Even in the fading light of blue hour at the harbor, she still shines bright in my eyes...
... waiting and ready to be taken.
I can't help it, my tongue was wagging: There she was, on the docks, tied up at the slip next to the Cigarette Boat, not a scratch on her, as her Cummings Diesel Engines moaned, warming up, waiting to roar on the ocean. I was finally making my way down the dockside, to officially take possession. AND, to begin my first three months living aboard my 55 foot blue gel-coated Nordhavn Ocean Going Trawler.
My plan was simple, take off and get away from the horrors of mainland US, the rough times I recently experienced in the my industry. Sure, CoronaVirus hit us all, but my world was devastated. All work, gone for about a year. nothing left of our industry. Completely shut down. I can't say I blame anyone... who wants to have large meetings of 1000 or more people from worldwide? It simply wasn't going to happen. no, not these days.
So, my dream of semi-retiring, selling the big house, and moving onto a boat for some long overdue vacation and travel was instead of being put off, I simply accelerated it. Getting away from people actually seemed logical and responsible, these days!
There at the dockside, next to her beautiful lines was the sames manager and boat project manager. Wearing masks, sure... but there to send me off. When you buy a Nordhavn, you are buying a big boat and getting a free family for a perk! They don't just take your money, they stand buy you, for life.
So, here I am, about to be adopted into a family... a boating lifestyle and a way of life.
The sheer excitement as I look at her, Blue Dreams my 55 footer, is palpable. I smile outwardly and shiver inside... excitement, fear, and more... I am embarking on a journey to Alaska, into little nooks and crannies, to explore and to explore, not only the coast, the wilderness, but, also, I suspect, to explore myself... to learn who I am inside. I cannot help but admire the curves and lines of this beautiful brand new girl! She's straining at the dock lines, too, as if to say, she too is excited... to get going, to start our adventure... to boldly go, as well!
Last week, I had come here, and packed all my clothing, and supplies, pots, pans, tools, frozen foods, and non perishables, and more, aboard... Yesterday, I topped her off with fresh food, vegetables, fruits and meat. And a short little run over to the fuel dock and the pump out...
Today, it was all about admiring her... powerful and full, broad curves out front, to handle anything mother nature throws at her. Sleek lines along her sides, to gracefully slip thru the seas. Stout handling and steady in any sea state, she was a marvel of seamanship and engineering. Her designs flowing out of a natural love of Naval Architecture, clearly she represented the best of an ocean going production boat for the personal cruising lifestyle. Ironically, despite many years of boating, virtually all my life, a lifestyle I knew nothing about, other than dreaming and wishing...
And yet, here I was, about to make it my own life, living and working aboard, full time.
This post is an entry into MarianneWest's 5 Minute Freewrite!
I feel I cheated somewhat, as I went well over the 5 Minute... but,
I adhere to the spirit... sit down and write. Let it flow.
Anyone can enter, check out her link and Let your inner creative self WRITE!
Always, I strive to give back
To the animals and birds around me
to put more plants in than I take out
And be a good steward for the world around me!
All Photos by Bluefin Studios unless specified.
