But at least we got to bring her home. Too bad we couldn't sail - it was a flat Lake Michigan, no wind day. On the one hand that is good….no challenges to face on our first time out this year (or rather first time in several years due to delayed repairs at the boat yard). So we motored all the way.
It was a beautiful day - blue sky with small puffy white clouds, the rhythm of the boat moving through the water, the sound of the wake slapping our dinghy towed behind. Familiar sounds and sights from the lucky years we did spend sailing and then living on our other Connemara. My time at the helm brought back many lovely memories of moving slowly from one destination to another…water all around.
Then again, as I looked out at the expanse of blue surrounding us, I found myself hoping to catch a glimpse of a friendly dolphin or pelican's flying by (oops…wrong body of water). I did see a few seagulls and a couple of ducks. Suddenly there were two barn swallows swooping around the deck and then east toward Michigan. Then there was another small bird flapping about the boat, swooping close to the mast and in front of the dodger. It landed - no bird…it was a bat! It hung onto the foresail for a few minutes and then took off again. What a surprise! We weren't that far from shore, but still a bat? At noon? Where did it go after leaving the boat? I hope it made it back to shore and safety.
We approached Port Washington and coming into the harbor reminded me of coming into other harbors, from Maryland to North Carolina to Florida. Anchorages and small towns in the Bahamas. From the Keys to spots in New England….there is something about coming in slowly on the water side instead of driving into a community that makes everything look so different. Port Washington is Connemara's home for now - she's in a slip about two blocks from the condo. Fun to come in and see our building right there!
We'll see what next year brings.
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