4/18/16         Monday              Belhaven, NC



The rather calm waters glimmer in the moonlight. Tiny laps of sparkle as little waves crest and ignite for a moment. The sun setting has already gone through its mauve to blue to black phases. The mauve phase is the longest this evening.

So we said goodbye to our boat neighbors this morning. Time to Go had already left by the time we were up and about. We had a propane challenge - the electricity was no longer getting to the on/off switch so we had to do some investigating. A fuse. Replaced it and then could have coffee and begin the day, seriously. Went to next door/boat to say goodbye to Bright Angel sailors, and to Tricia and Rob on Linda Jean. I'm confident we'll see them this summer in Maine. I really hate the goodbyes, though. We played leapfrog and stayed in radio touch w/two boats all day today. Still, goodbyes are goodbyes. Luckily, we were all leaving about the same time, though going to different destinations today and beyond.

So what makes a day a good day? Yesterday I was preparing and was in a snit. Today I was sad to be leaving friends but totally delighted to be moving on, getting back on the water, progressing, continuing. The environment was about as perfect as could be - beautiful sun, very light winds (!), deep water (!!), relatively straight and not very narrow pathways, good company, healthy cat, AND the seas did lay down. At one point the water was really BIG with just a small line of land in only one direction way far away, and the water was nearly as calm as our pond in Freeport usually is...barely a ripple...except when a power boat went by. Beautiful. The boating was so easy that David and I picked up the murder mystery Sharyl gave us for Christmas and continued where we left, reading aloud while we went along. It is good to be traveling again, in the calm.

laid down seas - quiet pond-like

We'd only expected/planned to get as far as Mayo Seafood today but decided to "make hay while the sun shines", horrible metaphor for sailing, and came all the way to Belhaven, where my cousins, Pat and Kathryn picked us up last fall...and where they had spent their honeymoon many years ago. Didn't contact them this visit. We're on a mission to get back to Maine.

Interesting passing Mayo from the other direction and in broad daylight AND with all this boating experience under our belts. A very different experience that both of us commented on....mostly not nearly as intimidating today as coming upon the rickety - no just unpolished - docks, the fish factory sounds, nearly dark and pretty chilly in October and not knowing what to expect of this industrial "marina." Today, "Wow, I don't remember it being so big."

The pink women's outhouse with sunflowers is still there. I looked for it carefully to make sure. I didn't go into the marina on the way south and we didn't stop this time. However, I know I'd have been less intimidated about walking into the marina/shop/store this time than back in October. I've learned a bit about "the territory" as per The Music Man.

It was a long day on the water and patience was near worn out by the time we anchored, good day and all. Ten hours is a long travel time. We'll hope to do that much again tomorrow. Sixty to seventy statute miles is what we need in order to get through the Albemarle Sound before the wind picks up again on Wednesday. And that will help us much closer to Maine. However, we can't sustain that kind of travel over the long haul of more that 3-4 days. One of us would be likely to jump or be pushed overboard. Just kidding but it would not be very tolerable.

We did manage to get our holding tank pumped out...by us...at a diy pump out station on the city dock. Easy when we finally found the hose in a bin at the other end of the dock from the place you put your token. Pumped out, nevertheless. Anchored and dinner was ready within minutes. I'd planned ahead and our friend, Tricia, had given us some salad fixin's to go w/baked potatoes and chicken.

Our lives are rich. We are blessed.

4/17/26         Sunday             Morehead City, NC


WINDY!!! Still. Not still as in calm but still windy. It lays down at night and until around 9 AM when we all get hopeful that it will stay calm. No such luck........yet. But tomorrow is promising. So, we're in "prepare to leave" mode. Which tends to put me into bit of a snark mood. My triple Capricorn decision making, hyper organized (I think, anyway) self kicks in and David doesn't have a chance at making the right decisions (agreeing w/me) as quickly as I want or as I can. Not that all my decisions are correct but they are decisions. So it was best if I worked by myself for awhile. David went shopping. I continued sanding and oiling on the forward, port rails.

Long view of port rails

Success! A beautiful success.

port rails w/oil

Okay I'm a little proud of this work. Can't wait (?) for an in-port chance to refurbish the starboard side which was my first draft at rail oiling and lacks elegance.

We managed to get re-provisioned, buy a hose so we can wash stuff without emptying gallons of water by dishpan, did a laundry late in the day. Then joined our boating neighbors, all of whom are planning to depart tomorrow, for drinks and dinner at the Ruddy Duck on the wharf in Morehead City. We are a fun crew. Several we'll remain in touch w/if we're lucky.

