Super Glue

As we departed Morehead City dock this morning the engine stopped.  Air in the fuel line.  I went to the duct tape repair and the diesel fuel had softened it to the point it was allowing air into the system.  Now I don't know much about diesel engines but I do know they will not run with air in the system.  Luckily, last night I had super glued the broken part and I replaced the duct tape with the glued part and off we go. I have taken many boating courses over the years but if I could do it again I would include a course on diesel engine maintainence.  By noon we had reached our next stop which is Oriential, NC.  Even when you think you have some down time things need to be done.  The biggest surprise of this trip, is how little free time you have.  So today it was repairing fenders, those plastic things that keep the boat off the dock and reduce the amount of black marks you get on the hull of your boat.  The pic is of me adding new line to the new fenders we bought in Morehead City.  Tomorrow we have a long day in front of us but expect to be in Bellhaven, NC on the hook.

Memorial Day

You need two things to be a long term boater, duct tape and WD40.  Today it was duct tape.  While changing a fuel filter I broke a bleed screw.  I continued working on the problem while Denniese went looking for the broken part.  After several hours of looking she returned without success. So I did what any good sailor would do.... I put duct tape on it and called it a day.  Fortunately the boat has two of these screws and only one is needed.  So until a new one arrives in the mail, it is duct tape to the rescue.  We enjoyed another fine evening with our new found friends from this area Louis and Diane Wade.  We had pizza at a small out of the way place that had the best pizza on the East coast.  Tomorrow we are off to Oriental, NC if we don't run out of WD40 and duct tape.  Pic is of Denniese at the helm.

Morehead City, NC

We raised the anchor in the bay behind Camp Lejune early Saturday moring.  Our next stop is Morehead City across the bay from Beauford, NC.  We had great weather although rain had been predicted. All went well until about 10:00 when it seemed that everyone that owned a boat or could borrow one had come out to play.  After all, it is Memorial Day Weekend, the official start of the boating season. One time Denniese counted 8 boats in front and 8 behind.  A man pulling his kids on a tube, about 6 or 8 years old, lost one about 50 yards in front of our boat and as he turned his boat to pick that child up he threw the other off.  What a mess!!  I put the boat in netural and sounded my horn.  I guess he thought my boat was equiped with brakes. He got them picked up and we were on our way.  We arrived in Morehead City about 2:00 pm at the city dock.  By the time we returned from dinner a band was setting up in the park in front of the boat.  As the band played oldies I changed the oil and Denniese helped.  We caught the last of it while sitting on the bow of the boat.  After they finished playing, a fire works display started across the bay. A member of the loop group that we are members of dropped a car off for us so we were able to drive to West Marine and purchase some of the parts we had broken since leaving Key Largo.  Sunday we walked 2 blocks to the First Baptist Church.  The first song they sang was "On the Jericho Road" one of Denniese's favorites.  What a great place!!  People sure were nice.  We still have work to do on the boat but have planes to visit Beauford tomorrow.  Another Loop boat pulled in next to us and we are going to have supper in a while with them. We think we will be leaving Tuesday after all the weekend boaters go back to work. The pic is of the concert in the park.

Memorial Day Weekend

Friday, the starting of the Memorial Day Weekend. The weekend all the yahoos get out on the water...  We fit right in!!  We left Carolina Beach State Park across from Wilmington this morning before 7am.  It was the smallest marina where we have stayed - much too small for a 40' boat trailing a 10' dingy.  We made it out without any problem and were in Snow Cut within minutes.  That was the hardest part of the day.  Getting out of the slip had me worried but it all worked out fine.  We had scheduled a stop and refueling at a little marina that we could not find any information on, but we needed fuel and a place to stay so we reserved a slip hoping that all would not be booked on this busy weekend.  Along the way we saw a fellow boater that we met in St Augustine and we called him on the VHF and ask him about the place.  He advised us to buy fuel and continue a couple of miles to a nice anchorage behind Camp Lajune.  Lucky we talked to him.  The marina turned out to be a RED Neck RV park.  A group pulled up next to us in a over crowded John boat and ask if they could go with us. We thanked them for the offer but had to leave.  A scene from Deliverence came to mind.  Anyway we are in the cove behind the USMC training grounds.  A place where many of our nations hero's have trained.  We can hear the rumble of tanks on shore only a 100 yard or so from where we sit.  Thanks to all our military this weekend without them this trip would not be possible.  The pic is on the loading dock at our back door. Fred Tidwell you may have been here.

