Catch up

Not much to report from Mile Hammock to Wrightsville Beach. Some pretty shallow water in the New River inlet, combined with a variety of confusing ATONs (CG speak for aids to navigation), led to some " Seriously, the channel goes there ?" moments.  Gotta give the CG guys credit for scrambling around trying to keep up with proper buoy placement with all the wind & rain, etc we've had lately. Squeaked thru there, then through a bunch of low spots to Figure 8 Island swing Bridge. That guy WAS in charge of that opening. I wouldn't/couldn't put the antennas down, so the bridge had to be opened. Anyway, we sat a bit longer than we expected, but were polite. Down to the Wrightsville Beach drawbridge, eased thru that to the Wrightsville Beach marina for fuel. pumpout, and water; the essentials of life on a small boat. The dock guy was like a 'wabbit with foxes after him, ziiiip, ziiip... "all done, Capt'n". Stay tuned for that part of the story. So, off the dock, neatly, if I do say so, Chuckie, in spite of the current blasting thru there. 'Round the corner, and into Motts Channel anchorage. A small, frustrating, scenario is that sometimes the anchor just won't catch firmly, electing to slip/slide across the bottom. Sea grass, fouled anchor (chain twisted in flukes), are possible culprits. Crew perservered, anchor was set, happy hour established, and all was apparently well.

Back step a moment; remember when we had all the crappy problems with the little red/green lights in the holding tank system? Well, it looked like all was well there also. Completely unbeknownst to us the tank gauge had failed, and the whole system was full; to include the vent line. When the vent line plugs you can't pull the "stuff" completely out of the tank. So, when "zippy" did his pumpout routine he just , as they say, skimmed the surface. I knew we were in trouble when I heard the toilet flush, and simultaneously, heard water running; outside the boat. 'Tweren't real pretty, Chuckie.
Anyway, we chose to press on to Southport, NC ; time for an oil change, and a discussion about changing the galley cooking fuel/apparatus with the yard folks there. Had to add the other issue to the list as well. So, down thru the twists and turns of the ICW to the Cape Fear River. I've got to throw out a bit of philosophical drivel here for a moment; hope it won't be repetitious to an annoying degree: but, as we wander down the waterway for the second time in 9 years, we find it to be sort of depressing to see all the new Mcmansions in there gaudy pastel colors being built, sometimes right next to the last Mcmonstrosity that the recent hurricane blew apart. I recognize that we are making more people, and creating less space all the time, but it seems that we just throw $$$$ at everything, not, perhaps, to make it better, but so that we look better. I'm still puzzling over this one. It is however a consistent theme in this journey.

So, we got to Southport, applied the pumpout hose, then hosed out the vent line several times until the pumpout unit was able to get things moving again. Scooter is now, freshly oiled and parked in slip D10 awaiting the predicted gale force winds that may hit in the next couple of days. Winds have a significant impact on water depth in the ICW, so we'll be delaying departure until that sorts itself out a bit. Lockwood's Folly, a notoriously shallow inlet 10 miles south of us, will call for gentle winds, and careful timing of the tides for a successful passge. Last couple of days have been sunny, sometimes partial clouds, temps in the high 50's, low 60's; tomorrow calling for rain, wind, with temps in the 40's, down to mid 30s' by Monday. Tough on old folks, I hear.

Catch you on the flip side; be safe, be warm, and be happy.