Added: Aug 2, 2010

From: jforbe

Duration: 2:44

After clearing into Croatia we anchored in Tiha bay by the resort town Cavtat. Enjoying the sunny calm days swimming, cool drinks, fresh local fruit, and sunsets had become the daily routine. Then gale warnings began squawking from the radio. Behind the hills to the east we could see a thundercloud building. As the cloud grew larger a rolling gray menace replaced the tranquil blue sky and looking north towards Dubrovnik I could see white caps driven by the approaching wind. When the wind hit us we were pushed sideways with such force that there were small whirlpools trailing the windward side of our bow. Boats in the anchorage now had crews on deck assessing the situation and crafting plans of escape. Looking again across the outer bay we sighted a small local boat struggling against this summertime tempest. It was the Produce Guy trying to return his floating produce stand to the calm harbor. The weather was on his beam and the building waves pitched his craft to starboard. The wind would further his starboard roll by catching the sun awning with 35 knot gusts. As the boat rolled hard from one side to the other the Produce Guy would counter balance shifting his weight to the high side attempting to maintain the tiny crafts balance. It was a dance choreographed by the wind with an indifferent sea as his partner. Sea spray and foam pelted the bay. The beaches cleared and boats that were dragging anchor pulled up their chains and headed out and away from a lee shore of jagged limestone. Checking on the progress of the approaching nautical green grocer I noticed this was not simply the Produce Guy. He was Naked Produce Guy. To keep his clothes dry he had stripped and bagged his clothes. He was now transformed. A Homeric hero battling an angry Neptune and the contrarian winds. He fought for his life, he fought for his boat, and he fought for his fruit. Respect to Naked Produce Guy Tiha Bay's purveyor of produce. You kept your boat afloat, your melons and peaches on deck, and your clothes dry. Fair winds and following seas my friend. May your boat remain strong, may your fruit never spoil, and may your tan lines never be erased by an even tan.

Channel: Travel

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