We were supposed to leave our autumn home in Belmont Harbor on November 15th. The same day Japan was bracing for a great tsunami. That night, we drove home from work with two of our friends. It was windy all day, but not till we hit Lake Shore Drive and saw the lakefront like a pail of water lugged by a three year-old did we realize just how windy it was.
We tried to convince ourselves it wasn't that bad - as waves crashed against the shore and shot twenty feet into the air. In the safety of Belmont Harbor, Mazurka rocked back and forth. I worried that the City of Chicago would fine us for staying in the harbor past the leave date. We listened to the weather report, we hemmed and hawed - none of the other straggling boats in the harbor seemed in a hurry to get outta Dodge.
"I'm claiming Safe Harbor," Mark declared.
Who knew there was such a thing? But maybe because large bodies of water are the last wild frontiers - gale force winds can come up in an instant...runaway thunderstorms...pirates.... As we sat around the table that night drinking wine and eating dinner, Mark told us of his uncle sailing Lake Michigan when a storm came up. He parked his boat at the Great Lakes Naval Station, claiming safe harbor, and even though civilian boats aren't allowed there, they had to let them in.
What a concept: If you are in trouble, they have to let you in.
Mazurka carries with her an aura of safety no matter where she goes, even the shady south loop. She has a security system, but it's more for nautical purposes; she has her own phone line and will call Mark if she starts to sink, or leak fuel, or if someone tries to break in, I suppose - but who's going to board a boat docked in the middle of Lake Michigan? We have a lock for it - a thick padlock in the shape of a man, his crotch the keyhole. And every morning when we leave for work we lock her up. But if someone really wanted to get on board, they could. Downtown Chicago, where thieves will break your car window just for the change in the cup holder, but boats are left untouched.
There's a mystery to boats. "People are intimidated by them," Mark says.
Like we were with the gale force winds that night. The lake is 17-22 feet deep along the course we would sail to River City. With 14 foot waves...that made for a rather shallow bottom for the keel on this ship. We stayed put for four more days, till the smooth sailing of the weekend.
And the great tsunami of Japan? 6 foot waves.
Wimps.
Who We Are
- Felicia Schneiderhan
- Duluth, Minnesota
- The daughter of a nun caught by a fisherman, Felicia Schneiderhan grew up on the Mississippi River, lived on a boat downtown Chicago, and now explores the North Woods of Lake Superior with her husband and son. She teaches literature and writes all kinds of random stuff, some of which she is paid for.
1 comment:
Mazurka-Polish national dance that spread to England and the United States at the beginning of the 19th century. Characterized by the stamping of the feet and clicking of heels. It is in moderate triple meter and permits improvisation.
The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition 2006
Mazurka- what a strange name for a house boat.
Then I read about the Mazurka docked in the lake. I have seen the lake on winter days when the wind blows and waves crash and the power of the lake is breathtaking and the cold winter wind literally takes your breath away.
I pictured the Mazurka. She would not stand rigid. She would bow and sway and move with the waves- respond to the waves as she was docked in the lake.
Then I thought, Mazurka-what a perfect name for a house boat.
Post a Comment