Where's The Winch?
by Steve West on June 27, 2011
We took the girls sailing today. Unlike last year, Olivia did not throw a winch handle overboard because of our diligence in preventing it. The sailing is still free because of the heart of the owner who offers this once a month during the summer. There is still a fee to enter the state park which has increased from 5 bucks per car to 5 bucks per person. The four of us got in for 15 bucks so that started a debate as to which one of us was not considered a person. I lost.
As I implied, the first thing Brenda and I did after boarding was locate all loose equipment and keep Olivia far from it. Funnily enough, Olivia did not have to throw anything overboard as it happened without her participation. About a hundred yards into our trip, I noticed the skipper at the tiller struggling with the outboard (you have to use the engine to move away from the pier before you actually sail with the wind). I scooted down to that end of the boat to see if I could lend a novice hand. He very calmly asked me to hold the tiller straight while he hoisted the engine back onto the boat. He was holding onto it to prevent it from sinking into the Chesapeake as it had come free of its lashing. So I'm steering the boat as he's struggling next to me to bolt it back into place. There's only one other official crew member but he was busy hoisting sails and other piratey stuff. So I'm humming the tune to "Popeye, the Sailor Man" like the crazy guy from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest while the skipper continued to struggle with the engine. He got one of the bolts in place (there are two) and decided that that was sufficient for seaworthiness. Whatever you say, Cap'n.
The rest of the trip was mercifully uneventful in a good way. Warm temperature, cool breeze, picturesque view, and the engine stayed bolted throughout the rest of the trip. Olivia and Lauren adored it and I amused myself by pointing at the water routinely and telling Lauren what wonders I was observing (Nemo, squids, Spongebob, Aquaman, etc.). The captain apologized for the drama, but it made for an interesting part of the journey and none of us had to swim back. I did have to promise Lauren a boat for Christmas. She'll forget by then. I think.
Two Replies to Where's The Winch?
Steve West | June 27, 2011
Different for both. They have a small fleet and the captains and mates seem to be volunteers who rotate. Oh, and the last sailing trip was at the end of the boating season in October, 2010.
Web Junkie
Steve West scours the Web searching for interest or absurdity and then shakes his head ruefully when he finds it. Read more »
Christmas Post #10: SNL Parody Inspires Product
I don't know if the SNL commercial parody for a product called "Ass Don't Smell" inspired the inventors of this product but the connection in my mind cracks me up. Meeting all of your body odor needs. I couldn't find the original sketch but here's a parody of the parody, I think. Go »Not All Heroes Wear Capes
At 11:00 a.m., Brenda called me from the school where she works and told me that she had fallen and was unable to drive home. She needed me to 1) find a second driver for her car, 2) come get her and take her to urgent care and 3) make sure that Olivia is taken care of when she arrives home in an hour. Go »Dear Miriam...
Oh, thank you Miriam, that's great advice. BTW this letter is indeed a spoof of the "Dear Miriam" column in The Daily Mirror that appeared in the satirical publication Viz. Pretty damn funny, though. Go »This Was No Boat Accident
Vacation Tip #2: Maybe you're into sharks, pun intended. I, myself, am not. For the longest time this has been my greatest fear; being eaten alive by a wild animal. Go »It's Saturday And You Know What That Means...
Shopping Day. I went grocery shopping earlier today because I had the afternoon free and I prefer to get it done when I have the chance as opposed to shopping at night because that's the only time available after a full day's activity. Added bonus: no UOAS. Go »
Scott Hardie | June 27, 2011
Has it been a year? Time does fly by.
It sounds like a good day out. Was this the same boat and same captain as last year?