Boats have inspired a lot of lofty quotes. “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead” and “Don’t give up the ship” are two that come to mind. But the not-so-lofty quote foremost in my thinking right now is “Boats are holes in the water you pour money into.”
We had hoped to take up residence on our 32-foot Nordic Tug the first Monday in June. We packed our belongings into our twelve-year-old Ford Focus for a road trip that would take us to Sonoma for a week, then on to Reno for a day or two, before heading to Ashland, Oregon to take in a couple of plays. The boat is in Anacortes, Washington, on Fidalgo Island, getting its hull painted, and we wanted to time our trip so we would arrive when the paint dried.
Another quote: “The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.”
We extended our time in Sonoma to miss the Memorial Day traffic, not having heard anything from the Boat Yard. But surely it was time to begin working our way north.
We arrived in Ashland June 1, purchased tickets for two plays the next day, thinking to leave on the third day. Wrong. The paint still needed more time so a white strip along the side could be applied. We extended our time at the Ashland Springs Hotel, added another day of plays and took off for Grants Pass to visit our niece and her family.
We checked again. Stripe was done, now the rub rail strip on both sides of the hull had to be put on.
We left Grants Pass and drove to Crater Lake for some leisurely sightseeing, ending in Bend. The next day we drove up to the Columbia River, following it west all the way to Astoria. Staying the night, we planned to make it to Anacortes, Washington on Thursday so we could move the boat over to our slip at Cap Sante Marina on Friday.
Wrong again. The manufacturer on the East Coast shorted us a length of rub rail. A new one would be sent the following week.
By now we’re tired of living out of a suitcase, we hadn’t planned on a driving vacation, and there’s no real date for when we can occupy the boat. We could be in motels for a week or longer because the rudder still had to be checked for electrolysis after the other work is completed.
We dropped off the car at the Seattle Airport and booked a flight back home.
My new quote is: “Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet— Jean-Jacques Rousseau.”
Let’s hope so or my next one will be, “The two best days in the life of a boat owner are the day he buys the boat and the day he sells it.”
I can hear you grinding your teeth and growling from here! Good gawd, what a mess. Can’t say I blame you for considering that last quote.
Hope home is cozy and peaceful for as long as you need to be there!