Lessons Learned: Always check fluids before leaving whether on land or sea. Make a checklist to ensure you don't miss anything in the hustle of departure. Ahh, yes! If you are a boater, INVEST IN TOWBOATUS INSURANCE!
Leaving the place you call home is so hard to do. Many people live and die in the same place they were born. Not me, I left at 19 and returned only once for a brief period. Baby birds find out they can never go home. They are actually kicked out of the nest to seek their fortune or to survive life's experiences.
Some of our friends were on shore wishing us farewell. We were leaving the loving arms of Kemah, Texas on a beautiful Sunday Did I tell you that we left at low tide? Our 42 foot sailboat ran aground in the Portofino channel. We had left many of times at low tide, but this time unfortunately, it was a very low tide.
The anticipation of twenty years of planning, spending enormous amount of money preparing to leave made us want to leave now. Everything we did was all about cruising to distant shores.
In looking to shore now my friends are happily drinking mimosas and laughing. Soon they will forget me and the social circle will continue and grow. As it should be, since life goes on, and the circle of our friends will grow along the way.
Behind the wheel, I heard the engine alarm go off. Now we needed coolant for the engine. I had told my husband to check to see if we needed additional fluids. Thanks to our special friends, Dew and Gary Harvey, for the coolant and Tom Taylor for bringing it over to the boat in a dinghy.
We are still aground, so we put up the whomper (spinnaker) to pull us off. It was working and moving a little, but after 2 hours we called "TowBoatUS". We were finally free with their help.
As we were finally going through the Kemah Boardwalk, our good friends, Dino Miller and Pat Brill, waved us on. It was great seeing their smiling faces just one more time.
I'm so proud of you guys. You are about to experience a wonderful adventure and most people will only dream about. Bob & I wish you safe travels ahead. What an exciting time for you.
ReplyDeleteBig hugs to you both ~ Bonnie & Bob.