Good-bye Old Friend

Today was a very sad day: we sold our boat. As many of you know, it had suffered a cracked engine last winter due to the severe cold. Coming from San Diego, we didn't know you are supposed to winterize your boat. Of course, the insurance company wasn't sympathetic and practically laughed in our face when we made the claim. We were hoping to eventually get it fixed, but after a year we just weren't sure we wanted to take the chance of getting the engine rebuilt and spending tons of money to have it still have problems. Because it had spent a lot of time in the salt water, there was also rust damage on the wires, and the battery and connections were shot. So after having it posted on craislist for literally 10 mintues before Jason's phone was ringing off the hook with people who wanted to buy it, we contacted a guy who said he would give cash and had an engine to put in it. He picked it up today, and as he drove away with our boat attached to his truck, I began to cry. I mean, this boat practically defined mine and Jason's relationship the first two years together.

My first time out with him was four days after our first date. We went out on San Diego Harbor with friends Matt and Vanessa. From that point on, we spent many warm weekend days waking boarding or just relaxing in the sun, nights watching concerts from the harbor or enjoying a picnic dinner, and invinting friends along to share the fun. Jason loved to take people out for the first time, and help people learn to wake board or let the little kids drive the boat. Jason took it fishing a couple times with the guys, which was such a great memory for them. We went to great lengths to keep it nice and clean, dragging it back to east San Diego where Jason worked so we could power wash it, flush the engine, and scrub down the inside. We were so excited to some day have our kids out on the boat, teaching them the rules of the water and how to waterski/wakeboard. And when we moved up here, we bought a place close to a huge lake that we thought we'd be spending many summer days on. Now those days seem a long way off. Hopefully some day we will be able to get another one, but we'll see. For now we are still mourning the loss of our boat that provided so many wonderful expereinces. Thanks to all who joined us for a day on the lake or bay and helped make such great memories. Here are a few picts from over the years.