Surf City

OK it has happened. Somewhere along the way I have lost a day. Not sure where it went or what we were doing, but it is gone.

Yesterday we travelled the Cape Fear River up to Surf City NC. It was another beautiful day, with a heat warning for 100 degrees. Definitely a day to be on the water. With the breeze it was quite comfortable, but when the breeze stopped it was HOT.

Look at the birds following the fishing boat!

A better picture of Waypoint our companion.

There are few marinas in this stretch of the ICW. I spent a LONG time trying to find somewhere for the night. As much as we would like to anchor out, it is way too hot; we need power for the AC in the evenings. Settled on Beach House Marina. Active Captain said they were closed, however we called anyway and found they could take us. They said they were in bankruptcy and the bank will takeover soon, but in the meantime it is business as usual. It is the most expensive marina so far at $2. per foot. I told them so, and their comment was they charged this because they were so close to everything; grocery store, liquor store, restaurants, etc. That is certainly the only reason. It is merely a dock, with a table and umbrella for their office. They do provide showers, laundry, and washrooms in a building.  Docks are floating docks in good shape. Not what you expect for these rates, but there is not much to choose from.

This is all there is for an office. I wonder why they are bankrupt. Or, perhaps we Canadians have it all wrong. I wonder what Ken MacDonald would have to say about this. The good thing is that it is a 50 mile run from Southport (the only one), it has floating docks that are really easy to get onto, just off the ICW, has a nearby grocery store and DQ. A great location.

We headed for the grocery store and got a few things we needed. Had a light dinner on board as there was a DQ 1 block in front of the boat that needed some attention. We then walked down to the beach and then out on the pier. We had a rain storm front come through just after dinner that we had watched from the flybridge. The surfers were having a great time in the after storm wind and waves. We know why this place is called Surf City. There were about 10 different surfers. A lot of fun to watch.

The pier itself goes out into the ocean for about 500 to 600 feet. The fishermen line the pier.

We returned to the boat and noticed sheet lightning off in the distance behind the boat. What a show it was. I have never seen anything like it. The entire sky behind the boat would light up and flash. There was at least a 45 degree panoramic view of sheet lightning.  The sky danced with the flashes. We told Bob and Linda that it was really good of them to arrange this light show for us. We sat out and watched it for at least an hour and finally went to bed, it still was going on.

The plan is to be off to Moorehead City NC today. This will be a reasonable distance for the day and there are a number of really good marinas there. The next day will be a long one, apparently we will need to travel about 70 miles to get a decent marina. There just aren't many marinas in some areas of the ICW. And there can be long runs between.

It's Done and we are on our Way.

The day finally came. The engine was complete, by July 18th, and we had a successful sea trial. We finished loading the boat and made a run to the grocery store.

July 19th we were up early and away from the dock. We have been on the move for 4 days now and everything is working well. The engines purr. What a great sound. We still have the air problem on the engine that was rebuilt. Every morning is a bit of an adventure. Will it start or will we be going thru the bleeding process.  Ed, the mechanic had suggested to Peter that perhaps the fuel return line is not below the fuel level in the tank and that this could cause it to get air back into the system overnight. It is something to check.

To recapture some of the days. ...... July 19th we travelled from Rockville to Isle of Palms. We met Sundance Rivera, the gentleman who built the enclosure for the flybridge. One of the domes had failed, and he was really good to come and replace the dome. WOW, service after the sale and after the check. Don't see that very often these days. We were impressed. An aside from this, day 3 out, one of the dot domes is failing, the fabric is coming out from under the dome ...... I will call him, but not sure how far the "service after the sale" will go - we are now in North Carolina, not sure what he will be able to do to help us. It is a small thing, but would really like things to work as they should for longer than 3 days.

Bob and Linda's boat "Waypoint" a Mainship Pilot. They are much faster than us but they will travel our speed. Pretty boat and well appointed.

July 20th we made our way to Georgetown. at stayed overnight at Hazzard Marina. Here we met some fellow Loopers. Bob and Linda Wilkins. They were just starting their Loop, they had left Charleston with plans to go as far as Chesapeake Bay. It will be good to have some travel companions again. It makes a world of difference to have someone to travel with. This will make our 3rd Linda along the trip. They were both in the medical field, Linda a nurse and Bob a Pharmacist, and they have retired from the Navy.

