October 16, 2003

• Die Boote

  Topher moved out to Carmel, after having been Commodore of the Southern Illinois University Sailing Club for a couple of years. I visited him last December after my wedding, and he showed me around. Carmel is gorgeous, but there’s something kind of sad and dreary about the Monterey area, maybe because I have read too much John Steinbeck.

  He loves it though, and I think Carmel loves him.

  He sends me pictures of the coast where he takes pictures after his lunch breaks. Sailboats anchored off the beach! Yum!

  
  Topher’s picture from the beach during an after-lunch walk

  Shorty Pen went out sailing/camping at Palacios Beach in Texas in September and posted some pictures of a West Wight Potter 15 and a Sparrow 12, an unbelievably small cruising sailboat that is no longer being manufactured.

  
  A picture of the beach campsite from one of the sailboats

  And some enterprising soul (Thomas E. Lisco) converted a Sunfish into a miniature “coastal cruiser” with storage space for up to 120 lbs of camping gear.

  

  I’m in the middle of applying to residencies, and I have a weirdly long stretch of time in Houston. I’m planning to stay at a hostel and spend my time and money sailing around the Gulf as everyone tells me the winds on the coast are excellent, not only for sailing, but especially for windsurfing.

  On a truly spectacular note, here’s a woman who also sails without her husband. She purchased a 32 foot Westsail, and plans to spend time sailing solo around the Florida coast.

  
  Debra’s ship, Jessie
  Look at that shiny waxed hull!

  
  

  Pointless Devotion I’ve said all that I know to say I feel her pain from far away She exploits her freedom every day Resolute in her conviction She cuts herself to calm her fears Her blood will wash away her tears I censure her, she never hears Her sorrow is my affliction She writes her story on the net She writes so she will not forget She knows it makes me so upset Yet I give her benediction – bodiddly

  • 8:56 am
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