You have to be flexible

Thursday, April 9, 2009, Still at St Charles

We were all ready to pull out yesterday and I called Naples to see what the procedure was coming into the club. The dock master told me that if we came we would probably be sitting in the middle of the river all night grounded out. Apparently, the north winds that we were looking forward to because of finally being able to sail one leg had blown all the water out of the bay.

Then the scrambling for new plans started. We had to talk to the dock master here to see if we could stay another night. Michael was driving down to join us for a couple of days and we had to talk to him. After some reworking of schedules, we are squared away for another day at St Charles. Of course, for the bay to have water for us to get in means the wind direction has changed and we will be motoring into the wind. Sailing teaches you a lot of life’s lessons. I think I need to write a book about the lessons in life you learn from sailing. Chapter One is going to be “Be flexible and don’t plan past tomorrow”.

Since we were going to be at St Charles all day, I took a bike trip to the local hardware store. About 8 miles round trip. It was the best hardware store I have ever seen. I just wondered around looking for about 30 minutes with required purchases in hand. Paul the dock master told me that when he wins the lottery he is going to buy that store, lock the door so no one can get in and enjoy life.

We had a nice meal at the club. They have a tradition of putting visiting sailors with club members. The dinner conversation was interesting and lively at times. The club selects those you sit with at meals. If you and your friends make reservations, you probably won’t be sitting with them. That way everyone gets to know all the different club members. Since there are only 120 members, it is easy to get to know everyone.

Steve Colgate was sitting at the adjacent table. If you are a true sailor, you will recognize the name. If you are not, he is the guy who wrote the book on how to sail. Literally, he wrote the book everyone uses. Several times Olympic champion and ocean racer.