Week 6: An Impromptu Sail August 9th

With a weekend ending more quickly than I had anticipated, heat and lack of motivation conspired to finish a week without a true adventure. Eliza tries to tempt me with a hike, or a climb. Nothing works and I despaired of losing precious adventure momentum.

An old friend of Elizas' calls up to go on a sail with him and some friends. I dilly dally as what was i to expect? A bunch of people i dont know... making small talk, on a dinky sailboat, in the midafternoon heat of a sweltering August day in Baltimore. I love an adventure, but from my spot on the couch i couldnt see in the making.

Eliza did manage to drag me out.

The view from the tunnel under HarborView

And the 30 foot sailboat we were about to embark on. Looks like more than enough room for 3 people.

Sort of unexpectedly we end up spending the day with Jeff (the boats' owner) and 8 others! 11 people on a 33 foot boat is pretty interesting. Looks like i was right about the dinky bit!

I hope i dont sounds like a snob, but people go sailing for two reasons in my opinion. There are the pleasure cruisers. Out on the water to gab and drink and be merry. And those who delight in piloting an elegant machine with nothing more than the wind to carry you.

Clearly my beliefs are aligned in one camp, however not to say that the other is invalid, just not as aligned with the way i like to enjoy my days. Still I managed to have a great time in both aspects.

Strangely i have never considered the water as i am so drawn to the mountains. But i can see the same purposefulness, and self reliance required by true sailing that I see in the mountains. Going to consider taking some lessons in the neat future

Eliza with clouds on the way out of the harbor.

We pass under the Key bridge and head North for some swimming

Jeff with his "harem"

On the way back after much non-progress with light winds, we go back to motoring as an approaching storm almost catches up with us.

Marissa braves the storm on the way home

A quick pano of the Port of Baltimore on the way back in. Moving boat, and moving water, makes for difficult pano stitching.

Maybe not quite the ragged all out adventure i perhaps i had in mind when i cam up with this idea. But as far as being outside of the norm of my own experience. This one definitely counts.