Working, dreaming, and remembering.

Well I am still here in Billings Montana working the oil spill. Grateful for the work, but dreaming of being back on Morgan. I took Sharon to the airport this morning, she is on her way to Mexico as I write this. I will be joining her there next week for Rachel's wedding. I talked to Rachel tonight on the phone. It got me to thinking about my own wedding almost 30 years ago. I looked on youtube and found our wedding song. You can find absolutely anything on youtube. (not always a good thing)

I know, I know, enough of the mushy crap. Let's get back to sailing. Hopefully very soon. The cruising kitty is starting to look pretty good. So it won't be long now.

Mike

1,981 miles from paradise

 They estimate the Yellowstone river at 15 mph. Wow, the Mississippi was 7 mph when we sailed it.

                                      The Yellowstone at flood stage.

 One farmer told me he has lost more land in the last two weeks to erosion then in the last ten years combined.

                                           Unbelievably fast water on the Yellowstone.

Well we are still in Billings Montana. I am working the oil spill here. I have mixed emotions about it. My first problem is that I am allergic to work and I would rather be on Morgan. That's not the biggest problem though as this is about the easiest job I have ever had in my life. It is also the highest paying. That said, you would think what could possibly be the problem. Well, it is a little hard to explain, but I will try. I have worked for myself for so long that it is extremely hard not to put 110% into what I am doing. Now I am working for a large company that is working for another large company, so common sense flew out the window along time ago. Since both of these companies have internet access, and I like easy money that is all I am going to say.

I did a gooogle map search and Morgan is 1,981 miles away. I am missing being on her so much. I have been watching youtube videos of sailing the Caribbean. I don't know if that makes me feel better or worse, but I can't stop. I keep telling myself  "no pain no gain" Working here will really help the cruising kitty. Our goal is to be in St. Thomas by March. This will really help enable us to do that. Well I don't want to bore anybody with a bunch of non sailing jeberish so I will shut up now.

Mike

Change of plans

Well, we had a change of plans. Saturday morning about 9 am we were about 15 minutes away from leaving for Florida, car was packed, house was clean, Sharon was sweeping the floor working her way towards the door when the phone rang. It was Crawford the one of the insurance adjusting companies I work for. They asked if I would go to Montana for an oil spill. They said I would need to leave imediately. At first I thought it was a friend of mine playing a joke on me. First the timing, second I always think of oil spills in the ocean, not Montana. I said sure I'll go. After I hung up with them I called  my friend just to make sure it wasn't a joke. He said no, it's real. So at noon I was standing in the airport on my way to Montana. Life is funny.

I really wanted to get back to Morgan. but this will really help fatten up the cruising kitty, might even get her a little fat. I don't know how long we will be here. Maybe a week or two more. I don't think any longer than that. Time will tell. It has been long hours, but it has been an absolute blast. I am working in the field  with two great guys from Exxon, We go out along the river looking for oil. They look so they will know where to send teams to clean it up. I document it and address the concerns of the property owner. Walking through the beautiful Montana countryside by the river is fantastic.

We have done a lot of river sailing, but this river is unreal. The Yellowstone river is at flood stage right now. You can watch trees floating down river at incredible speed. I thought the Mississippi was fast. It was a mill pond compared to the Yellowstone right now. I would guess 12+ mph. A canoer's dream, but not a sailboater's.

Mike