Ship of Fools

Ship of Fools
It was a 4 hour bus ride to the Bay of Islands where we were to pick up our boat.  Larry had chartered a Davidson 28 .  Not very big, but the other ones which were 33 plus were twice the price.   Well, talk about going from the lap of luxury to camping afloat.  The boat is 25 years old and looks it although it is in fairly good condition.  It's a good thing I'm a sailor and a quasi camper.  I have learned to be resilient through the years with Larry.  There is always a.challenge ahead somewhere. But, I am not complaining, mind you.  I am sailing in New Zealand, in the Bay of Islands, one of the most beautiful places to sail in the world, looking wistfully at the 33's as we leave the harbour.  We do not have a shower (except for a little hose in the cockpit), nor do we have a coffee pot.  Shiver my timbers.  I have to make instant  coffee, so I bought the expensive stuff (you know the packages of instant cappacino).  I figure, I an handle a challenge like that as long as I have my wine and my wits.

Now, there is a problem of who is the captain and who is the mate.  I figure the one who makes the drinks is the mate.  Consequently, I stay out of the cabin.  We will eventually have to take turns with this over the course of this cruise for various reasons.  Like when we want something, you can take the chance of being subordinate if you get something out of it.  When the Aussies say gooday mate, I figure it means they are talking to the mate of the ship.  Therefore, I say it a lot..Gooday Mate!  To Larry and he'll get the message.
Although Larry has the knowledge of sailing the ocean blue or turqouise as in this case, I still think I'm the boss.  I said "Larry, do you know where we are?"  And he says, " Not really, do you know where we are, Beth?"  Hence, Ship of Fools.  Hopefully, we will find our way back to port without any mutanies going on or getting lost.

I have been told there are no man eating sharks, although there are sharks who don't pester you.  You are allowed to swim with the dolphins and seals, but not the whales.  I hope I get to swim with the docile marine life.  Otherwise, I ain't going home.