I knew something was up when I heard Bill and Siobhan tell the dock manager that I was going to be gone for two weeks as they took me out of my slip and loaded me onto the trailer. Sure enough, they drove me back to the driveway, cleaned me out and then washed and waxed me. Then the trouble started. They began to load an unimaginable amount of "stuff" onboard. There was enough food and clothing to last a month. I thought to myself, " will they ever stop!" Eventually they did and the trailer sighed and said, " it's just as bad for you as it is for me, so stop complaining."

We left for Lake Champlain and I met the first of a number of cousins at the launch ramp. Marguerite was her name and she was accompanied by Pat, Lou, Nicole, Michael, and Darling the dog. We left from Kill Kare and motored to Burton Island State Park. I was sitting very low in the water and feeling like I had just swallowed a tanker truck full of water. I think I needed to burp but couldn't. My captain had to row back to the launch ramp and get the gas can he had left in the truck and while he was there he met Ed Goodhue and Bob and Marshall Chase as they rigged my cousins "Taurus" and "Moon Breaker". (someone told me that "Moon Breaker" carried more gear than me, but I'm not so sure) They soon showed up at Burton Island too and the party was definitely getting off the ground. It gets pretty blurry at this point on Friday so I'm not sure when the rest of my cousins arrived, but arrive they did. There was "Zusammen" with Bill and Jeanne, "Time Enough" with Bob and Carol ,"Whale" with Roger and Barbara, and Bob's wife, Linda joined us when she arrived with "Zusammen"

The next thing I remember is Bill and Siobhan coming back to me on Saturday night smelling like lobster and sweet corn. The wine bladder was a lot lighter too. Did I tell you that these guys brought 25 liters of the stuff! They were laughing and talking about the neat people they had met while eating. They had run into Pam, Bruce and Nutmeg, and Don, Marcy and Jamie. I overheard that I had a 19' cousin named "Not Half Bad" and a distant cousin named "Charis" who had joined the the group as well.

Sunday we all left for Valcour Island and a sandy beach in Butterfly Bay. Don and Marcy were delayed. I'm not absolutely sure, but I think Don said something offensive to Jamie and he ended up going to the Dr. for a tetanus shot and some TLC. Anyway, we stayed there for two days and enjoyed the sun, heat, swimming, and cocktail party on the beach. Bill and Siobhan even tried racing with Roger and Barbara. Boy , do they have a lot to learn! Bob Brunnel on "Mac Attack" joined us as we raced and took some neat pictures of me as I slogged along doing what I could to keep up. Thanks for the lesson and tips Roger and Barbara. Ron and Kathy arrived in something called a Catalina. Not a close relative I'm told, but still in the family of sailboats. Her name is "On A Whim" They made everyone laugh as they told of their experiences getting "On A Whim" ready to sail. Even though she was different, she was very pretty. It was here that I finally got some TLC of my own. Roger lent Bill a pump and he performed reverse liposuction on my ballast tank. Boy, what a relief!!

Captains meetings! Now there was an interesting highlight of the trip. We all stayed in the water, safely secured ( well most of us that is) while the captains and first mates met on land or in dinghies to decide what they were going to try and make us do next. Weather was a hot topic and looking at charts took up some time. Bruce and Pam struggled like school teachers trying to get kids attention after recess. They did a great job and kept the group focused and eventually everyone came back to us and we left for the next temporary home. Smuggler's Cove was the next stop and gee that was a nice place. I got tied up every which way but loose and so did all my cousins, except for "On A Whim" and "Not Half Bad" who stayed in Butterfly Bay, I think. Storms were forecast and they certainly did show up. Even a tour boat came out to show people how storms look on the lake from up close! Entertainment was provided by a French Canadian who wanted to park his powerboat in the middle of our anchors. I think there may have been as many as twelve anchors out in the middle of the cove and he just came in and tried to drop his right in the middle. The hue and cry went up and soon captains and first mates had to help him leave. He went over to visit Pam and Bruce for awhile, but I don't think "Charis" cared to share her spot either so they sent him back to us. Out came the captains and first mates again and they finally got "old stinky" anchored and tied up. That night everyone celebrated on the rocks with a bonfire organized by Bill and Jeanne. Bill played his guitar and led everyone in singing lots of songs. Bob Ahlers, who plays a great fiddle, helped with the words and it sure sounded like everyone had a good time. When it was time to return to us, we got a good laugh. You should have seen everyone try to walk back to us with just one little flash light that Jeanne controlled. Finally after everyone was safely back onboard, things settled down and peace and quiet returned to the island.

