[Sloop Scoop 2012] I'm still here--July sailing

[Sloop John B]

Greeting fellow sailors

First of all--I realize I wrote my departure date wrong; I'll actually 
be here until the end of *July* and then I'll be back for a few weekends 
in August through October.

Thank you to Stephen and Gloria for agreeing to help with the river trip 
on short notice.  Stephen came with me and Gloria was on call at Jackson 
Park to meet us in the lake if we had any problems.  All was 
well--Gordon must have been there in spirit as we had a record river 
trip (less than three hours) and only two powerboats and no barges to 
contend with--amazing for a Saturday.  On Sunday the nameless one (aka 
Chas), Jerrod, and Gordon's nephew Kristopher helped me step the mast.  
The Sloop was a little temperamental with her rigging (I think she 
wanted attention after having to sit out last summer), and I got caught 
in the storm rowing in from the boat after the mast was up (I think 
Gordon was saying if we hadn't taken so long I would have been back to 
shore before the storm hit).

I'm going to try to do some rigging tonight and hopefully will get the 
sails up tomorrow and do a 4th of July shakedown sail.  It's good to 
have the boat in the water, and the Jackson Park folks seem happy to see 
me.  It's good to be here, but I wish life had fallen out 
differently--I'd still be in Ghana and Gordon would be fine.  I'm 
simultaneously dealing with all the phases of grief it seems, and I know 
Slooptherapy will definitely help.

I plan on doing weeknight and weekend sailing.  Let me know when you are 
free in general if you are interested.  I'll try to put out some firm 
times for the next two weekends soon.

Hope to see some of you on the water soon.

Skipper Schuy/Lisa