Saying goodbye and what if’s

The dock that the travel lift uses has been condemned, and we have no way to put your sailboat in the water!!! 

That was the email response that I received from the marina three weeks before we were to arrive.

 Ok, now what?  After our moment of disbelief, we did what every modern human would do.  We got on google.  We were searching desperately for a new marina to start our adventures.  Not only did we need a  marina that would let us sleep aboard for a month or so, but also one that could lift Hiraya into the water.  We ended up finding Sierra West Boat Works Inc. in Rio Vista California.  Rio Vista, where is that?  They are located on the Sacramento River about 65 miles from San Francisco.   Yes the Sacramento river is large enough for a sailboat, it is also large enough for ocean going freighters with less then a 30 foot draft, I had no idea. There is also the Delta Marina Yacht Harbor located right next to the boat yard, that had an open slip and allowed us to stay on the boat. 

Problem solved!

The day finally arrived.  The day we had been dreaming of, planning, and saving for.  It was time to leave home and venture out.  It was a day of mixed emotions.  On one side you are excited to be starting your next chapter in life.  A big part of you is also sad. Sad that you are leaving your friends and family, especially our young adult children.  We have traveled for 3 weeks at time without them, but this was different.  We would be going months with out seeing them.  Tears were definitely shed.  On top of all of that you are also nervous and a bit scared.  What if the truck breaks down on the way out there.  What if the travel lift operator drops are new home, what if Hiraya has a leak and takes on water when we launch,  what if we hit the dock getting to our slip.  We had never had her in the water, never drove her, and never sailed her.  

OMG!! What are we doing!

I’m happy to report that we did not break down, we did not slip out of the travel lift, we did not sink, we may have gently nudged the dock trying to get into our slip.   We are currently playing a giant Tetris game trying hard to find a place for everything.  

It makes me think,  what if everything goes good?

The musing of a middle aged man~ Sam