reunited right next to the town where she grew up. I ran around the next day into the river and here to Croton. I’ll join her in the city tomorrow and then we’ll return to the boat to move it on up the river Friday.
Saturday or Sunday, Strider will arrive at her new summer slip in Catskill and essentially be laid up except of an occasional daysail while we enjoy life at the lake. These posts will then stop for a while until we leave for a cruise to Maine and back August first.