About 10 years ago, Matt and I went to Tahiti

It was one of those post busy season trips that we had a routine of taking right after the deadline

Now that I think about it, it was the last big trip like that he planned for us that we took

We sailed on a 36 foot catamaran all around the atoll of Raiatea and Taha’a then transited across to Bora Bora

It was amazing, that trip, absolutely amazing

We snorkeled alot, including the first day, when I discovered the chef banging on something on the reef

She was taking the spines off of a sea urchin, cracked it open and offered me some to eat

Matt said “no way”, I said, “yes thank you”, its a memory we always relive when we eat sushi

It was so delicious…..Matt waited to see if I was going to survive

Later in that trip, we hiked up the side of Bora Bora, again, Matt’s idea for an added excursion

We found ourselves lead on a walking tour by a French botanist who had lived on the mountain, amongst the people there for years

We learned so much, saw so much, including what some say is the worlds oldest, largest Banyan tree

Apparently this Banyan tree, this very one, was inspiration to James Cameron when he was developing the first Avatar movie

During the second half of the trip, after we left the catamaran, we stayed in an over the water bungalow in the Bora Bora islands

One day, we decided to sit on the beach and relax, swim in the amazing waters

We saw a couple sailing in on this cute catamaran

I said, “we have to do that!”

So we went up to the beach attendants and asked if we could take it out

Yes you sure can

So off we went, it glided so easily out through the channel we had to navigate to get to the open area for sailing

The water was crystal aqua blue, the sky was deep beautiful blue, the wind was just right, we flew!

It was like sailing in your favorite bath tub, absolutely perfect

While this trip was atleast 10 years ago, the image, the feeling is still as clear as if it was yesterday in my brain

I was holding the rutter and the main sheet, absolutely bursting I was so so happy

Matt says “can I sail now”, I said, simply “no”

It was quite selfish, I absolutely know, but you need to understand how every cell in my body was experiencing happiness at the same time

I was addicted, absolutely addicted to sailing this little craft, making that boat scream across the water, I could not get enough

I did eventually let him sail it but then time came and we had to give it back

I never forgot that boat, I never forgot that time

When we came back home, we were living in Sausalito at the time, I never stopped looking for that boat, one to buy used I thought

They were no where to be had, but I looked and looked

We eventually moved to Virginia, Covid hit……my mind returned to that boat

I found a dealer in Kitty Hawk, in the Outer Banks area, otherwise referred to as OBX, that had one left, he would hold it for me

I had something I needed to celebrate from the work I had started doing in Virginia, some cash in my pocket, so I said yes, hold it, we will buy it, come and pick it up from you asap

So that’s how I got my Hobie Wave, and that is why it means so much to me

The story continues…..not long after I got the Hobie, Matt’s health started becoming an issue

First it was a hirnea, so he couldn’t lift anything heavy after that was discovered and after his surgery, so he couldn’t help me step the mast, so we couldn’t take it out

Then, Uncle Lewy moved in, after which, he couldn’t follow verbal instructions and his participation was actually not terribly safe

So the Hobie sat for several years, sadly in the side yard in Virginia

We did take it to Lake Gaston and my cousins helped me step the mast, launch it several times, but the wind just wasn’t ever super good, never held long enough to really get her going

And then we hauled it to California when we came back

A criteria we had to think about when finding a place to live was where would be park the Hobie! Clearly, the Farm House checked the box on that front (as well as many many others!)

Last summer, we took it up to Tahoe, and that was awesome, she got to stretch her legs a bit on Webber Lake

We tried to take her out for a spin on Lake Tahoe the day before Webber, but a thunderstorm came in so really didn’t get her going

This time Matt’s cousins helped me rig her and they took her out for a spin

So its been quite the struggle still to get her out, conditions, launch locations, help to step the mast…..if I had my old Matt, we’d be out there alot, but with Uncle Lewy in the family, we can’t do that anymore together

I refer to her as an old persons windsurfer, because it is a catamaran, but it has a windsurfer sail

No boom to bang your head on like many small sail boats, easy to rig once you have the mast stepped and locked in

So now you know the background, the “why” to my Hobie…………

Stay tuned for the next episode when we get to my epic break earlier this week…….

I need to return now to the Switchin saga……know that in the midst of switching from the pill to the patch, I was drafting these blogs

Being able to visualize, remember and write about being in Tahiti helped me tremendously as I navigated what my next blog entry will detail……

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