The Hobie Cat

Friday

Once upon a time I had a sailboat that I inherited from my father.  (insert long story about many happy summers etc.) When I moved to Salem I realized that I wouldn't have as many opportunities to sail, and the boat needed some major (expensive) maintenance, So I gave my boat to Ben.

Ben is awesome. (Insert long anecdotal stories about how awesome Ben is) He loved sailing and had room to store a boat.

Well four years go by, and just like every spring for as long as I can remember I have sailing dreams starting in May.  This May I told myself that it was okay, I could play on my mom's power boat and it would be just as fun. (and none of the work and expense of my own boat) However, right before I left for Washington to visit Olympic National Park I had a very vivid dream in which I asked Ben if he was using my boat, and if not if I could please have it back, and he said sure I could have her.

So I sent Ben a message and he said he was racing sailboats at Fern Ridge, but the Hobie was sitting at his place, where it had been sitting for the past two years.  He was just too busy. He had bought a new tramp, and new lines (some of you know what that means) but hadn't ever sailed it. Sure I could have her back. He said he was free on Friday afternoon.

So on Friday afternoon I drove south again (I'm getting tired of my music playlists and have to do something about my car stereo, it isn't good) and borrowed mom's truck, and towed my old boat out to the lake.  (It wasn't quite that simple, but the details interfere with the story).  Ben helped step the mast, and then he took off for his evening, and Ru and I sailed off into the sunset. Literally.

I shed a tear or two.

Some things are just meant to be.

On our way, over the bridge to the boat

In tow

We made stepping the mast look easy

Black mesh tramp. No more sitting in a puddle.

Pretending the boom hit him

The tradition of hanging on to the dolphin striker

We spent the night at mom's so we could sail on Saturday.

When we got up Saturday it was cloudy so after winning a game of keep away with my mom's dog (he had stolen Ruben's underwear) we went to Dave's and picked blueberries and weeded for him. I was also waiting for the weather to clear up.  It didn't really.  We went out to the lake to do some rigging but didn't sail.  The weather was cool, sprinkly, and not windy.  I have a few Madrigal gigs Sunday so perhaps we can go out sailing again on Monday.

We didn't actually win the keep away game, we just waited till he got bored of guarding Ruben's underwear. 

All you can eat