Little Things

On Lake Placid

  It's still high winter here in Montana but we've had a few fluke days where the temperature is above freezing. And it's been so cold here that those days feel downright tropical. So coming home from work I decided since the snow was melting I would take a look at the boat. She's dismasted and upside down on her trailer at the moment with a rain fly over her for protection. So after putting on my boots I stripped the fly to see how she's doing.
 I was pleased to see very well. Took a wet rag and wiped off the dirt that remained after my last sail and a general inspection of the hull. The fly has remained watertight and there is no sign of ice damage in any form. She'll need a bottom paint touch up and some work to cover the rubber scrapes from the Lake Placid docks but other then that she's as good as can be expected.
 I get such a rush of pride when I look at the boat. It's mine. All twelve feet of it. It's taken me places that I would not have thought to go and is promising to take me to many more. I've been with the Typesetter and many plans are being made for the summer. Sailing, boat building, a movie project. All discussed over fast food burgers and the latest issue of Wooden Boat. Good times in this off season.
It might be three months away but already the want to go sailing in my boat is pretty intense. And that is a good thing.