Sun, Sand, Sailing

 The school sailing boat just got repaired.

I wanted to make sure that the patch for the mast foot was strong.

So I invited the family for a beach outing to place the boat on a sea trial.

While I got the boat ready, Ian and Aria braved the mosquitoes (grateful we had insect repellant in the glove compartment of our car) to play on the beach just beyond the gates of the school.

 

 The boat proved difficult to bring to the beach since there was an eroded step that had to be cleared. It didn't help that a tire was flat on the trailer too.

Soon, I was feeling "three sheets to the wind" crazy. It was tiring just getting the boat onto the beach!

Eventually, I was ready to launch the boat and take first passenger. It was also Ian and Aria's very first time on a sailboat! Ian was not thrilled to be the first "victim".

While waiting, the kiddos built empires on the sand...

Ian thought sailing was "crazy fun!" and gave up his turn reluctantly! I brought the boat back to switch passengers. Aria simply couldn't stop laughing--she said she was terrified and thrilled at the same time.

This yellow monitor lizard looked on while our family played. Apparently it is more venomous than the black/grey variety also common in the area.

  Soon, the sun dropped behind the low clouds, and the wind died. It was time to pack up.

While I rinsed off the boat and rolled it back into the storage, the kiddos played on the empty, quiet campus that we had all to ourselves that afternoon.

~ Shien