Most days, just as the sun is setting, Deb and I take a “Dock Walk”. Yesterday we extended the walk to include the waterfront bit of Oriental. There we spotted a gaggle of trawlers all sporting Looper flags. At one extreme was a smallish Ranger Tug, maybe 23' or so. The other extreme was a DeFever 49+ footer that was on the “if we win the lottery” list. In between were four or five other trawlers more like First Light. Most likely they are all on their way north, perhaps even traveling together as one of the impromptu little tribes that are so common among long distance boaters. We have seen other boats flying Looper Flags on the face dock, joined by those who are part of the normal sail & power migration north for the hurricane season. They stay a night or two, perhaps waiting out a bit of a blow, then depart with the rising sun. Some mornings before I start my tasks for the day I sit in the flybridge sipping coffee and watch them go.
As I do I can't help but feel a bit of travel envy. We are, at best, a couple of weeks away from joining in. Pretty involved systems repairs are underway.We have a diver scheduled for zinc replacement and bottom cleaning. There are glitches with the electrical system not yet understood that will likely require some kind of repair. And though this will not delay us much, the boat is its normal work area disaster. Chemicals and tools, odd-ball bits and parts, are scattered throughout the living space. The aft deck is a work shop...as usual. One usually has to clear the ladder of tools and parts before climbing up to the fly bridge. It is all very boat-yard-ish, just in the water instead of on the hard. Being in the water makes it feel like success is in the wind. But being securely fastened to the dock is like being in the doldrums, waiting for the wind to blow. The last time we came this way I spent more time as a boat mechanic than I did a sailor. That is not a path I want to tread again. But we are committed so accepting whatever happens and doing our best is the only option. And it is always good to remember this: about 8.5 billion people share this planet with me. It is a fair bet that billions of them would change places in a heartbeat. If, in fact, they could even imagine a life as good as mine being a possibility.
The sun is near setting. Time to wander the docks once again and be thankful for another day on the water.
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