Down to the Sea Again

Early in their relationship Jim, an experienced sailor, and Angie, a neophyte, set out on a yearlong journey aboard the thirty foot sailboat Escapade. Leaving from the boat's home port at the west end of Lake Erie, they took the boat across two great lakes and then, by way of the Erie Canal system and the Hudson River, down to New York and the Atlantic Ocean. From there, they sailed out to Maine, then down the coast to Chesapeake Bay, where they experienced their first brush with a hurricane. Leaving the Chesapeake, they followed the Intracoastal Waterway to Florida, crossed the Gulf Stream, and spent several months cruising the islands before returning to the Chesapeake. Thirty years later, they meet unexpected challenges when they try to recreate an experience which they both considered to be a highlight and turning point in their lives. Refitting their new boat, Bel Canto, a thirty year old Tayana 42, the type of boat they had dreamed of having thirty years earlier, turned out to be a monumental task. And dealing with the boat's size and ideosyncrasies on the waterway created more stress than they had bargained for. Nevertheless, the couple finished the year feeling satisfied with what they had accomplished and an increased appreciation for their relationship.

Jim: As a child I dreamed of an adventurous life. My career as a teacher may have seemed antithetical to that, but with summers free I was able to take long camping trips, while also enjoying the exciting sports of skiing and whitewater canoeing. Although I grew up within a stone's throw of Lake Michigan, I discovered sailing only after becoming an adult, but once involved, I was hooked. For twenty years I got all of the experience I could, sailing small boats and large, so that by the time I met Angie, I was ready for my grand adventure. Meanwhile I studied music and languages, traveled when I could, and did my best to instill a loving of learning in the students who passed through my high school English classes. Today my traveling is cut short and I split my time, along with Angie and our dog Belle, between our home in Ann Arbor and our getaway in the woods of Northern Michigan.

Angie: I grew up in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, surrounded by water. As a child I watched the freighters passing through the locks on the St. Mary’s River, going from Lake Michigan to Lake Superior and back again, and wondered about their far off destinations. The love of water and the desire to travel never wore off. As as adult I have canoed wilderness rivers, camped in national parks and state forest camgrounds, and traveled by van through 48 states, all the provinces of Canada, and most of the states in Mexico. My career was teaching, which, along with photography, cooking, and writing, gave me an outlet for my creative urges. I also love art, music, and reading. Today I live with Jim and with Belle, our Golden Doodle, in Ann Arbor, Michigan.