Way too early a start for my captain.

July 21, Georgetown to Little River, SC and stayed at the Lightkeepers Marina. A wonderful facility.  At Georgetown we got up early to catch the tide. We got it exactly right and were able to ride the tide up to Little River, SC. We could have probably continued with the tide for another couple of miles. We picked up an extra knot, what a difference. 1 knot, over a 7 hour day is 7 knots, and it shortens the travel portion of the day by an hour.

July 22nd, Little River to Cape Fear River Entrance, and stayed at Southport Marina. Another wonderful facility. We joined Bob and Linda for a walk about and either a late lunch or early dinner at Fishy Fishy Cafe. Recommended in both Active Captain and Waterways Guide. A very good meal and good company.  On our walkabout we were told that two films were being filmed in Southport. Iron Man, and I forget the second. When we returned to the boat we could see a helicopter with a camera flying over the entire Southport area. He continued for 3 to 4 hours until it was dark.

Along the way we have seen some derelict boats. They look so sad. One boat was off the river and somehow got itself up behind 2 or 3 trees on the shore.

Some of the markers have plants growing right in the bracework, and then will have an osprey nest on the top.

We travelled on the Saturday and Sunday in this area. While Saturday was busy  and we were glad to get off the ICW early in the day, Sunday had more traffic and it started very early in the day. Again we were glad to get off the water early. There are a lot of personal watercraft (PWC) or SeaDoos in the area. We only think we have a lot on Georgian Bay, here they are like motorcycle gangs. 7-8 travelling together. Then you have the people who rent them for the hour and don't understand how they need to be under power to be able to steer them. One poor lady was near our boat, let off the throttle and nearly hit into our boat. Fortunately the man behind her hit the gas and got them out of the way.

We saw fish jumping right out of the water ..... the entire body of the fish would be about 3 feet off the water, what a sight. Peter saw a ray come entirely out of the water. And again we have had dolphins along the way.

We finally get to enjoy our back deck.

The shoreline has changed from the saltwater marshes we enjoyed in Georgia and South Carolina. Now we have trees on both sides of the waterway and then peppered along the way are everything from summer cottages, to homes, to monster homes. All making the travel very interesting.

Edisto,, July 14th

Mom's Birthday today. Happy Birthday Mom!

Thursday we drove to Fairhope, Alabama. 10 hours one way, to pick up the new exhaust Today is Mom's Birthday. Happy Birthday Mom!

Thursday, we drove to Fairhope Alabama. 10 hours one way, to pick up our new exhaust manifold. It is a thing of beauty. Stainless steel, and they say they have never had one rust out. We will have to keep this address, as we have replaced one, but there are two engines. Wonder how the other one is doing?

Strange thing. We took cash to pay for manifold. They preferred a check, even tho' it could take up to 6 weeks to clear. With this kind of logic, there is no wondering why the US would be in a recession. Second reason ..... They had the order for 3 weeks and when we contacted them in 3 rd week for ETA, they said the order would be delayed because they ran out of stainless steel and it was on order. Now if this was your business and this material was crucial to production, wouldn't you be sure to have it on hand?

They continue to work on the engine installation. The boat is in the water. With a little luck we could be on the water heading north the first of the week. This probably means Tuesday or Wednesday.

It continues to be hot and humid, which is normal for SC at this time of the year. Hope the air conditioner works.

Peter had a little excitement on Wednesday. He had broken a fitting and water was coming into the boat. He stopped it up and we went to town to get replacement parts and returned to Jim and Linda's for the night. Everything under control. The bilge pumps could handle the small drip overnight. Oops! At midnight, Peter remembered that he had shut off the battery charger during the day as it makes a really annoying noise. No battery charger, no bilge pumps. He said he broke out into a cold sweat thinking about it, and couldn't sleep. He made the 1 hour drive to the boat to check it. A good thing too as the water was within an inch of the bilge floorboards. He pumped it out and replaced the fittings. Had he not gone to boat he thought he could have had water in his gas tank, in the water tank, and perhaps over the floor in the galley and the aft cabin.
Disaster avoided. He got back about 3:30 am. Needless to say he slept in a little in the morning.

Friday Jim and Linda were loaded to go to their new boat for some well deserved boating. They will be in the Rhode Island - Maine area for the first of their boating. We are hoping to meet up with them when we get there.

Engine Going in Today!!!!

