Sail Away, Come Sail Away with Me!

Wow! Another item checked off the bucket list! I have a healthy respect (FEAR!) of water. I almost drowned twice when I was young, that will help develop issues with being in water over your head.

I was in Michigan, at Gull Lake, and had the opportunity to go out on a boat. No big deal. Life vest and cruising around the lake, drinking wine or beer and just enjoying the sun, wind, and friends.

Well, let me tell you! It's wasn't a pontoon boat... It was a freakin sail boat. Not the big ones that are stable and safe either!!!! It was a catamaran, you know two pontoon with canvas in-between. I promised myself a long time ago that I would never, I mean NEVER, get on one of those. Well there is nothing like breaking a promise to yourself.....

Before I continue, let me tell you that I did go snorkeling in Guam six years ago. That was one of the most rewarding experiences I have had. Getting over the fear long enough to enjoy the beauty of it all. This left me with the feeling that I had done enough for the water thingie fear.

Back to the original story..... I agree to go sailing with Jim (a friend of the family that I just met.) He assures me that it's safe (catch the problem coming up?) and that I will have a wonderful time. And I did have a wonderful time, while we were upright!! We flipped that dang boat three times. It's not easy to get those blanking boats upright. But we did, three times. The second time the mast was pointing straight down (obviously looking for my Ray Bans that took a swim of their own on the first flip!) We had to have another boat pull our boat to the 90 degree tilt...... I was thinking "if they can pull us that far, why don't they finish the job?" BUT NOOO........... 90 degrees and we tug on the rope ourselves, again, to upright the boat the rest of the way. Oh, forgot to mention, on the first flip, or flop, I was holding the stainless steel cable that supports the mast. Some skin from each finger on my left hand is still on the cable. That makes holding the rope a finger dance on the next two times.

After all of that excitement we came back to the dock, put the boat on it's lift and I proceeded to cheer because:

1. Another item checked off the bucket list.
2. Motrin was close by.
3. Maker's Mark was close by for washing down the Motrin.
4. There were sane people to tell the hair raising story to.
and
5. I was on dry ground, ALIVE!!!!

Would I do it again, probably not...... Am I glad I did it, HECK YEAH!! It was a blast and the fear of water is slowly losing it's grip on me. I'm actually looking at property on a lake.