A Country Walk

Tine and Rubob took a country walk on the fringes of the village today.



The two weren't very chatty, because they were worried about their doughty sloop Puffin, which hadn't been all that doughty this past week.

"Doubtless the engine will be OK," Tine thought, looking out over the rolling hills, thinking a little of rolling waves. She thought of crossing Long Island Sound in Puffin last weekend, and making it home despite an overheating engine and the dreaded white smoke at the exhaust. "Sounds like a blown head gasket," the mechanic had told Tine.



"I don't think we'll be visiting any more islands this year," Tine said to Rubob.



"No, Tine," Rubob said dejectedly. Rubob and Tine had done their best to get the engine working well enough to get home, and they'd flown back across the Sound at near hull speed, with the mainsail raised in a 20-knot October breeze out of the southeast.

"The sailing season would seem to be over," Tine thought, still feeling the boat rocking under her and hearing the steady rhythm of the waves at the bow. "I'll have to find a new rhythm for my days. At least we have our walks in the village."



And all in all, it was a very pleasant fall walk.