77 degrees with winds of 25 mph gusting to 35. One of the guys said it was a perfect day for a first timer [that was me!] He also said that people live all their lives wishing for a day like this. Perhaps I didn’t know enough to be scared–I got soaked a few times–but I really enjoyed trusting the elements, my sailors and their experience. It was awesome to soak up their stories along with the sunshine and excitement.

The day started with MOM encouraging me to get up (@ 7 on the 7th):

Then off we went to the Walnut Valley Sailing Club, at Eldorado Lake KA, just about 40 minutes from Dave & Brad’s place in Wichita.

Dave, as we walked onto the dock, going out to get on the boat at the far end of the warf… We didn’t go out in Dave’s boat; we went in Mark’s. Dave and Mark are best friends and have been sailing buddies for years.

Looking from the dock and the boat ramp, their boats are the last two in the line – the pink one (formerly red) at the end is Dave’s.

Mark is on the right; Clark on the left. He was the eldest of us. I could see he was in his happy place as he took the wheel for a time, tacking back and forth across the face of the dam–into the teeth of the gale and away again.

I saw my very own “Name that means something” written large across the scene: SonLight Sparkling on the Waters!

The water seems very quiet, doesn’t it? Deceptive!

Dave is my host [standing]. He and his partner, Brad [not present], are friends of mine from pre-Covid years of travels in the Four-Corners area of USA. We met through LionFire and Mary Leonard, with whom we had just toured Mayan ruins in Mexico. Dave and Brad had barely got in the door when I asked if I could accept their invitation to visit because my hostess in Mexico City was sick. [Other posts are coming – it’s been a whirlwind and now I’ve got a good place to write!] We got tested for Covid and I used the 72 hour limit of the negative result to fly.

Britton, on the right, above, is a trained tenor who joined us on his one day off from rehearsals for a role in a musical Shakespeare’s 12th Night. I cannot attest to his voice yet; but we’ll see/hear him on Friday! He has an interesting job on the side too; reuniting bags with their owners who returned from Afghanistan under urgent conditions. At 27, he’s the youngest of us and speaks well, strongly and with humour.

Brit, Dave, Clark, Mark and Jake kept me safe and amused!

Braced between the bulwark and the cabin, I got this panorama of Divine Masculine as we sailed high, wide and handsome across the water’s top, hearts singing, with the wind whistling in our ears.

Coming back to the calm waters around the dock, with Dave’s boat beside us, we sat with Willie the dog and a few snacks. Eating while sailing was impossible; flailing along with the motion of the ocean …lake!

I checked the weather. I love the time (3:07) and temp (77) this Nov 7. While the date doesn’t show on this screen, it does on the next…

Winding down, we looked at the clock for the first time — to check whether it was time to go in… MOM said yes, there are other things to do!

I’m happy I could share this amazing day with you, and my favourite sailors from landlocked Wichita! Will my birthday celebration ever end? It was fabulous, and if it seems to never end, that’s ok with me.