A New Kind of Adventure
August was a break from sailing but not without some adventure, although of a much different nature. Emma and I got to spend a week or so hiking in the hills of the Lake District in northern England.
It is a place of remarkable beauty with rolling hills, lush forests, and scenic waterfalls.
We stayed in what had been the home of Beatrix Potter, author of many children’s books, the most well known being The Tales of Peter Rabbit. I suspect many/most of you had the book read to you as a child or have had the pleasure of reading it to one of your children or grandchildren. When she died in 1943, all of her property in the Lake District was donated to The National Trust. It has since been converted to a very nice B&B, Belmount Hall. You can check it out here.
The real excitement while taking a break from sailing for the month was the birth of our first granddaughter, Rowan Kelly (how’s that for a great Irish name!). Thankfully Mom (Savannah), daughter, and even Dad (Michael) came through the ordeal healthy and happy…..in spite of the risks associated with Covid 19.
Naturally, a copy of The Tale of Peter Rabbit (along with a rabbit stuffed toy) purchased while in England are on their way to Rowan.
So now the next adventure will be for me to help Rowan ‘get her sea legs’ in life. That will at some point include ‘teaching her the ropes’, literally and figuratively. She is blessed to have two parents who will support her 110% giving her the confidence to believe in herself and that she can be whatever or whomever she chooses. God willing, we’ll have many long talks starting in a small sailing dinghy with Rowan at the helm. Eventually and hopefully she’ll graduate to longer passages on Endurance. I hope to impart sailing wisdom along the way, such as learning to adjust sails based on the conditions. Just as in life, when things don’t go your way, adapt, and adjust. And when life throws storms her way, she’ll learn the importance of maintaining a ‘steady hand at the helm’ to keep the ship and crew on course arriving safely at their destination. I’m excited to be a part of her journey.
“There is no greater achievement than to be a grandfather who tells fairy tales to grandchildren”. Eraldo Banovac