yesterday and today

I had a debate with myself Saturday evening.  Should I sail Sunday, with clear blue skies and light winds, or Monday with cooler temperatures, grey skies and stronger wind.  I chose Sunday.   

I am feeling more comfortable with the new sails.  And just as importantly I'm feeling good about rigging the boat.  Each spring I relearn how to set the masts, run the lines and tie the robands.  It has taken me a little longer this year as the new sails call for some adjustment in the routine.  But yesterday everything went smoothly.

On the river with blue skies I listened to the fading cry of a lone seagull and thought to myself that was the sound of joy.  Joy was much on my mind having just read Webb Chiles latest journal entry about water and joy.  Thank you Webb for the very fine piece of writing.

After sailing much of the morning I dropped the main off of Freemason Harbor, once a commercial harbor and now lined by condos, to sail in under mizzen and jib.  I rounded up into the north wind and Spartina just kissed the seawall as if we knew what we were doing.  It feels good to be sailing again.

After a quick run for a deli sandwich I headed back out on the Elizabeth for a nice afternoon of light but steady breezes.  Yes, it does feel good to be sailing again.

To round out the day were pasta neck clams from my shellfish guy Uncle Chuck.  These are smaller than the little necks I usually get.  Tender and sweet, they were good, though I'm not yet convinced they are better than the little necks.

 Today I spread Spartina's boom tent out in the garage and re-taped the bolt rope that runs through the peak of the tent.  The tent is now five or six years old and the original tape had split or cracked.  This was easy enough to repair and the tent is now ready for the spring sail.

Snacks throughout the day were raw Watch House Point oysters from Chincoteague Inlet, also from Uncle Chuck.  Smaller than most other oysters (and less expense at .70 cents each), they tasted of the ocean.  An appropriate snack, I thought, as I prepared to sail out of Chincoteague Inlet in a few weeks.

The photograph of me taping the boom tent was taken with the Pentax Optio W90 camera in the interval shooting mode.  Powering the camera were new batteries from Amazon, supposedly a longer lasting battery for the camera.  At $12 each I purchased three.  Testing on video mode showed they powered the camera for at least three and maybe four times as long as the old batteries.  Pretty good, I thought.  I went back to Amazon to order a few more only to be told by big red letters that there was a "quantity limit"on certain batteries.

I emailed Bruce to conspire for a purchase of a few more via his California address.  For the record, the batteries will be used for taking photographs.

steve