feeling high despite gloomy conditions

The rain continues. The fifteenth day in a row of rain with more coming. The worst is that at this time of year (still autumn), nothing dries out. 

All the hard surfaces inside feel cold and clammy, the ground outside is boggy and the chicken coup smells to high heavens. Its just plain  miserable. 

   But I'm feeling great. My daughter is visiting soon and we're off to a concert (US country band - The Red Clay Strays) and hopefully will get time to hang out. There's a home game Friday night and I know when this weather stops I'm going sailing my NIS18 ketch. Hopefully for a few days, just getting lost on the water. I won't care if its rainy once I'm on the water. I'll just hang out reading and drinking coffee until there's a,break in the weather. I'll be seeking out calm anchorages which at this time of year will be free of crowds. Those that do come through the port are likely to be cruising yachts, heading either to Queensland or further afield. Hoping to detect snippets of information, I'll be watching with bino's and listening to the VHF. Ive looking forwards to such an opportunity for weeks, months and years. More recently two more or less fruitless return trips to South Australia. I've also bought and sold two Folkboats banging my head up against local mooring prohibitions, two small wooden trailer sailer cruisers that proved too flimsy for sea. Now I feel  so confident that the boat I have not only suitsy cruising needs, but is offshore capable. 

Of the twenty or so boats I've had over fifty years, theis boat is head and shoulders above all the others. Of sound design, built by a professional craftsmen who was deeply invested in the project & well loved and maintained throughout her life. I feel blessed that I can now sail hard into my senior years, with no excuses. 

Clancy making the 2009 cover of Australian Amateur Boatbuilder.