July 10 6:20 am!
After years of planning, completing checklist after checklist, it was FINALLY time to set sail on our great adventure.
We had planned to leave in the morning but got an unexpected wake-up call when the water pump started running at 4:50 am. Bill got up and checked things out. All I could think of was a broken hose and a bilge full of water. But it turned out to be just a pocket of air that had found it's way to the top of a tank that we'd filled the night before. Whew! Well, we were up anyway, so might as well get ready to go.
We made coffee and started getting things ready to go. Stepstool up (check), welcome mat up (check), lines set (check), last potty break in a real toilet for a while (check), start engine (check), cast off (check!) At 6:20 am, we pulled out of Battery Park into a beautiful sunrise.
We enjoyed mimosas made from a special bottle of champagne that the WOT team gave me at Christmas. (I'd been saving it for this occassion.) We toasted Sandusky...great port, great friends, great times!
The wind was way too light, so we had to motor all the way to Cleveland. I know sailors hate that kind of weather, but as a born-and-raised power boater nothing is more relaxing than the hum of the motor and the spashing of water in its wake. The sky was clear with whispy white clouds. The sun came up and the rays were dancing across the waves as if to say, "come, come play with me." Just perfect.
Last night, before we left, I went through the boat and blessed it with the Holy Water my mom had given me years ago. Bill had me bless the diesel engine twice, just to be safe. :) As I sat watch in such a perfect setting, I now knew why my mom said I couldn't do this trip until she was gone (she passed away May 2006) ... it was because she wanted to go with me. Sounds goofy, but I could feel her spirit sitting right next to me, laughing and lighthearted.
Welcome aboard, mom...it's gonna be a great adventure!
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