Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Mid summer greetings friends!
An update is long overdue, but if you were here, you would understand why I've been too busy outside enjoying a Maine summer to be sitting down at a computer sending emails.
After a mild winter, and a wet spring, summer is maxing out here. The Old Port is chock full of tourists, so like the rest of the locals, I've left them to their shopping, lobster rolls and ferry rides around Casco Bay, and I've been immersed in all the
activities that make this state so popular.
I have become addicted to competitive sailing and spend every Saturday racing up and down the coast participating in the GMORA (Gulf of Maine Ocean Racing Association) 2006 racing season.
But more about that later....
When I am in Portland I've been enjoying organic Maine produce at the two farmer's markets held here each week - on Wednesdays right now I can find lettuce, cucumbers, squash, herbs, potatoes, beets, carrots, flowers, pot plants, eggs, and homemade jam in Monument Square downtown, surrounded by street performers and other artists. On Saturdays the same
market is in the park around the lake, which in winter is frozen and becomes a skating rink.
Weeknights I have the option of listening to live concerts in downtown and also in the park, or movies shown in an open air theater. The first Friday of each month is Friday Night Art Walk where a plethora of galleries, studios, and museums are open until late and offer special exhibits and entertainment.
Summer also brings lots of fairs and festivals. Early last month my street became one giant block party as the venue of the annual Greek Festival. I joined Steve and Glenn in their front yard, along with some other guests, for a candlelight Middle Eastern feast while we watched the singing and dancing directly across the road.
The three of us have also enjoyed exploring some hidden international hole-in-the-wall cafes around town and to date have uncovered Eritrean, El Salvadorian and Persian food.
I must say, My Two Dads are such a blessing! I have been one lucky duck to have met such wonderful, loving people the minute I arrived here in Portland. And they're both so talented too; I have enjoyed hearing Glenn sing in his A Cappela choir, and Steve perform Broadway numbers in the Gays' Men Chorus. Last week I attended a fundraiser they held at their home for
Governor Baldacci's reelection campaign and tonight I'll be over there to join them and Happy, their collie dog-child for dinner.
We have become the best girlfriends ever!
While I've been enjoying myself here, I've also had some guests pass through Portland this summer.
Chuck Walker, my long time mate from New York City, participates in a bike ride called "Trek Across Maine" each year, a three day ride from the west of the state up to the coast. He and his three team mates dropped in to my office to say hi on the way from NYC, and again on the way home, stiff and sore, for a shower and bite to eat.
This past weekend I got an email out of the blue from a former coworker from my Insync days, Susanne Hoffman, who was on a brief weekend visit with her in laws. Sadly, I was away on an overnight race and missed seeing her and Craig and meeting their two kids.
OK, now to my latest passion - sailing.
As you remember from my last email, I had just signed up to learn to sail. My first day out was over Memorial Day and I turned up, showed a lot of initiative and scored a spot working the Fore Deck, one of the most difficult and highly coveted positions on the boat. The Fore Deck crew is responsible for the sails - putting them up and down, flying the spinnaker and tacking the sails at the Skipper's call. The weather was glorious and my ship mates lots of fun. Six hours out sailing in Casco Bay! Glorious!
The following weekend however, was a COMPLETELY different story.......
Instead of tranquil waters and warm sunshine, it was pissing down rain for the whole five hours we were out, no let up at all. We had 8-10 foot waves, the boat was heeling over so high the rails were touching the water and we were hanging over the side trying to counterbalance the weight. The rain was SO hard it was hurting my face. I had NO wet weather gear, (I thought
I did till I got out there anyway). I had huge water crashing over me, I was so cold and wet I was shaking, then the skipper would yell "tack" and because I'm on the fore, I had to get up and tack the sail over. It was INSANE! The boat is heeling at almost 180 degrees, I'm trying to brace myself so I won't go over, then I've got to get a huge Genoa sail from the port to the
starboard side. What a wild ride!
Since those two introductory sails, we have raced every weekend. Each of the Yacht Clubs in GMORA hold a regatta each weekend. It might be a local round the buoy race, or an out of town two day event. This past weekend we did a two day sail competing in the Camden Castine Race. I left at 5am Saturday for the two hour drive up the coast to Camden to get on the boat and returned home at 9.30 Sunday evening. We raced from Camden over to Castine, a small town down on one of Maine's peninsulas, where we stayed overnight. Castine is home to the Maine Maritime Academy, a handful of shops and a few Bed and Breakfasts. We rafted up with another boat at the dock (where all the yachts moored for the night) and had a great dinner, lots of beer and then went to a party with the kids from the Academy. I slept on the sails on deck (we need 12 crew to race the boat and have 12 berths below to accommodate us, but who wouldn't want to sleep under the stars on the water?)
