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Sunday, July 3, 2011

Sailing (takes me away to where I've always heard it could be) Sing it with me!

So please indulge me in this last minute post for today.

I went sailing last weekend for the first time ever.  I thought I would like it.  I thought it would be a lot like this Christopher Cross song that I've been singing along with since its release in the 1980's.  Relaxing, contemplative, quiet, possibly romantic.

Few things live up to your expectations in life - I've come to learn this the hard way, but this was as good as I hoped it would be.  I liked it overall.  It was a lot of fun and I have always wanted to learn how to do it myself. 

A friend of mine took me out for a spin on Lake Michigan when the wind was up. 
It was only a 23 foot boat named Sugar, which sounds big, but it's not really.  Enough to fit about 4 or 5 people seated.  You notice how I put the word "seated" in bold and underlined it in a very snotty way?  You can't stand up for too long (a few seconds) or else you'll get a nice whacking on the head from the sails which are constantly flitting in the wind.  Yes I said flitting, another phrase for flitting would be shifting back and forth in a fast manner without pattern.

If my friend can do it, I'm pretty sure anyone can.  You have to take classes with an instructor out on the lake to get rated for certain boats and you have to start at the bottom (the smallest boats that can't go out past the breakwater).  This is all my friend is rated for currently.
I was a bit afraid I might get sea sick, but that didn't happen.  The water was pretty calm except for when we caught someone else's wake.

From what I hear, the best place to learn about sailing is on the Great Lakes because of the constantly shifting winds and that it's much harder to sail on the Lakes than it is on the ocean.  I still find this hard to believe since the ocean has GIGANTIC waves that could tip over a good sized boat, but I suppose it is correct.  If you're a good sailor, I suppose you would know when you can safely navigate the ocean and when not to regardless of waves.

I meant to bring my camera but in all the excitement I, of course, forgot.  Sadly, I do not have any images to share with you, but maybe next time.

I can tell you it was pretty out there on the water and fun and relaxing.  I'll let Christoper tell you the rest...

"Well, it's not far down to paradise
At least it's not for me
And if the wind is right
You can sail away and find tranquility
Oh, the canvas can do miracles
Just you wait and see
Believe me

It's not far to never-never land
No reason to pretend
And if the wind is right
You can find the joy of innocence again
Oh, the canvas can do miracles
Just you wait and see
Believe me

Sailing takes me away
To where I've always heard it could be
Just a dream and the wind to carry me
And soon I will be free

Fantasy, it gets the best of me
When I'm sailing
All caught up in the reverie
Every word is a symphony
Won't you believe me

Sailing takes me away
To where I've always heard it could be
Just a dream and the wind to carry me
And soon I will be free

[Instrumental Interlude]

Well it's not far back to sanity
At least it's not for me
And if the wind is right
you can sail away and find serenity
Oh, the canvas can do miracles
Just you wait and see
Believe me

Sailing takes me away
To where I've always heard it could be
Just a dream and the wind to carry me
And soon I will be free"
  P.S.  My friend did have his Ipod and docking station on the boat, but he did NOT play this song.  I was sorely disappointed.  All he played was Jimmy Buffett songs, and I just don't dig Buffett.  I don't get his music, but that's another blog entry.

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