Rob and Tricia True at our table

 

This photo is from a few nights ago (just got it) when our new, next-boat neighbor, friends from Belgrade, ME, came to our house for dinner. So delighted to know them and looking forward to seeing them in Maine. They are putting their boat up for the summer in Morehead City (Jim Moore's Marina) and will re-join the boat next winter.
Hmmm. I know why we're not doing that this year but.....in the future?

So, we're pretty much ready to leave in the morning. Hoping to make Oriental, if Neuse River is rough, or Mayo is it is just a mile chop.

4/16/16        Saturday          Morehead City, NC


Well we thought the winds had stopped this morning. Nothing exciting in the night and flags gently rippling, sort of, this morning. BUT, by 10 AM it was blowing again. Goodness. When will this blow out. All of us here are ready to be on our way again. A couple of boats left yesterday and another left this morning but the rest of us want to wait until there are no more 6' seas, no matter how far apart the waves are. So.......we wait. Now only 5 boats and we're the only sail boat. Another trawler is planning to leave in the morning. Of course, they may change their mind.

Excitement today was 2 police cars, 2 fire trucks, Tow Boat US, Sea Tow, Coast Guard all arrived off our stern...the stern of the other boats, too. Our neighbor two boats down had called to say a boat anchored behind us was in distress. Then she was worried that it wasn't in distress. No one on board and it had been there since we'd arrived. She thought it was much lower in the water. Finally To Boat US went aboard and opened the hatch and found it was filled w/water. Tow Boat US pumped it out for probably 1/2 hour using 2 big pumps. Apparently the owners are in PA. I think Coast Guard was going to contact them. The woman who called was vindicated and much relieved that she'd not wasted time and money by calling everyone out.

About that same time I'd finished oiling part of the railing I've been working on since September.

Note the rich brown color of the rail. It will fade, of course, but looks beautiful now. I shimmied between the top and bottom rail to get down to the deck to make sure I'd covered the foot rail completely. I shimmied my cell phone right out of my him pocket. And, guess what?
Saw it plop right in the 6+ feet of water, that would be ocean, salt, murky water.

Phone grave

My new-to-me iPhone S5 (or 5S) that I bought about 35 days ago (reconditioned and certified). Heavy sigh. My friend/boat neighbor took me to the AT&T store. I thought I'd insured the iPhone. Not. But the deductible could have been abt $200 anyway. So, I bought an Android for $138. DEAL! The man who helped me was very patient and helpful AND all my contacts and info from my old Android (from 35 days ago before iPhone) could be loaded onto new Android. YES! Not the iPhone stuff but all the photos which is most of what I lost are all on my computer. Sooooo. I'm "phoned" again and totally pleased. I have to get a better tether for my phone, though. I like having it with me all the time but back pocket, or any unsecured pocket, just doesn't make sense, especially onboard.

Back at home/boat I watched my friend, Sybil's, movement choir for the National Water Dance Project, live streamed. Then made snacks to take to the boat party 2 boats down. We were going to all meet at a bar because most of our boats were too small to host all of us (9 people). But Bright Angel which IS large enough invited everyone there. Great. Finally we're getting the hand of cocktail hour which usually turns out to be 2+ hours, not so much for any drinking but for all the stories that get shared. We've even learned there is a "cocktail flag" that, when flown just lets people know that you are accepting guests, bring your own drink/snacks and come visit. Now why didn't one of our home boating friends let us know about this tradition?!?

Hoping that winds subside tomorrow and have mostly diminished by Monday so we can all leave. Hoping, as well, we're not all planning to go to Oriental since that town only has 3 free dock spaces and most of us are spending our pay dock funds here in Morehead.

4/15/16            Friday             Morehead City, NC


TAX DAY unless you live in MA or ME, sort of. Something about Patriots' Day and the weekend? But for most, Tax Day. Got our extension filed and will complete when we return next month.

Winds continue to howl. How can they sustain this energy over so many days? Surely, they'll blow themselves out soon. Enjoying boat projects, cooking and our new friends next boat. Library visit today, some reading. Dinner w/next-boat friends.

Not too much going on while we wait.

4/14/16         Thursday             Morehead City, NC  


One day til TAX DAY!!! Good luck everyone.  We slept late today then went back to bed after coffee. A day around the "house" for the most part. Morning computer work and thinking about Freeport Arts & Cultural ideas and opportunities...and communicating same to the Steering Committee of which we are a part.

