Forces of Nature

When you live on a boat, you learn to respect the power of nature. In the comfort of our built world, it is easy to forget that Mother Nature is in charge. We can alter the Earth with dams, roads, buildings, but all of our human-built world remains intact only as long as nature allows. Nature shapes everything: great mountains erode, rivers carve new channels, lakes evaporate. The forces of nature are permanent, everything else is temporary.

Last week, our marina experienced a "microburst" which is like a tornado, but different. The wind ripped one boat shed off its pilings and threw it onto another, causing that shed to collapse. Fortunately, no one was hurt although folks were on their boats in the covered slips. The clean up effort will take some time. There is a barge with a big crane moving the twisted metal and shattered beams off of the trapped boats. Although there were scattered thunderstorms in the area, no one expected anything like this. Aevitas, thankfully, is all good.

We try to live beyond the reach of Nature's influence. We protect ourselves with mass-produced clothing and climate-controlled shelters. We find our sustenance on grocery store shelves. We think it an anomaly when a dam bursts, a tornado destroys a town, or a virus infects nearly a billion people. We buy insurance and we try to predict what nature will do so we can avoid the worst impacts. Despite our efforts, worries and preparation, in the big scheme of the Universe, we are, ultimately, powerless. The realization of our insignificance could be depressing - or freeing. I'm taking it as the latter and will try my best to live each day as it comes, in awe of Mother Nature.

I'm done with my philosophizing for the moment. Here is the Aevitas update!

Most of the fancy new instruments are installed and work beautifully. Now I just have to learn how to use them :-) We went for a day sail to calibrate our new autopilot and to see how the chart plotter and radar worked. We also tried out the boom brake, which helps to control the boom when it swings across the boat during a planned, or accidental, jibe. It was a beautiful day on the water with enough wind for a decent sail.

We also have solar panels and a fancy new anchor. The original anchor was borderline not big enough. We are using an "abundance of caution" because drifting into another boat, or the shore, in a big wind storm when we are at anchor would be a really bad experience. One of our neighbors had an anchor slip not too long ago and they ended up on rocks with a busted rudder.

While Dave has been working super hard to make Aevitas super awesome, I've been working only a tiny bit. My exciting new additions to boat life are kayaks and...a veggie hammock! The dog took to the kayak with ease. She seems to like boats of all kinds. I often have to stop her from getting on random boats at the marina. And, I have two new sailing skills: replacing halyards and making soft shackles.

We had the boat hauled to put in another thru hull for a forward scan sensor. It will allow us to see what is below the water in front of us. Yes, we have a lot of gadgets... what can I say? The Captain is a tech nerd. While Aevitas was on the hard, we took a trip to Hampton, Norfolk, and Virginia Beach. Norfolk was established in 1636 is now home to the largest naval base in the world and the North American Headquarters for NATO. Navy ships are gigantic. While not as quaint as some of the little towns we've explored, the area is full of history and worth a longer trip at some point. We stayed in a hotel room that was larger than the living space inside our boat and Sofie the Sailing Dog enjoyed having enough room for an indoor game of tug of war.

We saw surfers at Virginia Beach which was experiencing some bigger waves during our visit as a result of hurricane Idalia passing by way out in the ocean. We didn't do a lot of exploring, but played in the water.

We have found our fellow mariners to be friendly folks. We have heard all kinds of fascinating life stories. The folks who have the big catamaran next to us are originally from India and the Captain was a professional tennis player. They don't live aboard, but are here most weekends and will be going to the British Virgin Islands in the winter. In their land-life, they are bee keepers and make their own wine. The couple two slips over are not yet living aboard, but are hoping to do so in a couple of years. They are very adventurous, travel extensively, and make beer. Maybe there is a theme here? We went to DeltaPie for pizza the other evening and met another couple, Jamie and Cheryl. They live on a 65 foot sailboat (named Pacific High). Jamie and Cheryl have been live aboard sailors for years - first separately, then together. They spend winters in the Caribbean and head up the east coast in the summers. I love stories of people's lives, choices, and chance encounters.

We are on week 5 (or six?) of the lithium battery conversion... because... you know... it is never "just" anything. For the engine alternator to be able to charge the batteries, Dave had to change the belt from a V belt to a serpentine. While I've been writing this today, Dave got all four batteries installed. One of the solar panels is hooked up and everything works. Now, Dave needs to modify the box that holds the batteries so that they are all separated and secure when we are tossing and turning on the ocean. I have no estimate as to when this project will be complete as one thing leads to another...

One of the few upsides to all these boat projects keeping Dave busy is that I had time to visit my girlie and go to the Maryland Renaissance Festival.

I've also been able to paint without feeling like I ought to be doing something else. I started a store on Zazzle and am adding art to my profile on Fine Art America. I enjoy painting and am feeling more confident about trying new techniques. Maybe I'll take an art class one of these days. It is probably a good thing that I don't have a dedicated art space because I get so absorbed that hours go by. This quote from Mary Oliver captures the different dimension dynamic when I'm in the midst of a creative project. I appreciate her assertion that it is OK:

It is six A.M., and I am working. I am absentminded, reckless, heedless of social obligations, etc. It is as it must be. The tire goes flat, the tooth falls out, there will be a hundred meals without mustard. The poem gets written. I have wrestled with the angel and I am stained with light and I have no shame. Neither do I have guilt. My responsibility is not to the ordinary, or the timely. It does not include mustard, or teeth. It does not extend to the lost button, or the beans in the pot. My loyalty is to the inner vision, whenever and howsoever it may arrive. If I have a meeting with you at three o’clock, rejoice if I am late. Rejoice even more if I do not arrive at all.