Last Dance: On The Hook

Cruising on Last Dance

This blog archives the adventures of Glen and Jill Moore and provides a means of communication for friends and family. Exploration and adventure have been synonymous with boats and water for centuries. The joy of adventures shared while exploring new places and meeting new people has built a strong bond for Glen and Jill. Last Dance is the platform for the exploration.

"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page." St. Augustine, 354 - 430

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” Mark Twain, 1835 - 1910

"There is nothing -- absolutely nothing -- half so much worth doing as simply messing around in boats." The Wind in the Willows, 1908, Kenneth Grahame, 1859 - 1932

"I've never believed speed and ease are conductive to living fully, becoming aware, or deepening memory, a tripod of urges to stabilize and lend meaning to life." River Horse: a log book of a boat across America, 1999, William Least Heat-Moon,1939 -

The Great Loop -- The current adventure is a circumnavigation of the Eastern United States, cruising north up the east coast through New York into Canada, across the Great Lakes to Chicago, navigating multiple river systems south to Mobile, along the Gulf coast to the Florida Keys and back to St. Augustine. This trip by boat is commonly referred to as the Great Loop. Progress and current location are indicated by the red line on the map to the right. It was titled the Traceless Path in recognition of a German sailor we met in St. Augustine who published booklets of his travels with hand-drawn, detailed maps describing his travels across the water as the Traceless Path.

Saturday, April 23, 2011

On The Hook

Every activity and occupation has a unique lexicon to describe articles and activities. A term used in cruising meaning "being at anchor" is "on the hook." Last Dance spends more nights on the hook than at a marina. Spending time in a natural setting rather than being shoulder to shoulder with other boats appeals to the crew. And when visiting a town, it is always more peaceful at anchor than tied up in town.

Being on the hook provides a different view of the world. Some anchorages are so far from any human habitation that there is no light pollution. Billions of stars appear in the sky. When the birds stop communicating at sunset, a quiet that is almost indescribable surrounds the boat. Until this quiet is experienced, one does not recognize all the background noises that are in our city environments.

Many anchorages provide long views which gives nature the opportunity to paint the sky with color and light. A few photos may help illustrate the benefits of being on the hook.