The art of walking a dock

As a 'yachtie' you are well and sometimes ill informed about the very necessary process of dockwalking. Essentially you are going out there day after day, dock after dock handing out your crisp
3 euro each, Curriculum Vitae. It gets tiring, its gets more than monotonous but most of all it gets demotivating. However, if you do it right, the thought of re-walking dock after dock after hill after station becomes an after-thought. Here's a quickly formed possibly overly-ambitious poem with accompanying photos I have snapped up over the last while, whilst on said dock walk Xpeditions.

You're up,its early, the shower coffee wake up hits it start,

Off on a day of delightful dock walking you are about to embark.

Your bag is packed with C.V.'s , snacks and H2oh,

Italy, Cannes, San Remo, Golfe Juan lets go.

You have your team, the train times are read,

But all you really want to do is jump back in bed.

The itinerary is planned and the stage is set,

Tactics are discussed and trains are met.

Playlists are shared as well as stories of your past,

You wish this train ride will just go super fast.

The speaker on the train mutters something French.

You get off at your stop, step in a puddle, drench.

You um and aah about which path to take,

Then someone spots the big salty lake.

The dock is near, you are almost there,

Now its time to tie up your stewardess-hair.

The team splits as you never walk two-by-two.

Now it's time, the big dock and you. 

The yachts are large and birthed neatly in a row.

You hope one of the deckhands is a mate you know. 

 

"Hi, How you doing?" "what a nice day!",

Is something you might start off to say.

"Do you need any day-work?" "or are in need of a Stew?"

Now you wait, as they approach you. 

"Nah Mate", as most of them be Saffa, Kiwi or Aus. 

"We fully crewed, but check the boat next to us."

"Thank you so much, enjoy your day"

As you turn around with a face full of dismay.

'On to the next one' a famous rapper once said.

You approach the next boat and lift that smiling head. 

The same scenario takes place again and again,

Swearing out loud & kicking the dirt, oh you must refrain.

But every now and then it changes and you appear to be in win,

"We might have a position available, or some daywork", grin.

You strike the biggest smile then try crack a well-timed joke or three,

hand over your C.V. , and strut away happy!

That is the general process day after day,

Oh how boring one might say.

But don't be discouraged there is plenty of fun to occur,

Too many espressos or impromptu Instagrams whichever you prefer.

Sometimes you come across obstacles that get in your way,

But we don't let it stop our dock walking day.

A fence you give us because we shouldn't come in,

We'll just go under it and make ourselves really thin.

Sometimes getting a C.V. to a boat can be a test,

then you just try make your C.V. airplane the best.

Don't be too cocky I learnt the hard way,

otherwise in the port water your C.V. may lay.

When walking to the boats along the far port track,

Dont let jokes, movies quotes and random song outbursts be of lack.

Every now and then motivate your crew,

wether it be by air punch or a 'kif bru'.

If the awesome yachts around you are not enough,

there are many amazing things to capture and stuff.

Cracks in the wall and wildlife are all around,

Just waiting for you and your iPhone to be found. 

 

Walking in Monaco channel the speed of the F1,

maybe you will find yourself watching the rising sun.

Hang around in the ports and make friends at the bars,

what's great about Europe is no one drives cars.

It's really great to dock walk with your friends,

it feels like you're hanging out on a dock that will never end.

The stories, the reminiscing and chat can go on and on,

before you know it, you driven past Toulon. 

Renting a cheap car is always a good call,

It gives you a fun road trip, do you want more?

We took one to Italy and took one further in France,

Oh and how many more docks down we did dance. 

Sometimes you may find yourself dock walking alone, 

don't hesitate, play a crossword on your phone. 

The lonely times are useful as well,

Perhaps you forgot to wear deodorant, and now smell.

 

Casual jumping or gyrating down any dock,

just make sure you don't lose a sock.

Keep it clean and professional but just have fun,

this might be your last day in the sun.

Once you get a job and are off and away,

it's goodbye and farewell to your dock walking days.

These are the times your remember down the line,

Enjoy them while you can, you will be fine. 

The main thing is to keep motivated and go.
A yacht might have a job, you just never know.
Take a risk, take a chance
and if all else fails, dance.

Dock walking is for the committed and the divine,
its something, like me, you could do for a long time.
Keep at it, get a walking crew.
Someone, Someday, Somewhere may just employ you.

 X