We had an early breakfast and raced a course back to Camden.
I have become addicted to this! Each week working on the fore in all kinds of conditions I get beat up, almost go overboard and end up black and blue from being thrown up against the rails - but each week I go back for more. When you're out on the water, sailing along with a pod of whales (like we were two weekends ago), or passing seals riding the swell (like we do
every weekend) it's hard not to love it.
I've become very competitive, reading sailing manuals and learning the physics of wind and water currents and their bearing on the speed and direction of the boat. I've even begun meeting other fore deck crews with the intention of getting on one of the faster more competitive boats for next season. I'm also looking at what it might take to study at the Maritime Academy.
Who knows, one day I might get a charter job on a boat like this one that raced with us this weekend.
www.tooelusive.com
On Sunday I met the owner (heir to the IBM fortune) and got a tour of her while she's up here racing for
the season! Su-weet!
This coming weekend is my first weekend off as we aren't racing, but the following weekend is an all night-er. First gun is 11.30 am, we'll race from Portland up to Monhegan Island and back to Portland, about a 20 hour non stop race where we will take 4 hour rotating shifts on deck (don't worry, I'll be attached to the railing during the night.) It's going to be nuts! I can't imagine how thrilling it will be if we hit bad weather during the night.
Okay, that's it for now. Here are a couple of pictures - the crew on Saturday night and a few of the boats and area I was in.
The young guy standing behind me, Patrick, and I are on the Fore with John (bald guy on the left of me) the Bow-man we work under.
Let me know when you're coming to visit!
Leanne.
An update is long overdue, but if you were here, you would understand why I've been too busy outside enjoying a Maine summer to be sitting down at a computer sending emails.
After a mild winter, and a wet spring, summer is maxing out here. The Old Port is chock full of tourists, so like the rest of the locals, I've left them to their shopping, lobster rolls and ferry rides around Casco Bay, and I've been immersed in all the
activities that make this state so popular.
I have become addicted to competitive sailing and spend every Saturday racing up and down the coast participating in the GMORA (Gulf of Maine Ocean Racing Association) 2006 racing season.
But more about that later....
When I am in Portland I've been enjoying organic Maine produce at the two farmer's markets held here each week - on Wednesdays right now I can find lettuce, cucumbers, squash, herbs, potatoes, beets, carrots, flowers, pot plants, eggs, and homemade jam in Monument Square downtown, surrounded by street performers and other artists. On Saturdays the same
market is in the park around the lake, which in winter is frozen and becomes a skating rink.
Weeknights I have the option of listening to live concerts in downtown and also in the park, or movies shown in an open air theater. The first Friday of each month is Friday Night Art Walk where a plethora of galleries, studios, and museums are open until late and offer special exhibits and entertainment.
Summer also brings lots of fairs and festivals. Early last month my street became one giant block party as the venue of the annual Greek Festival. I joined Steve and Glenn in their front yard, along with some other guests, for a candlelight Middle Eastern feast while we watched the singing and dancing directly across the road.
The three of us have also enjoyed exploring some hidden international hole-in-the-wall cafes around town and to date have uncovered Eritrean, El Salvadorian and Persian food.
I must say, My Two Dads are such a blessing! I have been one lucky duck to have met such wonderful, loving people the minute I arrived here in Portland. And they're both so talented too; I have enjoyed hearing Glenn sing in his A Cappela choir, and Steve perform Broadway numbers in the Gays' Men Chorus. Last week I attended a fundraiser they held at their home for
Governor Baldacci's reelection campaign and tonight I'll be over there to join them and Happy, their collie dog-child for dinner.
We have become the best girlfriends ever!
While I've been enjoying myself here, I've also had some guests pass through Portland this summer.
Chuck Walker, my long time mate from New York City, participates in a bike ride called "Trek Across Maine" each year, a three day ride from the west of the state up to the coast. He and his three team mates dropped in to my office to say hi on the way from NYC, and again on the way home, stiff and sore, for a shower and bite to eat.
This past weekend I got an email out of the blue from a former coworker from my Insync days, Susanne Hoffman, who was on a brief weekend visit with her in laws. Sadly, I was away on an overnight race and missed seeing her and Craig and meeting their two kids.