Well it has finally happened. Peter has totally corrupted me. I am as happy and excited today, with the engine going in, as if it were Christmas morning.

A trip to West Marine is now like a trip to the local mall. And I won't even start on the discussion of a trip to Home Depot or Lowes.  I have no idea of how long I will need to be home for me to normalize.

On the drive to the marina this morning, we had been talking about wouldn't it be wonderful if we turned the corner to see the crane moving the engine into the boat. We have had so many disappointments, that I said I thought I would cry if they weren't working on our boat. When we got to the boatyard, our boat was not even in its normal place, it had been moved. That was the beginning of the good news. And when we found the boat, the engine was sitting beside the boat waiting for an operator to move it into the boat.

And that is going to fit through that small opening. I don't want to be around when this happens.

This started 2.5 months ago. I guess patience is a virtue, but it certainly takes its toll.

We left them to their work and made our way back to Cypress Trees. Bought some Kentucky Fried Chicken and some wine to celebrate tonight.

We may have turned the corner on this part of the story. Now we only need to hear from the people in Fairhope Alabama that they have built our exhaust manifold. A quick trip to Fairhope to pick it up and return and we can be underway. (Fairhope is about 10 hours one way from here)

Sunday morning, Edisto Island

Life is good. Sitting on the back porch, with a cup of coffee. Overlooking the saltwater marsh. The tide is out. Temperature is is in the 80's with a cool breeze. It doesn't get any better than this. The temperature will climb over 90, and the humid ex will be around 105 at least, so this afternoon we will be confined to air conditioned areas, however by 8:00 pm, we could get to the porch again if there is a breeze.

Week in review. The engine still is not in the boat. However, it is sitting on the bench and has been running and that is a good thing. When Anthony said they would work on our engine this week, he failed to mention that due to the 4th of July holiday, they would be closing the marina from Wed to Fri. And because they don't work on the weekends no one will work till Monday.

We went to Charlotte, NC for Wed and returned Thursday. Michael and Leslie were down for the Shriners International Convention. We got to spend some time with them, if only too short. Got caught up on the news and hugs.

We went to the boat Fri and Sat., and Peter got the new waste tank installed and the old tank set up so that it will service the forward head. Originally the fwdhead pumped directly out which is OK down here in some areas, but needed to be rearranged for our purposes. Still a little more work to complete this task, but the major stuff is done ready or the engine to be installed.

We will see what Monday brings. Hopefully the engine will go in and they can add the components.

4th of July on Wednesday

Monday morning and we will go to boat early again today as the temperature is so high. Overnight it only goes down to 80 degrees. Today will be in the hi 90's, with a heat index of 109. No place for a girl and boy from the cooler and less humid climate of Canada.

 Today Peter will once again talk to Anthony, the marina owner to see if he can work towards getting the engine in our boat this week. We still wait for the new manifold, but everything else can get ready to receive it.

 Last week was a very productive week. Got the second coat of paint on the hull, got the last of the gallon of ablative paint on the bottom. Not fully covered so still some turquoise showing, but it won't show when boat is in the water. We don't need ablative in fresh water, only in salt water to protect against those pesky sea life creatures that like to attach themselves.

 Peter discovered that the bolts holding he swim platform had rusted thru so we had an unexpected job of replacing all of them. The alternator for the starboard engine wasn't  working, and he found a new one under the bed, so he swapped it out. The new 38 gallon waste tank arrived, so the plan is to install it this week. Unfortunately the old one is full and we will need to empty it by hand. One person needs to pump from the inside of boat and one person needs to catch the stuff in a bucket on the outside of boat. I opted to be the pumper, rather than the catcher. he he he.

 There is a little more painting. I want to paint a navy blue stripe along the top of the hull just under the cap rail and above the rub rail. I think it is called the boot stripe. That should be the last of the painting, unles I decide to give the transom a second coat. We still need to install the deck wash pump. And that brings our list of things to an end for now.

So it would be really good if Anthony can get the engine installed this week.

Michael, Parade Marshall for the Ramese Temple, Toronto; Charlotte North Carolina, July 4th, 2012. Wearing a red wool topcoat and the humidex is 105, in a 2 hour long parade. Outstanding dedication and committment.

