Senior News June, 2002 Vol. 21. No.  6

 

Published by the Humboldt Senior Resource Center in Eureka, California. HSRC is a non-profit community-based organization offering services for senior citizens, multi-generational families and caregivers.

On the Dock: Cap'n Jay and First Mate get out on the water together

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On the Dock
Cap'n Jay and his First Mate take every chance to get out on the water
by Captain Jay Dottle

Jay and Barbara Dottle aboard one of their sailboats at Hum-Boats, F Dock, Woodley Island Marina. Photo by Barbara Clark.

Seems that the more I get out and do things by the water, the better I feel. Sharing it with my wife Barbara makes it feel even better. When I am getting ready to go out boating I always have a bit of anxiety and excitement as I do my inspections, rig the lines, check the operation and condition of safety gear, monitor tides and weather.

Barbara and I love our chance to be alone for an hour or two. As we leave the marina we are already working together to take our craft out onto the bay, becoming a part of this unique blend of boat, human and nature-sea, shore and sky. On the bay we are sharing unique panoramas, flocks of birds, giant jellyfish, loons, otters, big sky and splashing waves. We take in these experiences, and we feel so lucky to have the opportunity and the ability to share our time in
this way-all the time, year round!

It seems special just to have the time together. We work different schedules so we never have a weekend off together. An hour or two on the water is like a day of relaxing at home. We appreciate how few people there are on the water, and we are away from the phone and TV, mail and chores. They don't go away, we do. And when we return, we have a refreshed energy level to address those everyday
things.

Once ashore the air is filled with a positive charge as comments of "how nice this was," "how great that was," "it felt good to do and see such and such," and "I'm tired and hungry." It's all good, the sore muscles, cold nose and wind-blown hair goes well with the wide grin, light step, and sparkle in the eyes that we reflect in
one another as we head up the ramp from the dock.

It does take a bit of work and commitment to get the boat out on the bay, but we work together and share the fun. Our shared boating trips strengthen our relationship with each other as we play together, and also reminds us of our connection with everything around us-the environment and the awe of it all.

We love our relationships with the Bay, the boat, but most of all, with each other as we share the joys of a life that is full of good clean fun on the water. Now if we could just make boating one of those everyday things.

Captain Jay Dottle has a fleet of boats at Hum-Boats at Woodley Island Marina where he teaches safe boating and offers sail, canoe, kayak and motorboat rides, rentals, classes and tours on Humboldt Bay. See www.humboats.com or visit Capt. Jay on "F" dock at Woodley Island Marina.

Editor's note: I say "ditto" to these thoughts about getting out on the water. I recently took my first kayak trip from Hum-Boats-I had a wonderful time, didn't fall in, and managed to get back against a strong tidal current and 29 m.p.h. gusts! It's definitely something I'd like to make an "everyday" activity.

-Barbara Clark