Listen

 12/14- Apparently I have been mixing up my dates again. I’m reasonably sure today was Thursday. 

    We are stuck here on the boat in the harbor. I feel lucky to have gotten a mooring as the wind has really been howling. The waves were in the 2 to 3 foot range this afternoon after the tide started running out. That is also when the boat turns sideways to the waves and really rocks. The derelict boat next to us decided to take its leave today. The anchor chain just popped and away she went. I guess that’s one way to clear the harbor. It will probably now join all the other wrecks littering the shore. 

    I have been noticing a lot of the sounds lately as the boat has come up with several new creaks and groans. In the night lying on my bunk I can hear to twinkle of the little wavelets lapping at the hull. It then moves on the slap and bang as bigger waves crash onto the boat. Now the halyards get into the act banging against the mast and twanging against the rigging. Every once in a while the mooring lines groan as they get pulled taut. And the crescendo just builds until we have the mooring ball slamming into the side of the hull causing me to leap up. Now all the creaks and groans are in full swing as I pull the pillow over my head. Eventually the tide turns and all the noises calm back down in reverse. The cycle just keeps going. As they say time and tide wait for no man. Actually the boat is taking very good care of us and I am able to sleep for a several hours each night. 

    With all the northeast wind that has been blowing the last couple of days water levels are rising significantly. The wind pushes water into the bays and the water here will be a good foot and a half above normal. This will not affect us too much but those folks with 64 foot high masts will have to worry when they try to go under a bridge. The tides here are in 6 to 8 foot range so there is some flexibility. Then Sunday when the wind goes south east it should blow the water right back out again. Ah the circle of life and tides. 

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