A rainy day at the Portnoy's dock

Gene  and Jeanette

Rose and Paul

Our Host and Hostess, Mel and Mary Jane,  thanks so much for your great hospitality.

Some of you know about the house down the ICW from us that we refer to as the PINK house,  I think we will call it the RASPBERRY house after seeing this on on our last miles home.

Dave is glad to be back in South Carolina

A little different stance but as usual at work......

Last days of our trip home to North Myrtle Beach

We arrived in Windsong at the Portnoy’s dock on Monday (July 14^th) around 11 AM and had a relaxing time until our hosts returned from appointments in the afternoon.  A great cocktail hour(s) with the Portnoys and the Fishers, catching up and reminiscing. 

We chose to stay on the boat that evening.  Mary Jane and Mel had appointments on Tuesday but left a car at our disposal.  We hoped to see some friends but it did not work out.  We drove to Oriental and had lunch at M & M’s.   Again don’t come back to an establishment years later and expect the dish to be prepared the way you remembered.  A short stop at the Marine Consignment store but found no goodies.  Another stop for a few supplies at the grocery store and back home in the rain.  It rained all afternoon.

The weather report forecasted storms with high winds so we were urged to sleep in the house.   There was lightening all night but no bad storms.  At first light Dave was up and anxious to get underway and across the Neuse River while the wind was NE and under 10 K.  It wasn’t bad and Adam’s Creek was flat.  One perplexing problem was the amount of steam coming from the exhaust.  Dave imagined all sorts of mechanical problems as the exhaust filled the cockpit with the wind behind us.  It persisted all day.

Bogue Sound was a wet rocky ride and then rain that allowed us to only see two boat lengths ahead of us at times.  Thank goodness for our track on the GPS.  Waves subsided as we got into the narrow ICW area but the rain persisted in waves.  We stopped for fuel in Swansboro and decided it was prudent to stay put after seeing the radar showing storms moving up the coast.  The other factor was firing on the range at Camp Lejeune may have blocked our passage through the area.

Dave used the time to check the engine and other mechanics.  He found nothing that should have caused the heavy steam.  Leaks were dried up.  We read most of the afternoon while it  rained.  After cocktails we went to The White Oak Bistro and had a nice dinner on our last night out.  A return to this establishment did not disappoint.  On return to the marina Dave spoke to the other couple on the dock.  They have done the Great Loop four times with their chocolate lab on a boat our size.  No, I can’t imagine that!

Another early start with 116 mile ahead of us.  It was a morning of a few blunders which I promised not to reveal.  The steam problem had dissipated, we surmise it was caused by the extreme humidity.  The Cape Fear River was rocky with waves pushing from behind.  Between Southport and the bridge we were boarded by the Coast Guard for a safety check.   They were very nice and allowed us to proceed during their check.  We passed; as I was a former Aux. Coast Guard Vessel Examiner I knew there would be no problem.

The rest of the trip was spent avoiding other vessels on the water who were enjoying  a great day.  As you can see in the photo, Dave relished arriving back in South Carolina.  As we got by our house our neighbor, Julian, was on his dock watching for us.  Derwin, another neighbor had been tracking us on “Find My Friends”.  They both knew we would need a ride home from the marina to get our car.

Docking time 3:00 P.M.,  50 days on the water and 1,283.1 miles traveled.  During the trip we visited with 5 couples in, Windsong, our old neighborhood.  Nine of the folks we saw were our friends from the Chesapeake Bay Tartan Sailing Association.  We saw our children and grandchildren and 5 members of our extended family.  It was also nice to spend time in the Harbor East Marina, where we kept Temptress all those years and find the same folks in the office.

A routine is setting in at 2600 Broome Terrace, Adrienne is here and has helped me catchup with the many loads of laundry and the yard work.  The boat is emptied; definitely sitting higher in the water.  Dave is back at what Dave does best……  Neighbors are welcoming us home and catching us up on events of the past weeks.

Thanks to all of you who have giving me favorable comments and enjoyed the blog.  Sorry about the notice on the updates, I am still working on getting my  e-mail server to recognize the computer updates.  So until our next trip enjoy the rest of your summer as I entertain my family here at the beach the next two weeks.

