7 July 2017
 |
| The chaos of loading Daphne. |
To see were I am:
Also to read the story that I wrote for Popular Mechanics about flying to Houston last year:
if the link doesn't work, copy and paste:
http://www.popularmechanics.com/flight/a26883/cessna-flight-astronaut-tryout/
I am
now on Day 4, having sailed two days, and done boat projects the other
two. I am trying to get Downeast, but
going faster would sacrifice a certain style.
I’ve spent too many days of my life feeling like I was running around
like a chicken with my head cut off.
While my schedule and tendency to cram things in dictate that I still
must do a bit of this, now that I’ve put to sea, I am slowing down, in that I’m
taking the time to do things in the spirit of preserving a certain style.
I am
currently at anchor is Southwest Harbor, Mount Desert Island, a two day sail
from Rockport Harbor, where Daphne is splashed each year. I got here last night and am seeing friends
not seen in years, later this afternoon.
Finally I have cleaned and waxed the topsides and the top strip of the
hull. This, having thus far being
neglected in favor of getting Daphne in the water, has been weighing on me, as
I do not like to neglect anything on this ship that takes such good care of
me. My other “layover” day was of the
same ilk (at Pulpit Harbor, North Haven), but entailed lots of little projects
needed to get fully ready for three weeks on the coast. Connecting the single side band radio wire,
securing the solar panel wire, checking knots, inventorying the cotter pins,
and various other organizational tasks.
Thanks to all that, the girl is looking sharp!
 |
| Finally in the water and floating! |
The
other day, I marveled at what a different life it is out here on Daphne. I slide right into the routines and the
rhythms and how different it is than my teaching life during the school
year. But I love this little ship more
than I can express. When aboard, it’s as
though I’ve dropped myself into a world that’s ever stimulating. I think it is endless. There is the mechanical diesel engine, the
plumbing of the water tanks, the electrical system, the VHF and HF radios, the
weather systems, the geometry/physics of navigation and sailing, the spiritual
connection to the world around me...It is endless. And so on days where I’m stay put to see
friends or to avoid certain weather, or just to keep up my style, I’m happy as
a clam. There is an urge to explore the
land around me, but there is often a stronger urge to master my craft, the art
of being a sailor. I have my little
spaceship, and for certain, it’s the spaceship and the journey that are the
important things. And what a spaceship
and journey!
 |
| Waterproof VHF radio in my chest pocket, PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) strapped to my shoulder strap. |
40
nautical miles yesterday and my $40/month pre-paid iPhone account won’t give me
data anymore. So I’m without email, but
it still feels like a luxury to be able to make calls and send text
messages. For the weather, I’ll have to
switch on the VHF radio and listen to the computer recording of the weather
broadcast, eventually working its way to the marine forecasts, eventually then
working its way to the section of the coast that I’m on. No more maps that show the radar returns,
I’ll just have to look to where the wind is coming from to gauge my chances of
rain. Heading east and heading back in
time! Eventually my phone might not work
anymore and so I’ll try to make contact with my HF radio.
 |
| In the fog, crossing Bass Harbor Bar. |
I’ve
been aware of Entropy for some reason this trip. Entropy in that chaos is always growing. Daphne is a ship that I care for, and in most
cases, she is not getting younger. A
careless move can cause damage, to her and I, both of which could be disastrous,
never to be the same again. We’re both
breaking down on a slow decline. We can
reduce the geometric slope of the line, but in the long term, we’re both going
down hill. But while that’s happening to
the physical beings, my mind is on the upswing.
Twenty years ago, I remember thinking, I don’t mind getting older
because 20 years from now, I’ll know a lot and have done some interesting
things! And so as the body gets older,
the mind learns new things (and certainly forgets some too, but hopefully I’ll
remember the important things.) What
Daphne and I lose in physical strength and flexibility, we gain in experiences,
memories, skills and capabilities. Ships
are made for the sea, so we must accept all that comes with it.
So
when it gets down to it, I’ll make some notes, listen to the weather forecast,
play a bit on my plastic ukulele and write in my journal. Each day is precious, whether sailing
Downeast at 7 knots (speed record for yesterday) or just doing some
“housekeeping” like the Apollo astronauts would do on their three-day coast to
the moon, I’m having a good time and soaking up every minute.
And
it’s kind of like I have my own space program but I am responsible for every aspect
of it. The mission design, vehicle
maintenance, weather go/no-go officer, provisioner, tester, debriefer,
recorder, chef, navigator, pilot and general astronaut. It makes me wonder how many astronauts have
put to sea by themselves on a small boat…
 |
| Pulpit Rock and a sunset over the Camden Hills from Pulpit Harbor, North Haven. |
