Bella's Boat Week

What should you do when the Alberta government gives you (and 51,000 other teachers) lemons? Fly to the island to spend a week knocking boat projects off the list? Yes, please!

Well, in an unexpected turn of events, Alberta teachers actually did end up striking. Truly, I didn't think it would come down to it and no one was more surprised than I was to actually experience a labor strike firsthand. In the days leading up to strike action, Brad was really encouraging me to hop on a cheap flight and spend some time on Splash tackling a few mundane projects we didn't get to this summer. I was a bit hesitant... I didn't know long the strike would last and although it might be surprising to hear, I really am a rule follower and didn't want to end up stuck on the boat and unable to get a flight home in the event of the strike ending as quickly as it started (LOL, if only I knew then what I know now). When a sweet little dinghy popped up on Marketplace in Vancouver for a smokin' good deal, that was enough to set me into action. It was decided: I would fly to the island on Monday morning, make a trip back to the mainland on Tuesday to buy our cool new ride, and then hunker down for a few days on board to chip away at our 'To-Do' list.

With Cinna at my side, we made it to the island and got ourselves reacquainted with our home away from home! In between tutoring sessions and some long walks, I sorted through decades worth of charts for areas as far reaching as Cartagena, Columbia, dug out cupboards we'd never really explored, organized all of our spare boat parts (this made Brad nervous) and somehow managed to consolidate only a few cupboards into one.

Brad and I were pretty torn about keeping or selling Patch. On one hand, he's a huge dinghy with a flat bottom and is basically like a suburban for the water. On the other hand, even his patches have patches and after a few failed attempts at repair, we were still having to pump air into the pontoons literally every time we wanted to take it somewhere. Basically, a new dinghy was a want and not a need so when the ad for a new one popped up on Facebook at a really reasonable price, we decided it was a sign. Eric and Cheryl road/ferry tripped with me to pick it up: an aluminum (very light) Quicksilver RIB with ZERO patches. We're going to call him Zippy because under our 15hp engine, he is going to FLY. When you're out cruising, your dinghy is essentially your car and Zippy feels like an Audi. We're pretty excited! A couple of days after picking Zippy up, I managed to wrangle Patch off the deck so his new owners could pick him up -- the Maple Bay Navy Cadets! A very strange, quiet fellow from the organization came by, took one look Patch, nodded his approval, and hopped in to row Patch back to the club. Fair winds and following seas, Patch. May you be useful to Naval Cadets for years to come!

My solo week on Splash went by remarkably quickly and before I realized, it was time to pack up and head home. I was surprised how, after being back to 'real' life for a few months, how little time it took to fall back into the sailboat routine. I wasn't at home, but it felt like home. After our summer trip a good friend asked me, "So, you really love it?" and I was initially taken aback. Of course I love it! But after some reflection, I appreciated her perspective -- to her, she was seeing all I was leaving behind to spend so much time on the coast: show seasons with Sprocket, friends, family... the list is long. She knows me for me, an animal lover, passionate equestrian, and member of our close group of friends. Through her eyes, it might have looked like I was maybe just a part of the journey because Brad loves this lifestyle. Afterall, who in their right mind would walk away from what I have for numerous weeks a year? But my gut reaction was the truth... I love it. I can't go a day without thinking about the freedom sailing offers us, the close relationship it has prompted us to form with the wind and the sea, and the ways in which sailing has inspired our big dreams. It doesn't come without sacrifice, but right now, it undoubtedly feels worth it.

Tucking Splash in for the winter wasn't easy, especially not knowing when we will be out next. We're travelling to Hawaii over Christmas and with a hefty amount of work commitments this winter, we don't anticipate hoisting the sails again until the spring. Until then, we'll keep adding to the 'To-Do' list and counting down the days until island life is ours again!