Posted by Monty
We are back in Oriental, NC. Where it all began.
Where we bought South Star and moved aboard in a cold January to start work. Where it almost ended with the sinking of South Star. Where new life was breathed into the dream when we found Sea Bird. Where we made new friends who encouraged us in ways they cannot know. Where we spent so much time that this started to feel like a second home.
We pulled anchor this morning in Cape Lookout at around 7:45 to catch the incoming tide at Beaufort Inlet. Everyone was leaving Cape Lookout at the same time, as there is some weather coming in (Tropical Depression? AGAIN?) and there is really no protection from the wind in Lookout Bight. After a relatively uneventful motor sail into the inlet (there was that thing with Warship 24 calling the Coast Guard on us) we slipped onto the tee dock at Point Marina around 3:15 this afternoon. Our car had been delivered the day before by my father (thanks, Dad!) so after we secured the boat we hopped into the car and went out to eat. A car at your disposal is sure handy. A few pictures:
Where we bought South Star and moved aboard in a cold January to start work. Where it almost ended with the sinking of South Star. Where new life was breathed into the dream when we found Sea Bird. Where we made new friends who encouraged us in ways they cannot know. Where we spent so much time that this started to feel like a second home.
We pulled anchor this morning in Cape Lookout at around 7:45 to catch the incoming tide at Beaufort Inlet. Everyone was leaving Cape Lookout at the same time, as there is some weather coming in (Tropical Depression? AGAIN?) and there is really no protection from the wind in Lookout Bight. After a relatively uneventful motor sail into the inlet (there was that thing with Warship 24 calling the Coast Guard on us) we slipped onto the tee dock at Point Marina around 3:15 this afternoon. Our car had been delivered the day before by my father (thanks, Dad!) so after we secured the boat we hopped into the car and went out to eat. A car at your disposal is sure handy. A few pictures:
And so, here we are. After we put the boat to bed, it's time to do some visiting. Grandchildren, children, friends and relatives await our company, and we are anxious to see them as well. We will take some time and revisit our life as it used to be. We will also take some time to decide where all this is going from here.
Is this the end of our journey?
No.
We don't know where we will go from here, or what form it will take. We may decide to do some traveling over land. We may decide to do some actual work that someone pays us for. Sea Bird needs some attention. She is not beat up very badly, but she could use a little TLC, especially if we decide to take her to the Bahamas in the fall. So this is not the end of the journey. It is not even the beginning of the end.
But it is the end of the beginning.
Is this the end of our journey?
No.
We don't know where we will go from here, or what form it will take. We may decide to do some traveling over land. We may decide to do some actual work that someone pays us for. Sea Bird needs some attention. She is not beat up very badly, but she could use a little TLC, especially if we decide to take her to the Bahamas in the fall. So this is not the end of the journey. It is not even the beginning of the end.
But it is the end of the beginning.