 Our son Michael and Leslie are in Charlotte Nc this week with the Shriners for their International convention. He is now part of the Divan and also Parade Marshall for our section. This is a 3 hour parade. We plan to go to Charlotte Wed. to see the parade, have dinner with them and some visiting time. It will be good to see them again.

Jim and Linda have returned from their family vacation in the Turks, where their children and grandchildren helped them celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. Everything was better than they had hoped. Linda thinks she broke her little toe while walking on the beach the first day.

 I finally got to play with Linda's Kubota tractor. We took both tractors out to cut the grass. It took all of Saturday morning and then some. Linda says they figure they have 8 acres of grass to cut. I believe them. Temperature about 98 degrees, heat index 110. We had bought Frog Togg chillers. A chamois type fabric the size of a small towel that you soak and put around your neck. They sure make a difference. Not sure we could have been in the heat long enough to finish the grass otherwise.

 The grass cut, the flowers watered, we were ready for the Murray's return. But wait. The air conditioner upstairs is not cooling. It is 86 degrees on the second floor and my glasses fog up with the heat and humidity. We slept in the family room downstairs where it was cool and comfortable.

 Jim fixed the air conditioner Sunday afternoon. What a thing to come home to. And in that heat. Well gotta go. Time is flying by and we can only work in the cool of the morning. By about 11 am it is too hot.

Still working on the Boat!!!

This is getting a little old! We can't believe how long the engine work is taking. The mechanic is such a perfectionist. Everything is taken out, methodically cleaned and then put back. As a somewhat perfectionist myself, you would think I would have an appreciation for this festidious work. However, there is a limit to my appreciation and they have exceeded that. We were to be on the water and traveling by now. Not so. The engine is not even in the boat yet. A week behind the last stated schedule. I use the word schedule, as if there ws one. Hmmm. The head went on the engine 3 days ago. It is still sitting on the shop floor. It is anyone's guess what to expect. Peter checked the exhaust manifold and found the seawater had ate a hole in one section of it, and more and more he thinks the seawater got into the engine, and into the last piston and blew it up. He has searched and searched for another manifold. Thought we had one. It came in, only to find it was the wrong one. We don't seem to be able to find a freshwater manifold. Yesterday he contacted someone in Fairhope, Alabama, who will build a stainless steel manifold. Sent photos of the existing one. And guess what! It will take 3 weeks. Git 'Er Done. You might ask about the Windlass installation? One of the components fried during installation, new one was ordered and shipped Thursday. There seems to be a pervasive theme within this story. One step forward and 2 steps back. There is some good news. Peter took a metal bristled brush and a man tool and cleaned all the crustaceans off the propellers and shafts. They are brass, and are looking great. He emptied the bilge water and I was able to get down into the well and paint it white. Not sure how long it will last, but it looks great right now. He also sucked all the oily water from under the starboard engine well and I have cleaned it. Ready for a coat of white. But first ..... I had painted under the splash rail at the bow of the hull. It had looked awful. What a difference. And yes, you guessed it. We decided that while the boat is out of the water and everything is taking so long. We probably have time to paint the hull. Peter has been sanding and then he helps me with the painting. We have one coat on the hull and Peter has sanded the port side again ready for the second coat. Brightside is a great product. We are rolling it on, and while it is not perfect ..... It is an improvement. It is a 38 year old hull. It no longer is oxidized, it is all one color and shiny. Do you have any idea how long it takes to paint a 43 foot hull in 90 degee weather and high humidty. Waay tooo long, but the results are compelling. We also used a navy blue Brightside to paint th stripe on the fly bridge. Looking good. This is Saturday morning. I am sitting on the front porch at Jim and Linda's overlooking the saltwater marsh. We are approaching low tide. The birds are singing. Enjoying my second cup of coffee and considering a third one. Life is good. The boatyard is closed on the weekend, so no painting today. To bad, because 2 or 3 more days should finish the hull. We will need to decide whether or not to put a navy blue boot stripe on the hull. Kathy and Martin have been to Florida looking at houses. Last night she texted that they were Snowbirds. Found a house on a lake. They are dropping by today and we will hear more. We are house sitting for the next week while Jim and Linda are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary with their family on the Turks. The Franko's found a boat in the upper states, a 28 foot Bayliner that they want to keep in Canada to summer on the Trent and the Great Lakes. They said everyone else had 2 boats, and thought they should also. Well, we will see what next week brings. The successes and the challenges. Isn't that boating.