Getting Started
2002-05-11-10:30 PM
Airplane Thoughts
(Journal Entry)
It is Saturday, Saturday night
even. We are in the plane heading
to Miami, four people sprawled over six seats.
We were very satisfied with the meal – the flight is so under-booked
that we all had seconds of the main course. 
We had boarded a flight out of
Fredericton, with as much stuff as we could carry. I had started with a
packing of the necessities, and resulted in filling up all allowable
baggage. Then I anxiously broke out a large Coleman cooler, and decided to cry, beg,
and cheat to get more on the flights. We packed winter clothing, a Boat US
EPIRB, electronics, batteries, wire, connectors, and numerous spare parts.
The cooler was duct taped shut, but with all the weird gear in it, I intended
to keep a big roll of duct tape in my pocket to reseal it after each security
check. I was particularly anxious about the EPIRB. It was in a heavy
plastic suitcase, with "do not open" stickers all over it. To a
landlubbing security agent after the destruction of the World Trade Centre, it
would certainly raise a red flag.
However, the first security check ignored the cooler and took the
tape. Apparently, it could be used as a restraining device. They
also took three pair of tiny scissors from John's bag. We're still not
sure what he was planning, but we really wanted the duct tape to come with us to
help out on the boat. We were anxious again at US Customs in Toronto, but
they were amazingly disinterested.
The
anxiety, however, continues; with concerns and lists rushing through my mind. Concerns; like did the boat repairs get done, is the boat in the
water? Lists, like, the provisioning, spare parts for the engine and toilet; and
other issues, like health, safety, schedules, weather, and crew compatibility; all these
are still ahead.
It
truly seems like my enjoyment can start only when performance and responsibility
is removed from me. Is this my great adventure, or is it just more
anxiety. They say that preparedness removes the adventure aspect.
I'd rather be prepared, but feel we are not.
At
some level, the anticipation of the boat, the Caribbean, the learning
experience; these are with me. I am
sure it will all kick in. But for the moment, as I started the journal
under the focused lights of the plane, I scratched down an awareness of the
anxieties that plagued me.
A
journal, I always intended to keep this journal.
However I did not expect to be writing my emotions down.
Trip details, that’s what I was thinking.
I laugh at what I write, and hope for a survivable adventure.
Sunday,
May 12
We arrived at an inexpensive
Miami hotel around 11:00 local time. To celebrate our break-away to this
adventure, we all have a couple of drinks of rum and coke, thanks to my personal
supply. Five hours later, we were standing outside the hotel again,
waiting for the airport shuttle. John took all of four minutes to make a
new friend, and is soon accompanying a hefty security lady in her regular rounds
around the property in a golf cart.
The flight from Miami to
Martinique aboard Air France is somewhat uneventful, but for a stop in Haiti to
refuel. It is still early in the day when we arrive in Fort De France, and
arrange for a cab ride to Le Marin. Our cabbie, Sebastian fills us in on
life in Martinique, as we run over very good roads past lush foilage.
For now, here is the
rest of the story in point form:
- Needing
help to find Bernard, the seller's broker
- With
much assistance from strangers, we round him up
- Boat
is still in Yard, on hard – No work done
- Papers
for customs are not done, due Tuesday
- Cleaning,
investigating boat
- Mosquitoes
terrorize us as we sleep on boat in Yard - Doug has more bites than I have
ever seen on one person
- Pizza
and socializing
- Heat
is heavy on us, and acclimatizing is difficult
