Our moving life has begun again, after a full week of idleness.  We made the best of our time in Marion, but it was high time to skedaddle.  Yes, avoiding Earl is a priority, but I was also growing weary of spending so much time in a place I had no roots in – a permanent guest.   We had an uneventful motor accross Buzzards Bay to Cuttyhunk and it looks like we’ll be mostly motoring today to Block Island.

I know Hurricane Earl is on the minds of our family.  Oddly, contrary to my normal doom and gloom outlook, I feel reasonably comfortable that we will weather it soundly.  Thanks to my new best friend, iPhone, we have a Hurricane app and access to NOAA and Sailflow websites that give us pretty accurate information about wind and waves along the coast.  Our current plan to head into Long Island Sound is based on those data sources and although hurricane models are not always accurate, the reality is that we have no choice but to use them – we certainly can’t remain here. 

Unlike land life, cruising offers few choices.  What you eat is determined by what is in the ship’s lockers – you cannot run to the grocery.  What activities you do is determined  by what is within walking distance of the local town dock.  What clothes you wear is determined by what little you brought with you.  Who you spend time with is determined by what boats are in the same harbor.  And where you sail is determined by direction and strength of the wind, height of the seas and strength and direction of the current.   Life is less frantic with few choices, even if some of them seem unpalatable.