Chapter Two

Hello All, Its been a few days since my last post. The wind has been very kind and

We have been fully enjoying it. There is the feeling in the air that Fall is arriving and these

ideal sailing days are nearing an end for the season . At least up here in the great Northwest.

Yet even as Winter settles in again I still intend on doing some sailing throughout the cold and wet winter, With the proper foul weather gear some of the best cruising can happen in the winter. And it always a good idea to learn to handle your boat in a variety of conditions. But enough about that though, I would like to share with you more about me and this boat and our plan.

I have been living in the Northwest for around ten years , and I discovered sailing up here about

4 years ago . Right away I fell in love with it , and saw how much potential this form of travel carries. And began to also realize what responsibility it requires too. I spent much of my time

reading and studying to learn as much as possible. This is how I have self taught myself in the past and also by just doing it. I purchased my first sailboat , a 21 foot aquarius sloop and spent

weeks building up courage to take her out for the first time. After quite a few bumps and stressful moments I began to get a feel for how the wind a water work with the sails . My next boat was a 28 foot Columbia Sloop, this was my first ' real boat ' and also when I started truly

living aboard. A truly fine vessel she taught me even more about boat handling on the Mighty Columbia. A very good sailing boat indeed , yet still not the boat I wanted to take across the bar into the Pacific. I was the first winter on the boat that met Matt , the owner of a bristol Cascade 36. We soon became good friends and he enlighted me more about the Cascade line of sailboats

and the distant landfalls these little boats have made. And I soon was sold after doing my own research on the loved Cascades around the world. It wasn't long before my day came to own a Cascade. Minor Key was lying at Rose City Yacht Club ,a Marinas up river from mine. I reached

Wade on the phone and he happily allowed Matt and I to go aboard her to check everything out.

We both were fully impressed , she was fully intact and boasted a dry and clean bilge and a shining teak and holly cabin sole. She had every reciept and was maintained very well. I was in love.

Soon after I met Wade on the boat discuss her. I was so amazed at how much energy this man at 93 had and how much enthusiasm he showed for this boat and my plans for her. After sitting in the cabin on this hot summer day for a couple of hours I find out that he is one of the founders for Cascade Yachts! So he knew exactly how she was built and what they are capable of because

he helped build them. We soon came to an agreement and Minor Key became my future.

I feel like I am rambling on here so I think I will contuinue this chapter later and get more to the point.

Thanks for reading and May The Winds Be Fair to You.