OK, now to my latest passion - sailing.
As you remember from my last email, I had just signed up to learn to sail. My first day out was over Memorial Day and I turned up, showed a lot of initiative and scored a spot working the Fore Deck, one of the most difficult and highly coveted positions on the boat. The Fore Deck crew is responsible for the sails - putting them up and down, flying the spinnaker and tacking the sails at the Skipper's call. The weather was glorious and my ship mates lots of fun. Six hours out sailing in Casco Bay! Glorious!
The following weekend however, was a COMPLETELY different story.......
Instead of tranquil waters and warm sunshine, it was pissing down rain for the whole five hours we were out, no let up at all. We had 8-10 foot waves, the boat was heeling over so high the rails were touching the water and we were hanging over the side trying to counterbalance the weight. The rain was SO hard it was hurting my face. I had NO wet weather gear, (I thought
I did till I got out there anyway). I had huge water crashing over me, I was so cold and wet I was shaking, then the skipper would yell "tack" and because I'm on the fore, I had to get up and tack the sail over. It was INSANE! The boat is heeling at almost 180 degrees, I'm trying to brace myself so I won't go over, then I've got to get a huge Genoa sail from the port to the
starboard side. What a wild ride!
Since those two introductory sails, we have raced every weekend. Each of the Yacht Clubs in GMORA hold a regatta each weekend. It might be a local round the buoy race, or an out of town two day event. This past weekend we did a two day sail competing in the Camden Castine Race. I left at 5am Saturday for the two hour drive up the coast to Camden to get on the boat and returned home at 9.30 Sunday evening. We raced from Camden over to Castine, a small town down on one of Maine's peninsulas, where we stayed overnight. Castine is home to the Maine Maritime Academy, a handful of shops and a few Bed and Breakfasts. We rafted up with another boat at the dock (where all the yachts moored for the night) and had a great dinner, lots of beer and then went to a party with the kids from the Academy. I slept on the sails on deck (we need 12 crew to race the boat and have 12 berths below to accommodate us, but who wouldn't want to sleep under the stars on the water?)
We had an early breakfast and raced a course back to Camden.
I have become addicted to this! Each week working on the fore in all kinds of conditions I get beat up, almost go overboard and end up black and blue from being thrown up against the rails - but each week I go back for more. When you're out on the water, sailing along with a pod of whales (like we were two weekends ago), or passing seals riding the swell (like we do
every weekend) it's hard not to love it.
I've become very competitive, reading sailing manuals and learning the physics of wind and water currents and their bearing on the speed and direction of the boat. I've even begun meeting other fore deck crews with the intention of getting on one of the faster more competitive boats for next season. I'm also looking at what it might take to study at the Maritime Academy.
Who knows, one day I might get a charter job on a boat like this one that raced with us this weekend.
www.tooelusive.com
On Sunday I met the owner (heir to the IBM fortune) and got a tour of her while she's up here racing for
the season! Su-weet!
This coming weekend is my first weekend off as we aren't racing, but the following weekend is an all night-er. First gun is 11.30 am, we'll race from Portland up to Monhegan Island and back to Portland, about a 20 hour non stop race where we will take 4 hour rotating shifts on deck (don't worry, I'll be attached to the railing during the night.) It's going to be nuts! I can't imagine how thrilling it will be if we hit bad weather during the night.
Okay, that's it for now. Here are a couple of pictures - the crew on Saturday night and a few of the boats and area I was in.
The young guy standing behind me, Patrick, and I are on the Fore with John (bald guy on the left of me) the Bow-man we work under.
Let me know when you're coming to visit!
Leanne.
Comments:
<< Home
"Frostbiting" sounds wild for a beach gal from down under, but then again, you are a great adventurer. I can't wait to hear the story my friend. I have always taken great pleasure from your tales of travel. I'm glad you are sharing them with a wider audience now. I'll be waiting for the next installment of the Dingo Diaries.
Love the blog and can't wait for more of your adventures around the world. How long does it take to fly from Portland to Tortola?? I checked out the photo of the boat broaching and while a bit frightening at least it was during the daylight and fairly nice skies.
Take care. How often are you planning to update.
One bit of news, we signed to start building the Padre Island house. I'll email a photo of where it will be.
Post a Comment
Take care. How often are you planning to update.
One bit of news, we signed to start building the Padre Island house. I'll email a photo of where it will be.
<< Home