Sandy Island, May 23, 2011

   We did not write a blog on Sunday eveing because we had no internet service from Thoroughfare Creek, which is where we anchored for the night. 
   When we arrived at our anchorage, it looked like the "Red Neck Yacht Club" had found a new home.  There were all sizes and shapes of boats with kids, dogs and people aboard.  Some folks were in the water and some were on the boats, but all were happy.

   Right in the middle of swampland with tall Cypress trees and thick forest, we had come upon this Sandy Island that is a nature preserve.  The high sandy beach has deep water upto the beach and then a sand cliff about 20 ft tall.  We joined right in with them.  We took Maggie to shore for her "business" and talked with the friendly folks.

   By the time the sun began to set, everyone had gone home and we settled in for the night as the mosquitoes took over the outside of the boat.

   Monday morning, Mike decided Thoroughfare Creek was such a goods spot, we'd just stay another day to relax and enjoy the beauty.  We also worked on a few projects.

   I repaired 4 screens for the hatches around the boat & Mike stoodby as my consultant.  As I repaired and cleaned, he watched the tide.  After all, it changes every 6 hours and it needs watching!

   In the afternoon, Mike was able to pick up a radio station that carried Rush Limbaugh.  That kept him busy for a couple of hours & me looking for earplugs!  We took the opportunity to discuss such important issues as which should come first - flossing or brushing.  Mike contends that flossing should come first, while I say brushing.  The discussion must continue as we both firmly stand our positions.

Supper was grilled fish with yellow rice on the aft deck just before sunset,.  The picture is of Lifestyle II at anchor taken from the shore of Sandy Islanjd.

We're still here!!!

The blogspot page has been giving us fits over the last couple of days.  Coupled with the fact there is not much internet access along this portion of the ICW, we have gotten behind with the blogs.  Some of you may have received the story about Sandy Island.  We have moved on from there.  We spent one night in Ocean Isle, NC at a marina that was actually closed when we went by it, but Tow Boat US was kind enough to call the owner of the marina and he let us dock there for the night.  Next day, we set out again and found Carolina Beach State Park Marina.  The price was good but there is just not much here.  I took Maggie for a walk down one of the park trails and it could very easily been Cedars of Lebanon Sate Park in Tennessee.  Looked about the same.  We spent today cleaning house (boat) and provisioning for another couple of days on the water.  We rode our bikes about a mile down to the Food Lion and back, then I had to go back to mail some bills because the State Park Office would not mail them for me.  Go figure!  Our governement hard at work with our tax dollars sitting on their butts!!!!!  This is a picture of a river boat excursion we met along the way Tuesday.  Just one of the interesting sights we have seend during our travels.

Thoroughfare Creek, SC

Today we went miles and miles and all we could see was marshland and alligators and water.  We saw very few houses or people. In fact, by noon time, we had seen more gators than people. We went to a little town called Georgetown and tried to anchor long enough to let Maggie go ashore for a walk and other nature calls, but the anchor would not hold.  We weren't sure we would find a place to anchor tonight that Maggie would benefit from, but we got lucky.  The picture is Thoroughfare Creek and a little sandy area with a hidden lagoon behind.  It was full of boaters and kids and dogs when we arrived, but they have all gone home and it is quiet and beautiful.  Mike is happy , Maggie is happy, and I am happy and ready for a hot shower and bed.  Who knows what we will find tomorrow!