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Off Topic- Shake down cruise a blast

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Posted 6/12/2011 3:38 PM (GMT -5)
After a month of prepping my new sailboat, my youngest son and I took her out today for the first time.  We were on the wide part of Lake Keowee here in western SC.  I was so glad to have a 6' tall strong son as my first mate.  The boat was flawless, the new outboard  (we were breaking it in carefully) was more than enough power.  It was 86 when we left the house and 94 when I got home, by then was totally overcome by the heat and fatigue and back pain.  But it was a blast on the water, we covered about 5 mile  (not a drop of wind) by motor, explored one island by driving right up to it  (boat can float in 5" of water with the centerboard up).  Little difficult loading the boat back on the trailer, as the county park was jammed to the max.

The best part of the trip:  not once did I think about PC or my current trial.  When I got home, was at pain level 8 and dehydrated, but took my meds and resting now.  I think this will be much more enjoyable when the temps aren't so vicious.

My son Caleb is my official first mate, he was great.  Though my wife thinks I am the Skipper and Caleb is Gilligan.

A distraction like this is good for our cancer journeys.

David in SC

Skipper of the Pocket Cruiser "Octavia"

Posted 6/12/2011 4:21 PM (GMT -5)
sounds really good. I'm sure it meant a lot to your son.
Posted 6/12/2011 4:27 PM (GMT -5)
Lovely to hear, keep them stories coming. How about doing it all again, next week end, I'm sure your son will love it too.
Posted 6/12/2011 4:39 PM (GMT -5)
davidg- are you now settled in italy? kind of lost track of your time frame.

nothard - it was a great first trip, boat was all that i was hoping for, and my son's strength came in handy for putting up the mast, not all that heavy - 50 lbs, but 20 feet is a lot to upright and keep straight while i attach the stays. i think i will enjoy it more in the fall and spring, south carolina summers are wicket hot and humid, like today. hour after we got home, was in the midst of the 5th afternoon thunderstorm in a row, so my timing was good. we motored the entire time on less than a liter of gas, so it made for a cheap outing.
Posted 6/12/2011 4:51 PM (GMT -5)
David, I know of no better therapy than sailing. I was a liveaboard in Florida for ten years and my 84 year old(14 yr. PCa surviving) father still singlehands his Flicka that I occassionally get to enjoy with him. IMHO there is nothing greater than leaving one's problems on shore, venturing out on the water, enjoying a day of sailing together, father and son. It warms the heart to recall such wonderful memories. Thanks for sharing and so glad you enjoyed the day together.
-Bob
Posted 6/12/2011 4:53 PM (GMT -5)
we just got back from apt shopping there. Getting an apt in Rome is brutal. But we finally did find one exactly where were dream of being. Nowhere near as efficient a process as it is here, we actually gave up twice but decided to keep chugging along. My wife has her appointment at the consulate tomorrow to get her one year permit. That is the last hurdle and I am quite nervous about it. My kids and I have Italian passports so we're fine. I will follow the advice you gave and have my next PSA there. We already have tickets for our return July 13. Unfortunately my wife needed a ticket to apply for visa so if they don't grant her one we're stuck with 4 tickets to Rome.

I see my trip to Italy in the same light as your day on the boat with your son btw. We decide what we do regardless of our disease.

Thanks for asking.

I was in Wild Dunes once for a few weeks and it was so hot the swimming pool was like a bowl of broth. Even the ocean was warm. I was really hot. Loved Charleston, had great meals there. One place in particular called Jestine's (Justine's???) which had the most amazing pies.
Posted 6/12/2011 6:55 PM (GMT -5)
So Capt'n Dave and the first mate are out there sailing. Sounds fabulous David, I am envious. And just to top off your day:



A sailor appears before St. Peter at the pearly gates. "Have you ever done anything of particular merit?" St. Peter asks.
"Well, I can think of one thing," the sailor offers. "I was out sailing and came upon a gang of macho mean looking pirates who were threatening a young woman. I directed them to leave her alone, but they wouldn't listen. So I approached the largest, meanest, nastiest one. I smacked him on the head, knocked the parrot off his shoulder, ripped out his ear ring and threw it on the ground and told him, 'Leave her alone now or you'll answer to me.'"
St. Peter was impressed. "When did this happen?" The man replies, "Just a couple of minutes ago..."

Boom! Boom!
Bill
Posted 6/12/2011 6:59 PM (GMT -5)
Lol, that was a great joke, Billy, I even got it. Yeah, it was a great shakedown cruise, with the exception of this blasted heat.
Posted 6/12/2011 7:14 PM (GMT -5)
David, sounds like a wonderful day --- especially the part about having a motor. I've never been too keen on this whole sailing thing. The joy for sailers seems directly proportional to the tilt of the boat, whereas my nautical delights hold that when floating and moving on water the pleasure is inversely proportional to the tilt of the craft.

