Hey there,
Been a long time since I last checked in so I figured it was time. And as we all know, things have gotten a little strange since then…
Last post was in December when a friend in Maryland happened to be in the same marina as Further and sent a couple of photos. I visited Further three months after that (four months after I had her hauled out of the water) when I interviewed for a job in Annapolis (apparently didn’t get it). That was the first week of March. Two weeks later, the world shut down.
I’ve been hunkered down at the family home on Plum Island, Massachusetts, and truth be told, it’s been a great place for self-isolating. It’s a big house that had no visitors after Christmas so it was clean; the island was quiet so getting out the house for a walk or run was pleasant; the beach stayed open for walking; we even had waves every so often for surfing. All in all, I hunkered down quite comfortably, and for that I am very grateful.
What’s all that got to do with Further, sailing and the ocean? Well, this: I got a kick out of this recent forecast from the National Weather Service. As we’ve moved into late spring, things have finally warmed up — but, of course, the ocean takes longer. So while the air recently hit the high 80s (with high humidity, to boot), the water stayed in the 40s. And that prompted the NWS to issue the following Beach Hazards Statement:
...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING... * WHAT...Please check with state and local authorities regarding guidelines for allowed activities. The warm air temperatures around 80 may cause people to underestimate the dangers of the cold water temperatures which are currently only in the upper 40s. * WHERE...In New Hampshire, Coastal Rockingham County. In Maine, Coastal Waldo, Coastal Cumberland, Sagadahoc, Lincoln, Knox and Coastal York Counties. * WHEN...Through this evening. * IMPACTS...The cold water temperatures can quickly cause hypothermia to anyone immersed in the water. Anyone on boats or paddlecraft should use extreme caution to avoid this threat.
Included in the warning was the photo that accompanies this post. What cracks me up about it all (and why I’m posting about it) is that the warning just stops at the state line. So…the ocean in Seabrook, N.H., poses a threat but just over the line in Salisbury, Mass., everything’s fine?! Hoo boy…
Anyway, I got a kick out of it. Hope you did too.
As for what’s next for Further ’n’ me, well, that’s TBD. My brother arrived here at Plum Island a couple of days ago after spending the winter in Ventura, Calif., and the plan is for us to do some work on the house (he’s a carpenter). I’ve spent the winter going through our parents’ stuff so that’s done. Our goal is to get the house ready to sell and then, well, who knows? It will break my heart and crush my soul to sell this house but there’s really no way to keep it so…
The Chesapeake is open again and friends have resumed sailing so…it’s time. And I miss Further and being on the water. So, I’ll keep you posted.