Let the Planning Begin

An old box of charts and photographs printed on copy paper was dropped on the counter of our community clubhouse as my back was turned to the sink getting water for a cup of coffee. While I was negotiating with the Krueg machine to brew me a cup of coffee, Peter was emptying the box layer by layer. Kind of like finding an old box in the attic and discovering the secrets it held. As each layer emerged, a story, a comment, excitement, regrets. Then he found the charts.

Laying them out on the tables that had been arranged end-to-end for the up-coming board of directors meeting, a mish-mash of laminated 8 1/2 x 11" copies of someone who had made the voyage before Peter and his twin boys had attempted their journey, a  found marine atlas of the area, and some good old-fashioned marine charts covered two tables. 

A voyage adventure is never just about covering miles across the surface of the globe. We talked,  planned, swapped stories, asked hard questions, and set expectations. We agreed that either of us could bail on the trip at any time, a strong overlying imperative is that we are able to at least be cordial to each other as neighbors when we're done, and the slowest, weakest, or member wanting to take pictures sets the pace. 

Strong, important first step of the journey.