Belle is on her way to South Carolina with her new people. She is going to be a freshwater girl. They arrived almost two hours early. We scrambled to get ready. We pulled her out into the driveway. Chocked the wheels. Trailer check. Centerboard check. Locks and keys gathered. Her new owner is so excited about her, excited as my Dad was when he brought her home.
Dad found her at a nearby TVA lake in Tennessee, so even though she was designed for the Isle of Wight, she is fine with freshwater too. They are keeping the name Belle, which is good because the winds and waters know her already.
When they pulled out the driveway with Belle and rounded the corner, I felt good about it. Her new owners were so excited. Even the dog was excited. They put him in the boat and he looked like he had been in boats all his life.
We sat on the porch at lunch, remembering some moments. Dolphins, turtles, puffing along with no breeze and shallow water over the turtle grass on hot summer days. One time a big bonnet head shark ran in front of the bow as the dolphins like to do. The big storm she got us through safely-- my husband kept a clear head. Fishing from her was awkward with all the sheets and shrouds. One day with little breeze, Bob had the tiller between his knees catching trout after trout. 18 years with Belle.
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