tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7441131369462158526.post1296132987444362067..comments2023-09-06T07:23:49.094-04:00Comments on Changes Going South: Castleton Boat Club, Hudson River, NYUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7441131369462158526.post-53391204344676281312010-09-24T21:56:10.935-04:002010-09-24T21:56:10.935-04:00Thursday started with an early phone call from Phi...Thursday started with an early phone call from Phil. The plan to step his mast had changed because he had just helped others step theirs at the Castleton boat club and he now had access to a crane and willing helpers. <br /><br />My own boat project of installing a new engine was temporarily stalled, so I awoke my wife Carol with a proposal to go to Castleton-on-Hudson TODAY. As she opened here eyes to my ranting of visiting Phil and Lorraine on their sailboat, stepping masts, water, etc, she sprang to life at the spontaneous proposal. <br /><br />A short time later we were on the road for the under 2 hour drive there from our home in NW Connecticut. The Castleton boat club describes themselves as a very friendly and casual organization: so friendly that they do not even list their address or directions on their website. Castleton is such a small old quaint town that I guess nobody there would need an address. But the yellow-book came through and our GPS was homed in on their location. <br /><br />When we arrived, I spotted Phil doing something on the pier alongside Changes. We’d not seen each other for over 25 years so and I thought he would not recognize me and that I could sneak up alongside and surprise him. Nope! He saw me coming and yelled out “Hey, Chet!”, and thus began a thoroughly delightful day with him and Lorraine. Time spent with old and new friends puttering around on a boat go like that. <br /><br />The day went by quickly:<br />-helping and learning from their sail rigging and stories<br />-lunch at the Inn that “rocks” as the high speed commuter train goes by<br />-the mooring and anchoring cruise across the Hudson<br />-an outstanding twilight dinner made and served onboard by Lorraine<br /><br />It was great to renew and begin a friendship. Our heads were filled with all we had experienced and our chatter on the drive home made it go by in what seemed like 15 minutes. Thanks Lorraine and Phil, we are already looking forward to seeing you again come May. <br /><br />ChetAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com