a three hour tour...

So I met this guy George through a friend at a summer party and cook out. He seemed genuinely nice, educated, somewhat attractive and had his stuff together from what I could gather in the short time we talked. He owned a boat and enjoyed going out for little fishing trips, playing golf and enjoying life outside of the financial world of consulting for his day job. We talked throughout the afternoon and into the night and decided to exchange numbers. I had no intention of calling him, but if he called me I would answer and take it from there. He was a bit older than I by a good fifteen years, so we were in two completely different places in our lives. His two daughters were in college, my two kids still at home. But, he seemed nice enough and would be a potential friend at the least.

George phoned one day asking if I would like to take a boating trip and maybe go fishing. Sure! I love the water, have a respect and admiration for the ocean and would love to enjoy a beautiful day fishing! Why not? We planned to meet on a Saturday morning, early at a launch site somewhat close to where we would set our plan for fishing close to the where some good catches might be. I packed my day bag of sunscreen, towels and even a healthy snack to share of fresh fruit: blue berries, bananas, strawberries and other in season goodies!

Once at the landing dock, I met George, his daughter and her boyfriend. What? I thought it was just the two of us. Not sure I am ready to meet the family, but ready or not, here they are and here I am. I felt like freakin’ Suzie Homemaker with my day bag and fruit to share! Okay, nice to meet you’s and let’s get this boat in the water and set out to catch some fish! Not a cloud in the sky, we ventured out and I began to learn the ropes on trolling. The thirty or so foot boat had a nice little cabin below, but missing one crucial element: a real bathroom. What would be the plan for that? A bucket below with a quick dump on the side, I was assured. Hmmm…that’s not exactly what I had in mind on get to know you’s, but how bad could it be? Up for the day and out to enjoy, I can roll with it even on calm waters!

We rode out to a few spots, cast the lines and kept trolling for fish while listening to the radio and lying out on the boat deck. George’s daughter and I shared girl stuff and were getting to know each other while the guys did their man stuff of baiting the hooks, casting the lines and trying to catch some fish. It was truly a gorgeous day on the water and not a cloud in sight. A few fish were caught, but nothing that was able to save for a possible cooking later that day. A great start to a wonderful Saturday out on the Chesapeake Bay!! What more could I ask for?

Eventually nature called and I needed to relieve myself. I asked again about where to go, what the proper procedure was for this boating adventure and was told yet again about the bucket in the cabin being the best bet. So, pee in the bucket and George would ever so kindly dump the bucket off the side. I opened the cabin door with bucket in hand and started down the few steps.

Oops…Houston I think there’s a problem. Trying not being an alarmist or pushing the panic button on Polly Paranoid, I stepped into knee deep waters…ocean and bay waters combined inside the boat! Trying real hard to control my “oh no, there’s something wrong here and where’s the life jacket,” I summoned George, forgetting all about my nature stuff. Umm, is there a reason the cabin is filled with sea water? George looked in to see and confirm that “Yes, there is a problem!” We were indeed filled with water and if the water didn’t get out soon, we might just sink right here!

Fast forward to everyone get your life jacket on and let’s reset the pump, try to empty the boat and hope we aren’t calling the Coast Guard yet! I don’t know exactly what George did, but I went to the deck, tried to lay low and catch some sun and ignore the fact that this could be serious. Inside I was quite nervous! But, I went with the “if George isn’t panicking, then I shouldn’t” thought. We pulled in the fishing lines and his daughter and I sat together wrapped in towels being sprayed while the cabin was emptying at boat speed. Not sure how it all works, didn’t ask and really didn’t care as long as the life jacket was close. I had visions of being in the ocean water and the boat sinking…not good! What was your last meal? Oh, a tuna sandwich and some fruit salad! Not what I had envisioned as my last meal at all! I always thought I would be having those large strawberries dipped in chocolate while some hunk was taking my breath away, literally! Nope, I was going down in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay with tuna and fruit! Great!!

As we traveled throughout the Bay fishing lines in and water being expelled, George was certainly not Captain Fun! I could tell he was nervous, but didn’t want to really say. After a good amount of time, the water in the cabin was gone, George was trying to regroup for a day to fish yet again. I, on the other hand, was ready to call it a day. I had experienced what I considered a near death potential and wanted no part of the remainder. Get me back on dry land and to my safe harbor. I was wind beat, a bit over done with the sun, still had to pee and the bucket was looking like my only option. I took it as we headed in, and did the disposing as naturally as possible along the side of the boat.

We trolled a bit more and not really catching anything but a few half hearted laughs at the experience. The mood had certainly changed even George’s daughter was a bit somber. No one was coming out with the seriousness of the experience or voicing being frightened by it all. Maybe this is why my kids call me “chicken mom!” We headed towards the docks, each of us having a job to do. George was steering us into position, guiding the boat in, my taking the ropes to tie up temporarily then run get the Jeep while the rest of the crew helping as much as possible with not many words exchanged. Not exactly the boating excursion I had in mind, but neither do most plans play out like I thought. Story of my life and the three hour tour!