Then later in the afternoon the Skyfall and Sojourn crews loaded up all the sails to take to the sail loft.
The new owner Johnny seems to be very good - we'll leave a review after it's done!!
We pulled out all the sails so that he could understand where all the rips and tears are.
Busy day at the boat.
Doing some fairly minor upkeep. Something we should have done ages ago - but now will do to make it look nicer as we get ready to sell it. The little step at both of the rear berths was looking a bit tired. So I sanded them off and reapplied polyurethane.
Now they're nice and shiny.
We have an appointment in a few weeks in New Bern to have the standing rigging replaced. (The rigging is the stainless cables that go to the top of the mast and holds the mast up.) Most insurance requires that the rigging be replaced every 10 years. Ours is past that time frame so it's time to get it replaced. It's not something we can easily do since the large cables have to be fabricated exactly using industrial "crimping" tools.
We can save a bit of $$ by getting everything ready though. Time to remove all the sails. Jim and Michelle from Skyfall joined in the fun (in 90 degrees and sunny weather!).
Then the main - moved off the boat using the main halyard.
Getting the battens (stiffners) out of the sail - this was a first time for us as we've never had this sail off the boat.
We've got an appointment at the sailmaker for some minor patches and repairs while we have the sail down. Skyfall decided that they would do the same so off their sails went - their jib.
And right about then Ed and Cathy drove up in their new camper!! Fun to visit and tour the new home....we all went out to Silo's for the normal Tuesday Two-Fer pizza. Good day!
We started the day sunny and warm, but there were warnings about a strong front coming late in the day.
Fortunately, we only saw a nice downpour.
Skyfall had invited a gaggle of folks over for sundowners....two Mantas and two Antares crews.....good fun getting to know some new folks.
A lovely sunset and an early night.
Been a busy few days.....
We're back to Oriental - and we have friends at the dock! Jim and Michele on Skyfall are visiting for a while on their way north.
We'll get busy with some boat projects....and the new boat purchase deal is back on the table after some re-negotiations including a repair before we buy the boat!
Fun visit with my sis and her hubby. Enjoyed their pretty house and a few yummy meals out. Driving back to Pittsboro now.
We’re making our way back to Pittsboro…
Left Ft Pierce in the cheap rental car…
Well, the boat hunt will continue…this boat has a few problems that will need to be fixed so we won’t be taking it home..
But we rented a car to drive home and will stop by Columbia,SC to visit my sister and hubby at their new house so all is an adventure.
We’re heading to Florida to look at a boat!!!
Robert came over last night and we went to the new Irish pub in downtown Pittsburgh. I had fish and chips and it was excellent.
Hopefully all will go well and will be in Florida early this afternoon.
Time to head back to Pittsboro....grass is mowed and boat is cleaned up fairly well. Now to get packed up for travel adventures tomorrow!!
Nothing very photogenic for the day.....lots of boat chores, cleaning, Duane changed the generator oil and zincs, replaced the antifreeze in the engines.....
It has been mostly dreary and rainy. I'm ready for some cheerful sunshine!
Just doing chores at the boat....we went out to dinner at M&M's restaurant in town. I had planned to get a slice of carrot cake for my birthday - but after a yummy grilled shrimp sandwich and homemade onion rings I was absolutely stuffed!
Instead, we stopped by the Piggly Wiggly for treats for later....
In the afternoon, we drove down to the boat, stopping at the Duck Creek marina in New Bern on the way. We will go there in June for our standing rigging replacement and wanted to get a feel for how it was set up. A really nice working marina - too bad they don't have a travel-lift wide enough for our catamaran!
All is well with Sojourn and What If.....beautiful day! Mowing and chores tomorrow.
After a nice long weekend visit, we headed back to central NC....we took the long-and-twisty road thru Bat Cave to Old Fort.
Beautiful creeks beside the two lane road.
And lots of road-side gift shops and fruit stands.
Forgot to include my early b-day present from my sweet sis - we always trade the card on the right each year. And she made some replacement dish cloths and hand dry towels since I'm pretty rough on them! Love them!
We've been visiting with our Mom's in the mountains.....view at Duane's folk's house.
We joined my siblings at my mom's house for a little picnic - and Duane's mom was invited as well so we had a super Mother's Day for all!
Denise gave Granny a tour of her garden on the golf cart.
A group shot that my mom wanted to take - it recreates one that she took years ago (we'll have to find that photo and compare)
Super busy lately…,yesterday I got my “Real ID” at the DMV. My NC license was expiring next week…I did not have an appointment so I got to wait for 2 hours in the lobby.
We finished packing up all the "stuff" on the boat that needed to be taken to the house for cleaning/sorting. Drove up to the house - stopped at Burger King and got an Impossible Whopper - yum!!!!
When we stopped at the mailbox, Duane kept the window open and said - "do you hear that strange noise" - thinking it was coming from the engine. We drove on to the house and parked outside. When we got out of the vehicle - we immediately knew what it was.....
Cicadas!!! They apparently are on their 13 year "hatch" right now in NC.
Amazingly loud!!
We've just been busy cleaning the boat and getting ready to head back to Pittsboro to check in on our house....amazing how grimy the boat gets after 6 months of cruising. Wonderful to have unlimited fresh water at the dock!
In a statement to how windy it was this season....this is the second Bahamas courtesy flag of the season.
Perfect ending to a busy day - Ed and Cathy shared a bottle of wine and nice conversation.
The sister-ships together again....Sojourn and What If.
After helping us tie up, Ed and Cathy invited us over for a wonderful welcome back breakfast!
The remainder of the day was spent doing a lot of un-photogenic cleanup!
Another night of motorsailing in relatively calm conditions. When I "toured" the boat there was an unfortunate flying fish on the tramp....he had been there a while so he made some other fish happy...
Still making good time in the Gulf Stream - but time to point towards Beaufort. The water temp dropped several degrees and our speed slowed to the 6's instead of 9's.
We caught 3 bonita "tuna" - but I forgot to snap photos of them whole.
Coming in to Beaufort we were with a rising tide so we kept over a knot of favorable current. The normal sights at Beaufort inlet.
The fish offering cleaned and into the fridge....
And later vacuum packed....will ask Keith and Denise if they have a smoker??? I have a recipe in mind for these....
Up the intercoastal waterway....darkness approaching so we decided to anchor just off Jerry and Donna's dock and handle the tieup first thing in the morning.
Jerry and Donna's dock awaiting their return in a few weeks!
First thing in the morning - back to our dock with new neighbors Collen and Joe in the foreground.
What If awaiting her friend.
And Ed and Cathy were there to welcome us home!
The season is over....2790 nautical miles Nov - May....lots to do in the coming months!!
