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Wow. Writing that title is pretty surreal. From Chicago to New Jersey, down the ICW and across to the Bahamas. I think Ben and I both thought we might have traveled a greater distance by this point, but even so, we are very grateful that we made it this far. Mason has become an official "boat dog" within the last week, doing his business on the bow regularly, without requiring a special trip to shore. There were several events along the way that made us discouraged and question whether we could even make it to the Bahamas. But, here we are and happier than ever! We definitely have our sea legs at this point. We are particularly excited to introduce our first YouTube episode! Learning video editing software was pretty daunting in and of itself, not to mention the creative differences and "vision" we were each trying to achieve. At the end of the day, it was just time (perfect video or not) to share our trip with you. We're both more energized to finally crack out a few more and maybe even catch up to our current spot. We would so appreciate you taking a look!
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Loose Seal set forth from Baldhead Island, NC a little after sunrise on Wednesday, November 29. Baldhead Island had been adorable--from what I could tell on my short walk to the Dockmaster's Office the day before--but I didn't get to take an extended visit to its quirky lighthouse. I was slaving away hand sewing a patch on the leech side of our mainsail. Ben's caveman strength had managed to tear the sail as he was lowering it the night before. Luckily, we got some beautiful shots as we exited the marina. Our friends, Scott and Karen, at the helm of Mariquita, were leading the way out of the channel. We were pumped and prepared to take our second(!) overnight sail alongside their beautiful Endeavour 40 (see last photo above). We had a gorgeous, sunny trip to Charleston, but unfortunately had to motorsail for most of it. No complaints except for the constant assault on one's ears. I take that back, we did sail for a small stretch but were only catching about 3 knots at most. I encouraged Ben to take out the drone for its inaugural flight around Loose Seal and Mariquita. It was also the first time we could bask in our bathing suits with the Autohelm in control. We took the opportunity to pose a truly cheesy photo for our boat card. Also on this trip, I decided to get more creative in the kitchen and undertook more challenging meals than granola bars and sandwiches. Challenging, for me, basically means anything that is hot and requires more than two steps. Those who know me at all know that I am no powerhouse in the kitchen. Ben is usually more willing to whip something up out of desperate hunger while I'm sitting pretty with cereal. If anything, this trip is forcing me to be a little more adventurous and creative with the combination of a tiny oven and no refrigeration, save our icebox. It also doesn't hurt that Karen, on Mariquita, is a whiz in the galley who balks at very little. She's taught me a ton and has lit a fire under my butt to get me braving the galley more often. Okay, okay on with it. So we continue to motorsail to a beautiful sunset. That's gotta be the most incredible part of all of this so far: sunrises and sunsets. (That, and dolphins.) Granted, I'm not always awake for the sunrises but I'm getting better. Just to have that unlimited horizon available to you, all the time? Well, I guess you coasties and lake dwellers know what I'm talking about. It totally wows me every time. I kept watch this time until 2 a.m. or so and then Ben took over. When we arrived to Charleston's harbor, we needed to decide between a few less-than-desirable anchorages. (For you non-mariners out there, an anchorage is a more protected spot where you can drop your boat's anchor for free versus a marina where you would have to pay, but could shower and poo in a real toilet for example.) The anchorages closer to downtown had comments on Active Captain (think Yelp, TripAdvisor, and Google Maps for boats) about anchors fouling on sunken debris. Coming in, we saw several derelict boats, two beached onshore and one that was sunk with just a mast sticking out. We decided to anchor the first day farthest away from downtown, which was about a twenty minute dinghy ride. Our first foray into Charleston showed us that there were pet moorings everywhere, incredibly gorgeous architecture everywhere, and some much needed tacos for these hungry sailors. Hello! Meghan here. It's incredible to me that Ben and I are nearing the two month mark of beginning our sailing adventure. On September 9, 2017, I celebrated the best birthday combined with a farewell party in Chicago. By September 15, we were visiting our brand new "home" elevated on "sticks" in a boatyard in South Amboy, NJ. On October 2, we splashed our boat in the water and stayed alert for leaks. Within the week, our trip south officially began.
Since arriving in New Jersey, time has become a completely different thing for me. It's not uncommon for Ben and I to turn to one another and ask, "What day is it?" Our days have been very full, learning the ropes of a unique lifestyle. At the beginning, I was most excited to use different parts of my body (aside from my mind) to work hard and accomplish a day's work. Boat projects have alternated between overwhelming and fulfilling. The community of sailors we've met has proven--time and again--to be far more generous and encouraging than I've ever expected. At the moment, I'm sitting in Portsmouth, VA awed by the maritime history and incredible naval presence of our country. At this point, we are not exactly sure how long our "time" on Loose Seal will last. Everyone asks where we're headed and my response is often, "As far as we can!" She is equal parts sweat and tears. She shelters us and causes severe anxiety. Even so, she is ours and she has brought us through some of our most trying times as a couple already. The privilege of this grand adventure is not lost on me. Cheers to what tomorrow will bring! - Meghan |
AuthorMeg (so far) but maybe sometimes Ben, too. Archives
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