Dribs and Drabs

Posted by Monty

There are several things to catch up on.

First of all, we installed all but one of the new ports.  You may remember I replaced a couple that were leaking and bought enough to replace the rest, as apparently a port should not only be watertight (which is my only criteria for a sound port) but also match the rest (which is the Admiral's criteria, and therefore overrules the Captain).  We managed to install four in one day, the day after Carol had decided it was cleaning day.

This was Carol's solution to catching the scrap sealant and sanding dust that was produced during the removal of the port in the head.  I protested the indignity of using my Tommy Condon shirt in such a manner, but was, again, overruled by the Admiral.

Then we were treated with guests.  Our daughter Heather and her boyfriend Michael came for a three day visit during Labor Day.

They are fisherman extraordinaire.  Here they are at the dock.  I'm waiting on my dinner to be plucked from the sea.  Alas, it was not to be.

The next day, after introducing them to our guests, we said farewell to Vadim and Katerina, our dock mates from Russia.  They are moving their boat into Oriental to have better access to chandleries for supplies to prepare their boat for sea.  We liked having them here, but it is a long way to Oriental via bicycle, and this will work much better for them.

Fair winds, my friends.

Then we went to the beach.  Turnagain Bay is right across the river and as we had never been, and the Neuse was flat calm, we motored the few miles across.

Once anchored, I ferried everyone and everything to the beach via dinghy, courtesy of the newly repaired Tohatsu four stroke, which performed flawlessly, if more slowly than the two stroke Mercury (that keeps stranding me). 

While everyone else fished, I enjoyed the view of Sea Bird at anchor.  This is a view of the Captain's anchoring spot.

As a seafood dinner once again eluded us, we returned to the dock and to Oriental, there to feast at M&M's, where someone else had better luck coaxing dinner from the sea.

The next day, we drove to Atlantic Beach, near Morehead City.  Savvy readers will remember that we anchored near there during our trip to Cape Lookout.  This time, we drove over the bridge I took pictures of while at anchor.  Pretty cool.  Once we were at the beach, the fishing began again in earnest.

But no joy.

Back to the boat to grill chicken, purchased for just such an anomaly.  The next day, our guests left.  We very much enjoyed their visit. A good time was had by all.

The day after, I revisited my old friend, the Mercury. I really am pulling for this engine to be our permanent dinghy choice.  After cleaning out the carburetor and replacing the spark plug, I left the dock on plane, to windward, (just in case) but with high hopes.

My hopes were dashed.

I really am getting way too good at rowing this thing.