Today we began the task of "breaking down" the boat...defrosting, cleaning & scrubbing...making lists, re categorizing, compacting, putting away, packing...organizing cupboards & closets...Deciding what to keep, what to give away, what to ship home...what we couldn't live without and what we have just too much of...Throughout the day we have reminisced about the people, places and things we have experienced these past two months...Asking Chip, "What is your favorite memory?" opened up so many conversations about Discovering Ithaka...
First of all, the People...hmmmm...we've met so many nice people this summer...and who would say that they have favorites? But, there are a few who may have pulled at the ol' heart strings a little tighter than others...Shelly Sunshine, of course, and her mom & dad, too! The whole crew from Blue Max, we love you...and Peggy & Guy from Southern Comfort...We four boats crossed each others' wakes throughout the summer and we feel very blessed to have met kind-hearted, like-minded people, all sharing a similar dream. -In addition to new friends, it was wonderful to see Bill in Picton, Brandy in Mackinac Island and Gil & Pam in Charlevoix...Thank you all for being a part of this trip. I believe that people are innately good, and this was proven time and time again this summer.
It was even tougher to try to pick some of our favorite Places...The scenery in the North Channel, especially South Benjamin Island, hiking to the top of the overlook at The Pool in Baia Fine and gazing out over the topaz-colored water, what a view; How about going over The Big Chute? -and the Kirkfield Lock...Bobcaygeon, Leland, Saugatauk...amazing, beautiful, friendly, breathtaking, unforgettable...The lesson here however is, no matter where you are there is beauty...if you open your heart and eyes and look for it...I can't wait to sit on the dock in my backyard and watch a sunset...I believe that the best place to be, is to just be.
Lastly, Things...this can refer to so many things...Flea markets and wild flowers, swans and Canada geese, waterfalls, rainbows...How about all the fish Chip caught? (fish are things :-)...the smoore's party on the rocks (thanks Peggy)...the dock party in Killarney (hey Bud's buns!)...Some new things: New bikes (and they fold up so small for storing)...a new electric frying pan (one of the things I wouldn't want to live on board without), Chip's new inflatable dinghy (with a 2hp air-cooled motor-oh yeah, now we're talking), a new lamp in the salon (nice, soft lighting), a new storage trunk which doubles as a coffee table (to use next year as a pantry instead of the ugly blue rubbermaid bin), a new habit of grocery shopping with reusable bags (Meagan will be proud of us)...Of course, some old favorites from last year: My camera (never leave home without it-over 3,000 photos this summer), Navnet and paper charts (couldn't leave home without them), DVD player (thank you for Amber for the videos), laptop (for when we did have a connection), rechargeable fan, flyswatter, zip-lock bags, good books to read...The best things were: holding hands while watching gorgeous sunsets, observing the monarch butterfly migration, watching a meteor shower in the middle of the night on the top of Ithaka, finding rocks shaped like hearts, hearing from friends and family from home and seeing the grand babies on our webcam...Yes, I believe some things are meant to make your life easier...and some things aren't really things at all...so I'll be watching sunsets and looking for that monarch in Naples, too...and I can't wait to hug my loved ones!
First of all, the People...hmmmm...we've met so many nice people this summer...and who would say that they have favorites? But, there are a few who may have pulled at the ol' heart strings a little tighter than others...Shelly Sunshine, of course, and her mom & dad, too! The whole crew from Blue Max, we love you...and Peggy & Guy from Southern Comfort...We four boats crossed each others' wakes throughout the summer and we feel very blessed to have met kind-hearted, like-minded people, all sharing a similar dream. -In addition to new friends, it was wonderful to see Bill in Picton, Brandy in Mackinac Island and Gil & Pam in Charlevoix...Thank you all for being a part of this trip. I believe that people are innately good, and this was proven time and time again this summer.
It was even tougher to try to pick some of our favorite Places...The scenery in the North Channel, especially South Benjamin Island, hiking to the top of the overlook at The Pool in Baia Fine and gazing out over the topaz-colored water, what a view; How about going over The Big Chute? -and the Kirkfield Lock...Bobcaygeon, Leland, Saugatauk...amazing, beautiful, friendly, breathtaking, unforgettable...The lesson here however is, no matter where you are there is beauty...if you open your heart and eyes and look for it...I can't wait to sit on the dock in my backyard and watch a sunset...I believe that the best place to be, is to just be.
Lastly, Things...this can refer to so many things...Flea markets and wild flowers, swans and Canada geese, waterfalls, rainbows...How about all the fish Chip caught? (fish are things :-)...the smoore's party on the rocks (thanks Peggy)...the dock party in Killarney (hey Bud's buns!)...Some new things: New bikes (and they fold up so small for storing)...a new electric frying pan (one of the things I wouldn't want to live on board without), Chip's new inflatable dinghy (with a 2hp air-cooled motor-oh yeah, now we're talking), a new lamp in the salon (nice, soft lighting), a new storage trunk which doubles as a coffee table (to use next year as a pantry instead of the ugly blue rubbermaid bin), a new habit of grocery shopping with reusable bags (Meagan will be proud of us)...Of course, some old favorites from last year: My camera (never leave home without it-over 3,000 photos this summer), Navnet and paper charts (couldn't leave home without them), DVD player (thank you for Amber for the videos), laptop (for when we did have a connection), rechargeable fan, flyswatter, zip-lock bags, good books to read...The best things were: holding hands while watching gorgeous sunsets, observing the monarch butterfly migration, watching a meteor shower in the middle of the night on the top of Ithaka, finding rocks shaped like hearts, hearing from friends and family from home and seeing the grand babies on our webcam...Yes, I believe some things are meant to make your life easier...and some things aren't really things at all...so I'll be watching sunsets and looking for that monarch in Naples, too...and I can't wait to hug my loved ones!
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