NORTHERN BOYS NEWS ! |
Skipper at the tiller Erie Canal |
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On September 21 2007 I embarked on a sailing adventure, some 3500 miles. I started from Ludington, Michigan sailing up along Lake Michigan thru the straits of Mackinaw down Lake Huron to the Saint Claire River. From the Saint Claire River we crossed Lake Saint Claire to the Detroit River into Lake Erie. Sailing up Lake Erie to Buffalo New York we motored down the Erie Canal after taking the mast down on the boat. After some 357 miles down the Erie Canal we put the mast back up on the boat and sailed down the Hudson River to New York City. We spent 4 days in the Big Apple and sailed down the Atlantic Ocean to Cape May. After Cape May we sailed up the Delaware river to the Delaware and Chesapeake Canal. Crossed thru the canal to the Chesapeake Bay and we are now sailing down the Chesapeake Bay to Norfolk Virginia. We have sailed 1800 miles to day with 10 weeks on this sail boat. The sail boat is a Catalina 28 foot with an atomic four gas engine. We have replaced the head gasket on the engine and put a new fuel pump in with new plugs, wires Distributor, points and condenser. I have changed the oil 6 times and we have repaired sails, anchor ropes and many other things along the way. We are attempting to sail to Florida then over to the Islands and down to the Virgin Islands.
The trip was inspired by my dreams of sailing to new worlds and adventure as a kid. I have always loved the idea of adventure and doing things not reading about them. I have dog sledded across the Upper Peninsula by Dog Team. I have back packed the Pictured Rocks National Seashore and Isle Royal off the tip of the Kewanaw Peninsula in Lake Superior. I have hiked cumberland Island off the coast of Georgia. I have winter camped in 30 degrees below zero. I spent 8 months living in the forest writing and photographing the wildlife. I guess some read of these things I prefer to do it. I'm already planning my next adventure in the future. It will be the things you didn't do in your life that you will remember the most not the things you did do. I will have no regrets when its my time to pass on, and memories that no one can ever take from me. Money is only money but life comes but only once. I hope you enjoy this web page and I will try to keep working on it as the trip progresses. I'm slow with this web stuff so bare with me. YOU CAN GO TO MY OTHER ACCOUNT WHICH IS MYSPACE HERE IS THE LINK. www.myspace.com/skipperfound This will give you some more to read and look at.
The Life of what we Dream
We all dream of doing something great in our lives, What it is we do is our choice. We have but one life to fill with accomplishments and goal setting ideas. Some it is to work at a great job and have a fulfilling career. Some its to have a wonderful family, great house, friends and a beautiful car. The point is its totally up to you what you want and how you go about getting it. I on the other hand don't ask for much just the opportunity to see it all and to breath all it is that life has to offer. I don't ask of others to be something they are not, I don't want more than my share, and I only wish that I be respected and treated with the respect I give forth to my friends and family. Please don't judge me and I will not judge you. It is you who have to live with what choices you have made in your life not I. My dreams are of far away places and beautiful experiences. I love purple sunsets walks in the rain and swimming in an ocean so blue you can almost taste the color. The world is surrounded by little wonders and small pleasures but we fail to see it for what it is. The greatest thing we can obtain is the things that are free to our souls. Imagine if you will a forest covered in a blanket of snow freshly fallen with the only tracks in the snow are yours and the animals that share the space with you. Are you stopping to fully take in this view or are you just pretending to. The old saying "Seeing the forest for the trees" truly exist if you really take the time to open yourself up to it. Breath the breath of life for it will be gone in a short time, and it will not be sorry for you if you miss it. I don't dream I wonder then I walk to see what it is I wondered about. My dream to sail 3500 miles started with I wonder what it would be like and I now know. Please stay with me on this adventure and read some of the information I have provided. Together we can wonder what it would be like, Thanks for visiting my web Site. Skipper Out!!!
Time Square in New York City!! |