Pride II of Baltimore

Myron and Mary Shiplet bright eyed on Tuesday morning

Myron's new dinghy

High water with the great moon  (out of sequence)

New Point Comfort Light at Mobjack Bay where the dolphins played

Virginia Air and Space Center

Nick Barnicle

We are out of the Chesapeake Bay

We have learned on this trip that our Chris Craft is not a Bay boat.  The shape of the hull at the bow of the boat send waves and spray on the windshield and up the sides.  A bit of spray on a hot day feels good but being wet is another story.  As happens on most boating trips the wind is from the wrong direction.   On our way North the wind came at us from the North.   On our way South it came mostly from a Southerly direction.

The trip from Inner Harbor Baltimore to the Shiplet’s pier on the Bodkin was not a bad trip  a short but hot one. We did get the opportunity to get some great shots of the Pride II with sails up; heading out of the harbor.  Mary helped us tie up with the wind blowing us away from the dock.  Myron arrived home about the same time and we had a nice lunch on their shady screened porch.  Mary took me to the grocery  and liquor stores. 

Dave showed Myron the boat and explained how the dinghy was not very satisfactory for our use.  He said it would be perfect for his work around the pier.  We struck a deal and he now owns our dinghy.  Congratulations!  Enjoy yourself and with the grandchildren.  

Water skiers, jet skies and tubers rocked the boat most of the afternoon  but by the time we were ready for bed the creek was clam.  Mary served us wonderful meals, dinner and breakfast.  We enjoyed our visit; thank your so much for your hospitality.

Our trip to Solomon’s Island was a wet and very hot one.  Spring Cove Marina gave us a slip along the shore line that was already in the shade.  After a bit of cleanup and we made a beeline for the pool.  So nice and cool. We had dinner on board and then walked the docks.

Off on Wednesday morning to Reedville and Walt and Mary’s dock.  They are most gracious host and hostess, willing to put up with us twice on our trip.  We had SSW wind at 9 to 12 Knots and a splashy day.   Libations and good dinner made us forget all that.

Thursday Walt and Mary had errands and we needed oil and a filter for the oil change that was due.  Dave was also lucky enough to find and ABC store that had Ezra Brooks Bourbon.  I did laundry and relaxed while Dave did boat chores.  When our hosts returned we took them out for a much deserved meal.  Thanks you for great hospitality and the loan of the 50 foot power cord.

Underway the next day, again with SE winds.  They came on our rear port quarter making steering a constant battle.  With 1 to 2 foot waves it was not bad.  At New Point Comfort Light Dave suggested we go into Mobjack Bay, anchor, swim and have lunch. On our way in we saw the first dolphin that we have seen in a great while.   We anchored, I brushed clean the waterline of the boat.  Dave thought rinsing off the salt water would be good so he hooked up the shower.  He took the first one and when he turned on the shower it sprayed with brown slime, YUCK!  It was all over him and the inside of the head.  He went back in the water and then cleaned up the head and we rinsed in the cockpit with the garden hose connected to the galley sink.  So much for all the clean towels we had….. I got lunch and we weighed anchor for the rest of the trip to Public Piers in Downtown Hampton.  Wind had built, the wind direction the same but now the waves were 3 plus feet.  Not too long a trip but taxing.  Showers felt really good.

We were the only boat in this section of the marina.  After a nice cocktail we had dinner on board and took a walk in the area.   The moon was producing a very high tide.  Back on board we found that we got 37 TV channels over the air, but nothing good to watch. 

Saturday,  cool and beautiful.   Dave washed down the boats and hopefully we are leaving our heavy doses of salt water behind.  We took a trip to the Virginia Air and Space Center.  Very interesting history of the space travel and air craft carriers and other planes.

Nick Barnicle joined us for lunch and a pleasant afternoon,   Nick is in the Navy and stationed in Norfolk.  He is Amy, our nieces oldest son.  So nice to see him, here about his career, a promotion, wedding plans and his new apartment.

Tomorrow we head into the Inter Coastal Water Way on the next leg home.  377 mile if I calculated correctly.  We hope to be in Windsong, Campbell Creek Monday evening before the big storms predicated for Tuesday.

CrossOver in Harbor East Marina

Enjoying my wish

My alma mater was recognized

Queen Victoria's dental cleaning tools

Liberty Ship the John Brown  all volunteer maintained and operated

Nathan, Granddad Dave and Owen

Alyse

Getting ready to watch fireworks

Tina and Owen

Alyse and the Capt.

Brad and Owen

Nathan and the Capt.

