The last time I had moored a boat and gone ashore for the night I woke up in the morning to find it slipped and no where to be seen. The lake had risen during the night and the dingy had drifted beyond my short horizon. So, with this lesson from years past, I slept less soundly with an ear to the ground. The boat draws 2 feet so I had secured it with a bow line and an 8 pound mushroom anchor off the stern.  Sometime during the night and realizing changing conditions,  I could hear light breeze in the tree tops and a new sound: small wavelets lapping on the shoreline.  Time to make rounds. The boat in the surreal glow of the moon was riding easily with a gentle rocking motion but the previous calm was now a windward berth. I went back to camp, layed in the tent, trying to gauge changes in the wind realizing that if it really started to blow… we’d be in trouble.  Next time haul out and put the boat on trailer for the night.

After a camp fire breakfast the wind did pipe up. The anchor began to drag, undersized for the conditions it was time to cut and run. It was KeystoneCops as S’man struggled with a line fouled in tree roots. I called for the ignition keys about then, thinking that it might be necessary to warm the engine. He heaved them but overshot the cockpit and they landed overboard into the drink. I wanted to cuss a blue streak (lucky they were attached to a floater) because the water was like ice and I was the one to be going after them! Glad to be doing this it in the daylight.  Another lesson.

Yah mon, you guessed it. Remind me to check the tide tables next time. Oh, and all of those ‘red right returning’ nun buoys and green daymarkers could be helpful do ya think? Nice shortcut through the spoils area. We were punished. The rudder, prop and keel were firmly mired. We know this because we neatly exhausted ourselves trying to push – tug the dead weight toward mocking channel pilings none too distant. We flopped back aboard after fruitless exertion realizing that we were defeated — and still stuck. A friendly chap in a dinghy cruised past offering assurances. After an hour in the silt, nature let us go. Very humbling and humiliating.

Say! We had a great time though (despite the learning curve). Gorgeous waterfront homes, scenic green wetlands with graceful long legged birds and uninhabited secluded strips of white sandy beach that we paused at and sunk our bare toes into. We motored from Wrightsville via the ICW to Snow’s Cut and then northbound up the expansive Cape Fear River for Wilmington’s downtown. We found a transient dock at the Hilton waterfront and a nice lunch at an Italian Bistro. Grabbed saltwater taffee from a shop at the historic Cotton Exchange. Wind and sea air in our faces.

The sailors’ life for me!
Christmas wish list: a depth finder 😉

The season has not begun quite yet but it’s fun to test the waters. I have a half suit for that purpose and it works really well. Exposed appendages told me -wait a couple more weeks. It was cee oh el dee! And just as I had screwed up my courage and plunged in my driver/spotter says ‘wait! hold it a minute…’ and goes blind from the pine pollen interfering with her contact lenses. (this is actually a favorite prank on the skier who is anxious to get going) “Ah–come on yer killin’ me here.” We launch and I don’t know if she can see to navigate but the run is a success and I feel the macho man.

This is the end of the season. Surface water and air are in cool down mode. We did have a narrow – good – weather window today and decided that this was THE opportunity for a final run. Our friend, Giovanni, was in town and it was my chance to show him a nice time. So we slid the boat off the trailer anticipating a grand finale ski ride and in MY moment of pride and glory I twisted the ignition key and — nothing. It was ironic justice that this same scenario played out for Giovanni just days ago (reference blog 10/20/02!). No showing off for me. The engine cranked 3 or 4 revs diminishing to the pathetic staccato click click click click of the weakening starter solenoid. The battery was flat. We all sat there in sullen disbelief that our grand plans were looking dashed. Hope was that an obliging fisherman would come along and offer a cable jump start. Immediately appearing in the middle of our plight comes an older backwoods couple in a clapped out mini van. They are situated at the top of the boat ramp and close enough for us to hear them yelling “HEY!” in our general direction. Don’t know if they blundered in and sensed our trouble or dreamed of a chance that they might get an impromptu invite to go out on the lake. The woman was insistent and likely skunked. The situation became a bit surreal as Giovanni started giggling, reporting that she just flashed us and did a little jiggle dance for his benefit as well. B.O.U.R.Girl was not amused feeling a little uneasy and reached for the cell. I mean, we were in double jeopardy. With creepy deliverance types atop and the wide open lake (and no paddle oar) beyond. I suppose we could have repelled boarders with a water ski and then cast off to drift… A couple of calls to the Park Service produced a sympathetic receptionist who promised to dispatch Ranger Cox to see to the ‘flasher’ and rescue us with a booster battery. The day was saved! What happened to the odd couple? Last we saw their vehicle was parked on the road shoulder, its occupants in the woods somewhere. What were they were up to there? Don’t know. Don’t want to know.

This is a delightful time of year. The throngs of boaters have abandoned the lake until next season. The air temp/humidity is ideal. The lake level has risen for the occassion after some rather drenching rains. The water is a tad cool although it is not yet at the point where you need courage nor does it make you yelp when you plunge.

A little birdie told me to expect a big boat ride this winter… Well, in anticipation thereof, I’ve been doing some research and here are some sites that I like about liners. One of my favorite boats is the United States. Exciting stuff. I’m jazzed!

Rob flies by in tight formation for this shot. I’m adrift on the tube trying to keep the camera out of the spray action. Slap me 5 bro’ and hang on!

S’man is so close to the deepwater slalom start. He has good form and I know that next attempt he is gonna make it up. It will be a right of passage when he does. The trick is to keep your body over the center of the ski with your back upright and verticle. If you lean back your ski just plows with lots and lots of drag. If you don’t resist the pull of the boat you fall out the front. So maintain a straight up and down seated position with your legs fully bent. Keep your rear leg relaxed and only use it for balance and to steady the steering.