A Ladder's Last Step

 I had just removed my new Lithium iron phosphate battery from its throne below decks with the intent of taking it home to charge. 

Small, less than a quarter size of the lead acid battery and only five pounds, it is deceptively easy to carry about.  I'd kept my large battery box and secured the new battery with foam packaging that came from another story.

Light, Easy to Carry- What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

As usual, my eight foot step ladder was lashed to the port stern cleat and checked for square.  Surprises are unwelcome on the HideAway where ladders are concerned. 

I'd been trying to remember to count my steps down the ladder but, you laugh, I usually forget how many steps the fool ladder has.   

Airborne 

My left arm holding the battery case close to my side, the other flailing about like it had nothing else to do.  "Drop and roll! --- Drop and roll!" -My coach from well more than a half century ago yelled. "Smack the mat with your free hand!"   So I did.

On My Back - The Quiet

I see HideAway towering above me on its trailer, the battery, partially in its case, five feet away, the ladder hanging from its tie down.   Taking a deep breath and a inventory of the rocks embedded in my right leg and arm, I was not badly damaged. Thanks Coach! Explaining the rocks and blooded clothes to my wife would be difficult though and could result in a loss of private time to mess about with the HideAway. 

In My Defense

I offer the above photographs taken just the other day.  I draw your attention to how the value and color of the second step from the bottom is close to the color and value of the sun bleached asphalt- screws, bolts and bits of concrete block notwithstanding of course.  Weak as it is- it was all I had until the color yellow came to mind.

She did find me out of course, but she could not expound about my misadventure as she had done much the same thing trimming a tree some years ago.  Sail on Silver Girl - Life is Good.

SMALL BOATS ROCK!

Sailing HideAway Shoulder Tote
by SailingHideAway

We built the tender pictured above in our garage 22 years ago.