Fisher just wrote a great post on morning-in-the-life… we were talking tonight about the curse/blessing of marina life. You have to walk these long slip ways to get to and from your boat. You have to use communal showers, laundry and parking lots. It doesn’t take long to know the other marina folk and there in lies the problem/blessing.
It’s virtually impossible to avoid talking to people down here which, on one hand, is wonderful – especially since they’re almost all super interesting people. But, when you’re in a hurry (I know – you shouldn’t ever be in a hurry) or really have to go to the bathroom it feels like running the gauntlet trying to avoid the normally great talks you just sort of run into all over down here.
Take yesterday. I was kind of looking forward to doing nothing and zoning out (I’m ambitious that way) but, I ran into Fisher. It was windy and I think I was literally incapable of not saying “lets go sailing” – because, well, that’s why we do this insane boat lifestyle. Well – he was helping J & C move out of their Lake Union house boat onto their sailboat (yeah – they have it rough). So – of course – I had to help too and 30 minutes later we’re over at the house boat moving stuff.
We got free pizza out of it and I got to prove once again that a 1976 BMW 2002 is the ultimate vehicle – especially for aspiring dinghy sailors… Fisher’s El Toro:
On NOAA rumors of 15-25 Fisher, Suzanne (Cal 30, L-Dock) and I went out on White Cloud (Yankee 30, L-Dock) on Thursday. I don’t think it even hit 15 but, it wasn’t raining (that much), was pretty warm, and was still a great sail. Fisher’s Yankee 30 kicks ass, what a great boat.
Man – this makes a huge difference. If you’re still sleeping on your 20 year old foam mattress pieces that came with your old boat try this. More details over on Westsail28.com
Yes, yes, we’ve had more than a few late night parties where our incoherent babbling was akin the wha-wha-wha of the Shilshole Hamburger Bouy Sea Lion Choir – so I guess we should leave the snarky commentary on noise to the not-so-party-eque live-aboards.
There are a bunch of us down here that have dreams of miserable nights far out to sea. We’ll be going out this winter to see just how miserable we can be (while having a blast practicing reefing, heaving to, storm sails, etc.).
I’d like to also organize a Neah Bay weekend where we’d take one or more boats out to Neah Bay for a week or two so we can get out and experience some serious open ocean “fun”. For example – I’d bring my Westsail 28 out and leave it in Neah Bay. When the shit hits the fan we could drive out and have some fun.
Anyway – if any of this sounds fun – sign up for this Google Group and we’ll keep you in touch (or, if you have a boat, you can keep us in touch).
Fisher, I and Gina were over at the shop space and we met our neighbor Todd Martin of Todd Martin Glass. He’s got a super cool glass working space and some beautiful work. In general the building our shop space is in has some super cool tenants: wooden boat worker, carbon fiber boat working, kung fu dojo, some guy with a crazy kiln, etc. Looking forward to meeting these people.
Jason and Christy on Hello World asked Fisher to look after their boat while they were in Minnesota. We, being about as mature as a 2nd grader had to vandalize their boat. It’s actually part of a long revenge cycle but that’s another story.
A few us went out to the Lock Spot last night. Fun dive bar, really bad food.
Fisher and Jim with his special hat
Jim didn’t bring a date – he brought the very first GPS mapping prototype from some time around the fall of the Roman Empire. I think it was true love though.
Paul, Erin (own a Fuji 32 and are on K-dock) and Fisher (Yankee 30 on L dock) sailed by us (Ben, Gina, Craig, Kelly) yesterday during some of the best wind we’ve had this summer. We got pictures of each other. The pics of the Westsail 28 are over on it’s blog.
