11/04/2009
We left yesterday, to what promised to be beautiful day, sun 5-10kt winds 1-2ft waves. 1 1/2 hrs out we developed engine problems, so turned around and headed back to Eliz City, with Jennifer at the helm & me down below squeezing the fuel primer bulb to keep the engine running, had fuel pump problems. Anyway it is now fixed & the Carb had a good readjusting, & seems to be better. We ran the engine at the dock in gear under power for 2 hours & glad to report no problems, except a couple of times it missed a beat. Concensus on the dock is that it is due to condensation in the fuel tank, a common problem with the cold we are having, so today will go the the Auto store & get some Lucas fuel stuff. The weather forecast changes twice a day! but hope to be gone tomorrow or on Sat / Sun.
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Comments [5]
11/02/2009, Elizabeth City
October 28 - November 3
Elizabeth City
We arrived last Wednesday and opted for the Pelican Marina ($35./night) instead of the free town docks (48 hr stay). We needed showers and laundry. On Thursday we reprovisioned and did laundry, on Friday we wandered the town and strolled by the water front and discovered Lions Paw (Cdn) had arrived , we left a post it and followed up a bit later finding them on board so we introduced ourselves at long last to Steve and Marg and to their friends Harley and Janice of Blue Blazes. They invited us to tag along to the welcome to Elizabeth City for cruisers , they were offering up free wine, beer, cheese crackers and a welcome from the Mayor. Kingston could take some notes from them. The Farm Fresh Grocery will pick up cruisers for free to grocery shop and return them. The city (more of a town) really goes out of their way to welcome you. After some chat we opted to have a meal at Groupers on the waterfront and it was good and reasonable, we walked back to our marina(15 min. walk). On Saturday morning , feeling creative I fashioned up a couple of 3D invites to Lions Paw and Blue Blazes to come for treats and libation on Sat. pm. I walked over to the waterfront to the farmers market and to deliver the invites. I scored at the farmers market, as well as getting awesome fresh green beans/tomatoes. I got a few xmas gifts and 2 jars of hot pepper jelly.
Despite the invite to join us for Halloween festivities it just made more sense for Al and I to walk over to the waterfront for Halloween. So we joined Marg, Steve , Janice and Harley on Lion's Paw for a pot luck style grazing appetizer supper, libation and candy doling out. We feasted on crackers & cheese, bread dipped in balsamic/oil, spices, and tortillas with cream cheese/hot pepper jelly and Steve out did everyone with his fresh beer boiled shrimp and shrimp sauce( God were they ever good, Al). As the children in costume arrived Marg and Janice handed out the sugar. Steve and Janice donned Halloween outfits and we walked Main Street taking in the costumes and festivities. 'Twas a fun evening indeed. Lion's Paw and Blue Blazes were set on leaving on Sunday morning. They both have larger boats than us and we decided the conditions weren't conducive to Ruth, I was a bit disappointed to stay behind because these folks would be fun to run with for a bit, but I reminded myself the world is full of fun people (We just haven't met them all yet) and we will cross wakes again for sure with these fine folks.
So today, Monday, I did a small laundry and felted a project. Made a great Indian dinner with fresh shrimp in the pressure cooker, I'll mark this one as it's a keeper. Al did the dishes and as I write He is getting sails uncovered etc. as tomorrow is looking good to go and he is determined to sail. (Oh sidebar here, Charles if you read this please send me a note, with great skill I have managed to get rid of your email and I missed your Happy Birthday. ) Elizabeth City is indeed a place to stop. I'm looking forward to getting further south. Al just poked his head in and said the sails are ready to go and he has plans to bury the rail tomorrow (geez should I be afraid?), he wants to see what Ruth can do. Oh and re: his posted pic. Of his treat, ya well she's a tart and I met her mother. hahaha. We'll no doubt be out of wifi touch for a few days as we bust south. But we'll post when we can. Check out our Halloween Pics on Picasa.
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10/31/2009, Elizabeth City
Yesterday we did our laundry, & noticed that Elizabeth City was once again full of boats. We took a walk over to the city docks to see who had arrived. We were happy to see that Steve & Marg on Lion's Paw, & Janice & Harley on Blue Blazes had arrived. They were not on the boat so we left a postit note. On the way back later we saw them on the boat & joined them at the City Dock welcome party the city throws. It was great to evenually meet up with them. Hopefully we will have someone to travel with for a while. Today I am going to paint the bottom of the dingy as it will be sunny & in the high 80's, & Jennifer is going to the farmers market on the water front, the last one for the year. We were suppose to be leaving today, but the wind is out of the South as in on the nose for the 40mile + trip, so hopefully will get out Sunday or Monday when its suppose to be out of the north. Lions Paw & hopefully Blue blazes are coming over to our boat this afternoon.
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