We have spent much of the last few weeks getting to
know our newest Grandchild-Nico. He has
proven to be a very contented child so far.
We are going to enjoy watching him explore his world.
At the same time, we are looking forward to getting
the motorhome on the road. It has been
sitting in a waiting mode for too long.
Over the next few weeks we will be putting a fair amount of miles on it
while revisiting some well known territory-visiting with friends and family.
At the same time, while sitting around, I have been
looking back at what we have enjoyed in our leisure time in the past. As a follow on to my aviation obsession, we
began to transition to a new leisure activity of boating. By the mid 1980's we were starting on the
sailboat period. With a succession of
ever larger sailboats, we were spending lots of time on the water in Lake Erie,
and the Chesapeake Bay. Also during this period, we would be making
trips back to Anneke's home land, which included numerous trips on the Dutch
waterways. Interestingly enough, during this period we also owned two class C
motorhomes for trips around the country and this was to be a precursor to our RVing full timing adventure.
In 1995, we left the Chesapeake area and returned to
the Netherlands for my final tour in the Coast Guard. Before we left we took my
mother on one last trip around Chesapeake Bay on a trawler. In the Netherlands,
we did a lot of power boating, including chartering two large powerboats to
explore the tremendous waterways there.
The lure of the sailboat did not fade while there and we did three summer
sail cruises among the Greek Islands.
This was some of the most enjoyable time on the water we have had.
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After retiring and returning to the states, the
first thing we did was start a search for a sailboat. We could not find one fast enough so, we chartered
one on the Chesapeake to keep the edge off.
Finally, we found our last sailboat, a 38 foot Hunter, which we enjoyed
sailing on until we decided it was time to leave the working world in 2006 and
go full timing.
16 comments:
What a cutey Nico is..
We have never been sail boat people but I know Jim spent a lot of time fishing on Chesapeake Bay. Sounds like you had a wonderful time on the water. But that new grandson is just the cutest ever.
How fun! We've done three cruises through the Greek Islands. I agree with you ..one of our favorites. We also ran into sailboating full-timers on the Island of Grenada. They went south for the winter just like we do. We were amazed with it then.
You have been very fortunate being able to explore your passions. Now crank up the motorhome and get passionate again.
my parents were boaters for years! sail boats and then a power boat but now they have an RV..
your grandson is a cutie!!
Already quickly growing ... Nico is a charmer.
We've never been boat people ourselves, but we've enjoyed the vessels of friends whenever the opportunity presented itself.
Will be nice to get on the road again, enjoy!
Oh I would love to sail and if I had been a knowledgable sailor or married someone who was, I would have seriously considered full timing on a sailboat. Those pictures are just making me green with envy. I went sailing as often as I could with anyone who would take me. But it was never enough.
Last sailboat? I'm sure there is at least one more in your future. It's hard to get sailing out of the blood. :c)
Enjoy Nico, he's waiting for his grandparents to take him on RV trips!
That header photo is so precious!
Your photos are super. Our daughter, Kelly's, boyfriend owes a sailboat with his parents. We were on it for the first time. It was very relaxing until the waves came up the side. I hit the deck.
Wow! What awesome memories you have made!
Great header pic of Nico - he's a handsome little man!
You sure have had your share of time on the water. Nice looking boats you've owned too.
Sailing the Greek Islands sounds like a dream - for me, it is!
I enjoyed reading about your past boating adventures. Sailing used to be a big part of my life in my first marriage. I always intended to live full-time on a boat, but I have learned to love life in a land yacht.
A Hunter 38 is one of my favorite sailboats.
A belated congratulations on the birth of Nico! He is adorable.
I was interested to hear you went through a sailboat period too! Until Hubby "retired" and started working around the country, we would spend weekends sailing out of San Diego and increasingly larger sailboats too. Now we "sail" around in our 5th wheel. Your grandson is certainly a cutie! Being grandparents are the best!
Candy
Interesting! I am reading an ebook on my iPhone about a couple who spent 7 years on their sailboat:Tightwads on the Loose - a Seven Year Pacific Odyssey
Your post brought back memories of sailing with my parents. I loved a brisk wind. I didn't get to sail in such exotic locations though!
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