Friendship

The best Christmas present we will receive was constantly leaping from dock to dock and no less than five hundred pounds total!  The Henson family drove over four hours to visit us and it was the sweetest encouragement of friendship which strengthened our resolve and spirits!  Art, Darrah, Darius(8), Ariana(7), and Markie(6) filled our boat with laughter.  They spent the night at a hotel nearby....showers for all of the B's in the morning.   YES!!!!!  Thank you so much, dear friends, for that wonderful visit...

Speaking of friendship, the sunsets leading up to last night's solstice have been not only cliched spectacular but, somehow, a magical invitation to a lifelong relationship between us and these waters we travel.  We have discovered beaches at their edge and giant piers over their white curls.  The infinite sparkles on their surface simultaneously breed daydreams and flashes of clarity within the lines of my December smile.

Have to run....Merry Merry Christmas!

Cabin Fever

It was bound to strike.  The dreaded phrase...the silent torturer...the demise of many a happy crew!  CABIN FEVER!!!  I'm not talking about the "sailing boredom" that some books reference with questionable authority.  I'm speaking of the the type of complaining and horseplay that would drive any mother, clinging to any spiderweb of sanity, to plunge deep within the icy water and seek immediate spa treatments.  It was short lived.  The whining from both boys came to a grinding halt as I channeled Salacia, howling louder than the wind to all on board, ENOUGH!  After extensive dock running and human pyramids, peace was restored...and then our beautiful dolphin shadows returned.  I am sure that they sense the energy radiating from the different vessels!

We arrived in Southport, NC yesterday.  Initially, we were going to try to push on another 140 miles to be in Charleston by Christmas.  However, the wonderful free docks dripping with character, local ice cream  candy parlors, wide sidewalks ending in snug library chairs, and sailing friends Bill and Rob tied up next hatch convinced us to remain here until the 26th.

Our hearts ache for the sounds of your voices and the smells of New England Christmas pines and yet, we are living our days with delight...relishing this country's many scenic surprises (Cape Fear River is all you might imagine!) and the phenomenal individuals whom we brush destinies with. We do feel that our decisions impact those we meet and encourage them to Carpe diem!

May you be discovering your own unexpected small surprises and good samaritans this holiday season.
Peace,

Rebecca

Head Musings

We

The wind's whispers have swelled throughout the night.  Morning shrieks have replaced the soothing murmurs.  We have cut off Vincent's ear and he appears to be duly disgruntled with the gale.  If we had not already decided to stay here until Sunday AM the weather would force that decision.  Amidst 30-40 MPH winds little Dante and I walked to the yacht club and discovered a hammock at dock's edge.  The view was majestic and as I swung my few cares away, he played inside a dinghy next to me.  Then, returning with already glad and soaring hearts, I allowed him to stompjump in every puddle that his little heart desired.  Pants, socks, and sneakers soaked through, he returned exalted back to our bobbing vessel.

We all ventured out again to the post office...pecans and fellow sailors blowing down everywhere!

Stopping by chance at the Village Food Emporium where we bought seafood chowder (heaven in the form of talapia, scallop,shrimp, butter, cream,and herbs), a fresh baguette and whole wheat boule we were happier by far than royalty!

I had promised in one of my first blogs to get to the bottom (pun intended)  of why the toilet on our boat is called the head.  Leave it to Wickopedia to explain all.  The term originates from sailing ships in which the toilet area for regular sailors was placed at the head or bow of the ship.  This was for two reasons.
 1. Since most vessels of the era couldn't sail into the wind, winds came mostly from the rear.  The head was downwind!

2.  If placed above the water line, vents or slots cut near the floor level would allow normal wave action to wash out facility.

Hmmmm.  Only the captain had his own private toilet near his quarters, located, of course, below the poop deck.  What is a poop deck you ask?  A poop deck is a deck that also forms the roof of a cabin built in the aft (rear) part of the ship.  The name originated from the French word for the stern (rear), la poupe.  To be pooped means to have a wave come over the stern from abaft (behind).

O.K.  Now you know.

Incidentally, actually, mainly, our head has been a nightmare.  I wont go into gory details but, every time I see a toilet on land I am in awe.  I have always thought, being female, that bathroom humor was in very bad taste.  Now, however, having humor about the bathroom is neccesary for sane survival!  On that cheeky note I bid you avoir until next time.    

The First Fall

What shocked me the most was the speed with which I catapulted from the pleasant cockpit chitchat...instant smackdown by the hatch as I plummeted head first down the stairs, dangling only by a foot which John clasped tightly.   Dazed and crying I realized we had run aground.  We had veered ever so slightly from our course in the narrow river.  Ever so slightly was more than enough for the shock wave of shallow waters.  John checked my head, kissed me properly and examined my eyes with the flashlight.  I was put on bed rest as he swung us out of the mud.

Imagine your worst migraine mixed together with severe body aches.  Of course, any Mom knows the first sentiment "Thank God it was me and not one of the kids".  Then followed many bruised musings about life's brevity.  "In the blink of an eye", "a slender thread", "a new york second"  on and on they careened in my brain combined with Natasha Richardson sadness...the only person I had read about who had been taken so tragically by a fall.  Someone I really admired.  So not only was I in pain but, I became depressed over her untimely death all over again.  ARRRRRGH! Why had I been spared head trauma and she hadn't?  Nothing like an injury to get the tangent brain cells working over time! 

That was a few days ago and what a difference a day makes.  We are in Oriental, the "sailing capital"  of North Caroina.  We tied up at the coveted public dock steps away from the unbelievably cozy Bean Cafe with free Internet.  Our cell phones are useless here however, thus the lack of calls to loved ones...

A charming lady gave us a ride home from the grocery store...turned out she and her husband own a small yacht club...blissful hot showers and an invitation to dinner tonight.  It will be our first time dining in a house since the start of our voyage!  We feel continuously blessed by strangers kindness.  Thanks to all who are keeping us in your prayers.

Check out the YouTube link for more movies and please follow and comment....

Grace,

Rebecca  

Slowing WAAAAY Down in North Carolina

We are weathering some nasty rain tied up tightly to the free town docks of Elizabeth City, North Carolina.  The large mural at the landing reads "Harbor of Hospitality"  and we have found it to be so.  The Harbormaster, Sam, an elderly gent sweeter than peaches and cream has provided free rides in his pickup for propane, broken engine parts, diesel, etc for us and our small compadre of fellow voyaging vessels.

The running joke is a water fountain off of the docks which sprays a stream of water out about six feet...Sam tells us this is a source of endless delight for many during the summer afternoons and the city has decided not to repair it.

We plan to leave Th morning for South Carolina...creeping slowly for Florida which we think we will arrive at sometime around the New Year.   Our food supply is doing extremely well...except for our cookie/chocolate stash which is dwindling at an alarming rate.

Blake and I have been tucked in at the local library...time to make a mad dash back to the boat!
Lots of love from us all...