I’ve made it home to Port Angeles. Everyone wants to know “what next”. I’m wondering myself, so I fall back onto my one day at a time, one mile at a time concept while keeping the goal out in front to act as a guide and think of my lessons learned.
The first great lesson of my 3366 mile trip from Two Harbors Minnesota to Happy Valley - Goose Bay Labrador is this: The journey is the adventure and the destination is the excuse. By stopping here I save a lot of problems that could have been show stoppers later. Let others be the Hare, I’m happy being the Tortoise.
It’s easier to stay healthy than get healthy. The first order of business here is to get to the gym to maintain my edge. I go to the gym just like it was my job. I’m not exactly a fitness nut but I am a believer in motion and once in motions it is always easier to stay in motion. And of course, hard work pays off.
As I moved into middle age, two things took me by surprise. One was that I have as much hair on my head as I have and two that I have remained as healthy as I am. When my work was finished and I no longer had to keep up an image, I stopped getting haircuts…just for the fun of it. And I kept up my exercise program. The pounds started to melt away when the stress of maintaining a career was gone. I don’t like to use the word “retirement” as it implies a stopping of activity. That is a dangerous thing to do, much more dangerous than solo sailing, from my observations of life.
My time home will be spent reflecting on the things I’ve learned. When I was interview by the young man for the CBC radio in Labrador, one of the things he ask did I feel defeated having not made it through the Northwest Passage. I could only smile and answer “Goodness no! Defeat would have been to have stayed home in the first place.” One who acts to make their dreams come true is never defeated. My experience is that once I do realize a lifelong dream come true, I must replace it immediately with a new one or even an old one revisited. It is a part of the human condition to imagine then act.
There are lot’s of things to be done between now and next year and I’m so enjoying writing about them. I want to revisit the comments and questions about the trip and maintain contact with the wonderful people whom I’ve met in person and by e-mailed. If in the cold of the winter to come you wonder what’s the old sailor guy up to, check in from time to time. I’ll let you know. If you have a dream, share it with me as I’ve shared mine with you. Together we can be a source of encouragement. And why not? In a world so full of doom and gloom, we should encourage one another.
tommy,
i am so glad you are doing the “passage”one step at a time .
you are so right when you describe the idea of adventure.
a recollection ;
the “LADY”was to leave half moon bay, south of S.F.
the anal chumps at GHHSA decided that in order to be in compliance with the maritime law,
we would need to carry another “ticket” onboard.
laws,laws,laws.
you had a monster license and had sailed both south and north
east…west,,,,
the goons groveling in swivling chairs sent us a former mate
Rob Mizer.
he had the “ticket” [100 ton mate near coastal] and was ,what seemed to calm the legal snare the “oberschiest” had wished to avoid.
Rob watched you climb,,
he watched you perform,,,
he watched and saw[fact made real] that you were a sailor of the competant school.
Rob is a man who has been to sea and he told me,
someplace in marina del rey,
“this guy rocks!”
Rob learned something i had already known.
and it was good to see another shipmate realize that you,indeed rock.
i will keep in touch with you and your goings on.i trust the “LEM” is well feathered down and your mind is talking to your body about next year.
keep them both strong and,,,O.K.,,,, semi lean.
your good shipmate,
bruce
tommy,
just a quick thought,
was it the tortoise or the hare that had more bravado?
bruce
Tommy-
Enjoy your winter and the gym. Post how you are now and again.
Capn’ Tom;
Very much enjoyed your blog and looking forward to your next adventure.
We own a Acapulco 40, reside in Grants Pass OR, keep the boat in Brookings and of late Port Orchard. Spent the last 10 summers in the San Juans to Desolation. Home for awhile caring for grandkids.
Cheers, Jeff
Tommy,
I agree very much with your outlook on life… it’s about dreaming and then going for that dream. I purchased a Hardin 44 last year to restore. It’s a ton of work to be done Tommy but I know that a lug like me could never afford one ready to go so here I am, toiling away every chance I get which isn’t as often as I like but I can see progress and reading your adventures and others like you keep my dream of circling the globe alive and well. I know I bought a pig, but she is my pig and I’ll make her beautiful again. I got a new son 11months old and I want so bad for him to see the sea as I do. To be humbled by it’s greatness, to be brought to tears by its beauty, to be uplifted by those you meet along it’s shores. Some day my boat will make it’s trip back to the water from my back yard and we will have a grand adventure. Until then I’ll keep grinding and sanding away, rebuilding, preserving and readying her for the day. When the boy is ready for the sea… so shall the boat and I be. Keep up the blog Capt. Tommy. There is no rush to finish, there is not a prize at the end of life. Relish every moment, savory the good ones like a fine meal, let the bad ones be a lesson to ya. Wise is the man that does not rush headlong into danger. Winter well Capt. Tommy, and we will be here with you next spring.
Sailor man Dayton
Lufkin, Tx