It is a very small world!

[Stella Maris]

Yesterday when Maureen and I pulled into Poulsbo, we took a slip between two sailboats. The one on our starboard side looked very familiar. I told Maureen that I had seen this boat somewhere before...... It dawned on me that I had seen it in one of the sailing (yes, I still read sailing magazines...) magazines that I get.

While we were enjoying a glass of wine, the owner got off of his vessel, I briefly stopped him and asked if he wrote for any of the sailing publications. He explained that he wrote for Cruising World (my favorite sailing magazine). He hurried off to the shower as I did stop him in the rain.

This morning when Maureen and I woke, I went on line to do a bit of research on the "Roger Henry". I was amazed to read that Alvah and Diana Simons, world famous sailors were wintering in the berth right next to Karma! I read all of his articles in Cruising World as well as his books!

The Simon's spent one winter in the Artic aboard the Roger Henry and wrote a book about their adventure, North to the Night. I have a copy of this very book on my bookshelf back home!

With the weather being what it is today, we plan to spend the night again here in Poulsbo. I am hoping to be able to sit and share a bottle of wine or two with the Simon's and be able to hear about some of their adventures! I will let you know how it turns out!

What a small world we all live in! This is just another benefit of being in the PNW with Karma!

 

[Stella Maris]

Well, we got the chance to host the Simon's for a couple of hours this afternoon. What a life! They have sailed around Cape Horn, spent the winter aboard their 36 foot sailboat in the Artic. Been through most of the South Pacific and where do we run into them? Right here in Poulsbo Washington! It is truly "karma". They had originally planned to winter in Port Townsend. However when they were told they would need $300,000 worth of liability insurance with the city of Port Townsend named as the benefactor, they then found Poulsbo!

They talked of their Artic experiences, everything from provisioning to survival. Alvah talked of going out on hikes while in the Artic. The first day you break virgin ground. The second day you follow the prior days track to see if a polar bear followed you yesterday...... and to think, our biggest concern is that the wind isn't blowing at 30 knots tomorrow when we head to Blake Island! Nothing about Polar Bears or any bear for that matter!

It is incredible how small this object we call planet earth really is! What a great way to start the new year!

See you on the water!