Nathan playing the pipes in Pierce Park

Alyse enjoying the horn slide at the Park

Nathan and  Owen

More of our week in Inner Harbor Baltimore

During our time here I got to accomplish one item on my list of things to do has been the Museum of Dentistry in Baltimore.  When we kept our boat here I didn’t get to go because they were not open on weekends.  I got my chance and enjoyed the time thoroughly.  Dave enjoyed it as well.  What a marvelous job they have done with the exhibits!  Even if you are not in the profession you would enjoy time there.

Baltimore has expanded their walk to extend the horseshoe of the harbor.  Parks are beautiful and the two free bus lines allow tourist to move through the city without moving their cars. We did bike to Fells Point to our favorite spots, the Blue Moon and Jimmy’s and Bertha's.     

Little Italy did not disappoint either.  We actually found a new place that served faccoca.  Faccoca is a different pizza crust.  Jo Benny's opened three months ago and they treated us very well; a huge meatball and a cream puff desert on the house.  The screen for the outdoor movie is being redone for this season.  The owner of the apartment from where the projection is done passed away but they have it all in place.

Our slip was along the wall and it was so interesting to watch the people.  Saturday morning on the walkway in front of the Under Armor store there was a yoga class.

 July 4^th was a busy place at the marina although the Arthur and the cold front produced some nasty conditions on the Bay preventing some boaters from arriving for the fireworks.  No problems here with the floating docks but we understand that the tide was extremely low.  We went in to the harbor for some of the entertainment.  The highlight of the day was the arrival of Brad and family for the fireworks.  We had not seen the grandchildren since Christmas.   My how they have grown, especially Owen!  Owen, the climber, was difficult to keep safe and at one point he made a plunge for the dock.  The fireworks was not the best we have seen, it did bring out the air horn and whistle competition in the marina.  The crew left after the on shore crowd dispersed and a tired set of grandparents need a good night’s sleep to prepare for the next day with them.

The cold front brought cooler weather and 55 and 61 degrees overnight were welcome with high 70s and mid 80s during the day.  The family arrived around noon and we went out for a harbor cruise.  The older children were fascinated by the submarine, Coast Guard vessel,  the Liberty Ship the John Brown, and Pride II of Baltimore; oh yes the pirate ship.  On out to the Francis Scott Key Bridge which the children have crossed many times and the buoy marking where the Star Spangled Banner was written.  We motored on to White Rocks and into  Rock Creek looking for our former boat, Blue Chip.  Anchoring for lunch was not a good Idea, the rollers were dangerous but we managed to get lunch.  On our way back we did the perimeter of Fort McHenry and Alyse and Nathan got a chance to steer the boat.  Owen slept in my arms all the way back.  A sweaty experience but a treasured time for me.  When we returned I took the three children to Pierce Park for an enery release.  Dave and Brad talked business and Tina chilled.  

Brad picked up a roasted chicken for dinner and Tina made two delicious salads.  We found a picnic table on the dock so we could spread out.  As usual the children were not hungry.

Back at the boat Dave was filling the water tank and Nathan was on the dock with him.  Nathan stepped backward and went down and under the water.  Dave will never forget seeing him down there in the water.  Nathan is proud that he can swim and tread water.  The first thing he said as we stripped him down was, “ I should have had my life jacket on.”  Lesson learned!  Alyse saw him and yelled, “Man overboard!”  Brad took him for a shower and they all went home to their Grandparent’s Shiplet in Pasadena.  A DAY TO REMEMBER!  So blessed it all turned out well.

On Sunday we bike into Canton down by the Water front and up around the square.  Years ago if you mentioned that I would bike in this town I would have just laughed at you.   We found a place for lunch, sat down with Bloody Mary’s and ordered when Dave realized he had no wallet with him.   The owner of the Speakeasy on O’Donnell Street said no problem, eat and go get your wallet.  Food was great and Dave biked back while I waited at our outdoor table.

In preparation for starting our trip home I did the laundry and had a nice shower.  While waiting for the laundry we were treated to a show of the marvelous sculpture and glaze work that Capt. Bill Flohr.  We were in AWE.  Never judge a book by its cover.

It is Monday and we are starting South and on the homeward bound leg of the trip.  The weather has turned hot again.  By lunchtime will be in Bodkin Creek  and tying up at the Shiplet’s pier for the night.  (Tina’s parents)  Tuesday on to Solomon’s and Wednesday at the dock of the famous hosts in Reedville, VA. The Keith’s.  I think their roster should read the days they did not have guests…..  Conditions on the Bay are looking favorable for us.