It's in the teens here in Mystic, and it's hard to believe that Sue and I went sailing just a few weeks ago.
At this time last year I was getting ready to fly back to Charleston to continue the voyage down along the intercoastal. Once down there I'd have to make a speedy exit from the boatyard considering I really wasn't supposed to be there in the first place.
My whole time down there was because I horse traded with a canvas shop located at the yard.
The deal with the shop owner was I would teach the people at the shop how to build a proper dodger, and in return I could keep wandering star in the slip that came with the shops rent. The boatyard was told by the owner of the shop that I was having work done by them, and therefore had to be in the slip. The boatyard caught on that I wasn't one of there customers and I was soon persona non grata.
They didn't throw me out being January but still, when it was time to go no time like the present!
Arriving at the yard on a Sunday was perfect, I spent the day preparing Star for the Great Escape. Before I left for the northern tundra I somehow had hoisted and secured the hard dinghy (9', 200lbs) on to the foredeck. Now I had to figure out how to reverse the process(and not rip the lifelines out of the deck. Thank goodness for winches, and lots of line. Once splashed, the sails where next, and so on.
By the time I was finished it was12:00am and I was a tired little puppy. But everything was ready down to the exact dock lines that would have to be let go and in what order. I even turned the boat around and had it facing down river. Ha they'll never catch me. Actually in most likelihood they won't even know I've left!
The goal was to get up and off the dock early before any of the yard guys showed up. The last thing I needed was a yard bill for a months dockage, even though.....
The engine started right up, I threw off the lines and headed down the river in the growing light of the dawn.
With nothing but freedom and time I was on my way.