I noticed that as each day passed, the load got a little lighter and my little pal, the dinghy, got heavier. Seems they were using him as a garbage scow. The captains meeting the next day resulted in a trip to Kingsland Bay. That was a long, really nice sail. As I recall, a port tack all the way for about 26 miles. Something odd was going on here too. Bill and Siobhan were acting weird. After a great raft-up and cocktail party, they just dragged me away from my nice little reunion with my cousins and found a private place to anchor. Out came the barbecue and soon there was a fancy meal being consumed and a bottle of champaign got emptied. I heard some fiddle music that night and Carol's beautiful voice in the distance. This sure beats the slip on the Hudson.

Captain's meeting! Don't they ever get tired of those things? Anyway, it was decided that a trip to Willsboro Bay Marina was in order. All my cousins were rejoicing. Empty porta-potties, fresh water, ice, and best of all, the captains and first mates would smell good again. We all snuggled up to docks or anchored and enjoyed some "alone time" as everyone went up to the Upper Deck for drinks and dinner. "Charis" left her anchor light on so Pam and Bruce and Bill and Siobhan could find their way back!

I heard "Taurus" leave at about 8:00 am for Deep Bay and "Zusammen" and I were scheduled to leave at 9:00 am. "Charis" needed some repairs and "Time Enough" was planning on leaving for Albany. "Moon Breaker" had left the day before as had "Whale". "Not Half Bad" was planning on motoring to "somewhere" and "On A Whim" was off on her own and I'm not sure where that was. We left for Smuggler's Cove since we didn't think we could make Deep Bay before the bad weather was supposed to hit in the afternoon.

We left at 9:00 as planned and made it to Smugglers Cove by 1:30 pm. We could have made Deep Bay, but decided to stick with our original plan. Once in Smugglers Cove, we anchored, rafted up with "Zusammen" and got to know each other a lot better. So did captains and first mates. As night fell, so did the rain. In the morning, it was decided to head for Burton Island Marina and spend the night. That never happened!! Once out of the cove the sails were raised and off we went. The wind kept increasing and it was soon apparent that I had too much sail up. I kept rounding up and the weather helm was keeping Bill and Siobhan busy and concerned. They decided to reduce sail and tried to drop the jib. I was not very cooperative. In fact I rounded up so badly that Siobhan was clinging to the base of the mast with her feet in the water as there was more of my bottom paint exposed than modesty should allow. The motor was out of the water and running in air. Bill finally got me to behave a bit and headed me into the wind so that Siobhan could drop the jib and then the main. I think I scared them a bit but I heard them laugh as they sat in the cockpit after it all. I think they have a lot more faith in my ability to stay righted than before. I let them motor me back to Burton Island only to find that the wind and rain was driving straight into the marina and the only option then was for them to drive me through the channel and over to the lea side of Kill Kare and to take me out of the water. Surprise, surprise. "Zusammen" was already there and doing just that. Captains and first mates helped each other and after my captain managed to snag a tree as we trailered to the upper parking lot, they took me apart, bungeed me back together, and said good-byes. I got to stay in the parking lot of a Ramada Inn in Lake George for the night as Bill and Siobhan tried to figure out how to walk around in a room where they didn't have to crouch or move everything out of the way in order to get into bed.

I arrived home on Sunday, in my own driveway, and got totally cleaned out and made ready to go back to my slip on the Hudson.

It has occurred to me that this was the best trip I have ever been on and that I met some of the best cousins a boat could ever have. I know Bill and Siobhan had a great time and have met some people they are looking forward to seeing again. They made some good friends and learned a lot at the same time.

I have to go now, so until the next time, be well.

MENTAL FLOSS

We just read this report from Mental Floss. Man can she get wordy or what?!

Best to all, Bill and Siobhan