I arrived early for my tour on the Lady Washington so I could take pictures of her docking.
After we boarded I was surprised to see that we used a diesel engine to get under way. Pulling off the dock, the crewman that remained behind yelled. “Bye-bye boys. Have fun storming the castle.”
Whereupon one of the crewman aboard said, “You think it’ll work?”
Another crewman added, “It’ll take a miracle.”
“Bye-Bye boys!”
When we were safely into Lake Union, they cut the motor and set sails. To which I immediately became very queasy. The guide had said, “There are three types of sailors – Those who are seasick, those who will become seasick, and the liars.”
I won’t lie. I really thought I would toss my cookies the first hour. I sat quietly on the hatch and pretended not to be sick, while waiting for my body to adjust to the rhythm. Eventually I was able to get up and wander around, but I was still shaky by the time I disembarked three hours later.
The crew was adorable. I had the feeling that I knew most of the people on board, even the other passengers, like I’ve done this before… perhaps in another lifetime – who knows. I would have hit on hottiesailorguy, but thought it best not to be mackin’ when there’s a real possibility of a rush to the railing to yarf in the water. Oh well, maybe next time when I have my sea legs.
When I finally, felt better and could enjoy myself, I was simply overwhelmed with awe. How cool is it to be out on the water, completely at the mercy of the drift, and the wind? There’s a surrender that comes with that knowledge, as soon as I gave in to it and let go – the sea sickness almost entirely went away. I wondered then if it’s not the same kind of seasickness of emotions that I’ve had when I’m hell bent on controlling my life, and life has other plans. The harder you cling, the more unsettled you become. While I let go, and allowed my fear to ebb, my expectations to release I felt great – adrift and well taken care of… sadly, I panicked and clutched at my wants shortly after and a stronger more renewed sense of stomach unease followed. Several times through the night I had to CONSCIOUSLY let go. It seemed like a terrible battle of repetition and yet, for those moments that it worked. I found BLISS.
More Pictures in the Photo link to the right.
3 Comments(+Add)
I should have told you to just take a dramamine half an hour before boarding. Ever since i went on the pill I get motion sickness on anything that moves – my doctor thinks I’m crazy but I used to be able to do carnival rides, windy roads, read in the car, go out on the ocean, all of that, without the least bit of nausea. Now I walk uphill, I throw up. I once took the hydrofoil from Seattle to Victoria (muy fun!) and took dramamine beforehand and was fine, even coming back during a storm I was all right, especially with a little beer to sip. Glad you had fun! You need to quit thinking about picking up hotties and just start doing it. Flirting and macking is good for the soul. That’s where the bliss is at.
Surrounded by so many seamen and you didnt ask one for a date?
To assist with your quest for bliss…a few words of wisdom from Chuang Tzu:
“Happiness is the absence of the striving for happiness.”
“Flow with whatever may happen and let your mind be free. Stay centered by accepting whatever you are doing. This is the ultimate.”
Glad to see your adventure is paying off!