The BEST news, perhaps more than anyone want except David and self.........Amelia pooped!! Nice, well formed and sizable poops. Okay. Okay. Too much information. But, this has been a BIG concern for the past week. I'm relieved, and I bet she is, too. She has two more days of antibiotics but already her "normal" behavior of eating and talking and wandering around during the night has returned. And, she came out on the deck today and sunned. Good news all around.

Post computer work this morning into afternoon I did some sanding. I've about a third of the aft deck railing scraped, sanded and ready to be washed and oiled tomorrow. We'll borrow our neighbors' hose, wash the railing and fill the water tanks. Then wait for railings to dry so we can oil them. Maybe take a trip to Beaufort for sight-seeing with boat neighbors.

Today Trisha took David to the chiropractor to see if a pro could realign his chest and neck. David thinks a rib is out. Good results but not a cure at the chiro's. Then we four went to the boat consignment place in Beaufort. didn't buy a thing! Hurrah!! Then back to tasks on the boat and over to Rob & Trisha's for a shared dinner. Total fun. A delightful couple. Trisha's sister is married to John Linscott, jazz musician and creator of Love and Lobsters, the musical Freeport Players produced last summer. Small, small world.

Hoping to hear that cousin, Cheryl's, son, Matt, had successful surgery today to reconnect some nerves in his face. Sending prayers to him and to our friend, Sally, for recovery, health and peace.

Blessed, I am.

4/13/16          Wednesday              Morehead City, NC



Big day today in port in Morehead where we are waiting out the high winds that will likely continue through the weekend. So glad we didn't arrive in Mile Hammock a day later. Stuck there awaiting wind decline would be really trying.

So my big day - I had breakfast on board from around 11 - 12:30; visited with next-boat neighbors who are from Belgrade, ME and are on their first cruise; a little rail scraping, laundry at the other marina, filed my fingernails (for the first time in several weeks), cooked dinner after visiting Belgrade neighbors on their boat.

Lots of conversation with David about next week, next month, next year and tomorrow. Nothing like planning, or at least trying to envision, our futures. As a former colleague said "We're all going to get a future (if we're lucky) to what is your preferred future?" Mine is to not be in Maine in the deep winter, to not be away from Maine home, as long as it is my home, for a whole 8 months which is fine this year but is getting to be a bit long and I miss family/friends/yard/neighbors/garden/neighborhood familiarity and EARTH. One of many thoughts I have is to do some cruising/exploring the Maine coast this summer; 2 week trips or take the boat somewhere and leave it, then come back to it in another week. Sail to Penobscot Bay, for example, park Grace and come home, then return in 2 weeks and continue a sailing adventure further up the Bay. It's an idea. We've never made it to Sullivan, Maine, where friend, David Cadigan, lives. I'd love to visit him by sea. Then there IS Nova Scotia where our new friends live. Sigh. time will reveal all.

Chilly in Morehead tonight and the wind whistles and singing through the rigging. Kitty is stirring after her day of mostly sleeping. She did wander out onto the deck a couple of times this afternoon. She seems to be feeling better. A relief.

4/12/16        Tuesday              Morehead City, NC


Another day on the waterways. We left Mile Hammock early this morning with all our neighbors, about 7 boats finally arrived by last evening. Away we went to get the next bridge that opened only on the hour and half hour. Dun-da, dun-da, dun-da, dun-da - hear the theme to "Jaws" - boats closing in on the swing bridge. Oops. swing bridge is under repair. So we all slowed down, circling, waiting, anchoring. Then from the swing bridge, "Boats traveling north we're going do an experimental opening so you can go through." "David (who was just employing the anchor), we're going!" "Now?!?" from David. yep, now.

One oddity on the way up-stream:

Man pushing boat

We couldn't quite figure out what was going on here. Interesting. There was skinny water and a couple of shoaling alerts on our way when the ICW goes between Emerald Isle and the NC mainland but otherwise pretty uneventful.  We're on a dock at Morehead City Docks.

A great and lovely visit and dinner with Suzanne and Lee. They took us to the food store and liquor store (what is a sailor without rum, I ask us all?) then treated us to dinner at The Parrot, a lovely restaurant with delicious food. Good company. Good food. Good conversation. We came back to Grace for dessert of strawberries and yogurt.  Suzanne brought us a NYTimes for our reading pleasure. They left for the drive home and we went to bed.

Suzanne & Lee, our dinner companions