However, I am delighted to see photos of others skipping along at sanity defying angles, or even just putting along on windless days.

I do hope somewhere we can access you'll post pictures of this great event.

As the link between sailing and rum has long historical connections (Ho, ho, ho and a bottle of .... etc.) I shall now pour myself a stiff rum and coke in your honor.

Sheldon AKA Sleepless
Posted 6/12/2011 9:14 PM (GMT -5)
sheldon,

since i am a non-drinker, i will allot you my share of grog. have it on me.

its no fun to be several miles away from a boat landing, and have no wind, or if you need to get out of harms way, i have owned 5 sailboats, and all have had good motors. but nothing beats the thrill of being under sail, the silence, the lack of pollution, the control of the boat. if i had a straight motor boat, i would be bored in minutes, just like driving a car on water. sailing is a skill and an acquired taste for sure. i was the only visible sailboat on the lake today, kept getting buzzed by jetskis, ski boats, and what is popular here, pontoon boats - which to me, look like motorized docks. each to their own of course.

david
Posted 6/12/2011 9:21 PM (GMT -5)
I'm glad you had a good day Dave. Make time for more of those.
Posted 6/12/2011 9:30 PM (GMT -5)
planning on it ziggy, as much as my current health will allow. been sailing since an early age, and have dearly missed it the past 4-5 years. in my world, this was a big adventure for me. wont be the last. planning on a 3-day weekend rv trip next weekend, and possibly taking the boat as well and renting a dock for the time. i purposely chose a boat light enough to be pulled by my ford fusion. the wife's truck does the heavy work with the travel trailer.

with my new oncologist on the job, one of his first goals he said, was to get better control of my chronic pain and fatigue, better my qol issues, while working on a new approach dealing with my advancing cancer. i think that is a good plan. he wants to make sure that i can still enjoy many of the things that i love doing.

david
Posted 6/12/2011 9:33 PM (GMT -5)
David, I am so happy that you and Caleb were able to do the maiden voyage. Super bonus a break for the PCa stuff. :) Sounds like a win win to me. Glad you had a good day.

Cajun Jeff
Posted 6/12/2011 9:41 PM (GMT -5)
it was a good day, jeff, a welcome break in my normal dreary life. if you come back this way one day, take you and your wife for a cruise, we do have beautiful mountain lakes here, this place was 20 miles from the house. hope you all are doing alright, dont hear much from you any more. we are all out of your cajun foods, hint.

david
Posted 6/13/2011 5:23 PM (GMT -5)
smilewinkgrin  David, I'm very happy that you had a geat day on the water, and I wish you many, many more years of sailing away!

As Christopher Cross sings:

Sailing

Takes me away

To where I've always heard it could be

Just a dream and the wind to carry me

and soon I will be free!

Beachbum

Posted 6/13/2011 5:43 PM (GMT -5)
thank you, beachbum. best to you as well.
Posted 6/14/2011 12:27 AM (GMT -5)
Hey Dave, glad you had a good day, I myself in younger days had a twin hulled cat called a fireball, which I raced every weekend that I could, close to the wind it was really fast, leaning out on one hull nearly out of the water, I will never forget the thrill, sometimes I look back and wonder how I did it...lol now that I am nearly 71 I am only good for quieter things, like lawn bowls, (which can get a bit heated sometimes)

Nothing like a bit of Father-Son time, hope also you work out things with your new Doc, might be going down the same track soon myself.

All the best, Mal. :-)
Posted 6/14/2011 6:39 AM (GMT -5)
Glad you had a great day and was able to take your mind off of pc for the day. It sounds like you live in a very nice area.
Posted 6/14/2011 7:50 AM (GMT -5)
Mal, I actually remember the Fireballs. I am not into Cats myself, too physical, lol. Prefer the clean lines of a sloop or ketch

Things going well with my new doctor, looking forward to my next visit, a week from today. My best to you.

Thanks Rob, it was great. In the part of the state, its all hills, mountains, beautiful lakes, and some nice trout streams and rapids, but not at all a touristy place.

david
Posted 6/14/2011 9:52 AM (GMT -5)
Wow, what a great time for you and your son David. I have been on a sail boat once and it was like your shakedown. No wind, just motor. I was going thru another stressfull issue at the time and it was the greatest therapy for me. So now I think I should find another sail ride this summer. Only 5" draw, thats amazing!
Posted 6/14/2011 10:35 AM (GMT -5)
David

So glad that you were able to enjoy the day

Ray

Posted 6/14/2011 12:31 PM (GMT -5)
Thank you Ray and Star, hope its the start of some more good times this boating season.
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