Ahoy, Me Hearties! I Walked the Plank!

Me mateys Jamie, Dylan, Doug and I near the vessel before it be sailing

The wee buccaneers Hunter, Kasey, Jamie and Dylan

Avast! This fearsome scallywag scares off any lily-livered souls

A brave crew of land-lubbers boardin’ the ship

The ship be settin’ sail from Duck Lake in Eagle River

Carousin’ on the high seas

Ye ol’ seadog makin’ friends with the lasses

Yo-ho-ho! It’s Captain Steve, a people-pleasin’ pirate with an artistic side

Dylan’s teeth-rattlin’ tattoo inked by the talented Captain Steve

Buccaneer Hunter be steering the ship under the watchful eye of First Mate Stevo

Me matey Mark hammin’ it up pirate-style

Julie be takin’ the plunge

Cap’n Steve gives brave lil’ Jamie the heave-ho

Dylan jumpin’ like he be chased by the Dread Pirate Roberts

Kasey jumps off the plank with buccaneer style

Hunter gets a swashbuckling send-off by Cap’n Steve

When I started my 47 and fearless project, I had to search out activities that pushed me outside my comfort zone. But a few months into it, opportunities are more plentiful than gold teeth in Captain Jack Sparrow’s mouth.

Last week, our family spent a couple days with our friend Mark and his boys, Hunter and Kasey, at their cabin near Eagle River, Wisconsin. (His lovely wife, Tracy, arrived later.)

When Mark mentioned we could take a cruise on a pirate ship, the boys were intrigued. When he added that we could walk the plank at the end of the ride, I was sold, too!

We reserved spots for our afternoon adventure with Pirates Hideaway on Duck Lake in Eagle River.

Captain Steve and his son, First Mate Stevo, manned the 50-foot pirate ship that they built from the ground up, and it’s seriously awesome. Flying the Jolly Roger and decked out with pirate decorations, it has treasure chests (to hold lifejackets), plenty of seating on two levels and glass (plastic?) sections in the floor of the lower deck to view the water below.

The relaxing two-hour cruise on the Chain of Lakes included popcorn, lemonade, great music and cool, hand-drawn tattoos by Captain Steve.

Passengers on passing boats couldn’t help but wave and take photos of the vessel—she be a right, fine ship! Scurvy dogs on one speedboat even attacked me mateys with water blasters—all in good swashbuckling fun!

When the ship returned to Duck Lake, the crew dropped anchor quite a distance from the dock and forced me hearties to walk the plank! (Just kidding…plank-walking is 100% voluntary.)

The plank extends a few feet from the top deck, so there is not much walking to be done. But standing directly above the water lookin’ two fathoms down can befuddle even an ol’ salt. Shiver me timbers! Thar be a great, grand way down!

The lasses shook a leg, walking the plank first (see video by Mark by clicking the link).  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7-J2xYPzX8

If my last blog bragged on Dylan, who has amazed me with his growth in confidence, this one is about Jamie. He turned 5 a few weeks ago and was right behind me in line. I was in the water watching him as he stood on that plank. He looked terrified! I held my arms up to catch him, and on the count of 3, he jumped!

When I told him how brave he was, he said, “Mom, I wasn’t brave. I was scared.” I explained being brave means doing something even when you are scared.

Dylan, who had told me he was “not going to think about it and just do it,” jumped next. Guess I not be raisin’ any lily-livered lads!

Kasey and Hunter followed, and each of us jumped at least twice more before it was time to reboard the vessel and head back to shore.

All in all, it was a right grand adventure on the high seas with memories we be treasurin’ for a long time to come. Arr!