Change of scenery

Since we were delaying our departure from Elizabeth City until Saturday, when everything looks good for little Ruth to go yesterday, Thursday we rented a car and explored the "outer banks". It was a nice drive and good to be off the boat for a while( see pics on Picassa). We went to Kitty Hawk, it was cool being at the site where the Wright brothers took the first motorized flight. We visited Jockey Ridge, the east coasts largest "living" sand dunes; it was amazing, except for the chill in the air you could almost imagine an Egyptian dessert. Families were kite flying and hang gliding lessons were in action. One family of 4 was even tobogganing down the dune, very fun to see as they were dressed in fall sweaters but in bare feet. We strolled the Atlantic side where there were many fisher-people, contrary to what the weather forecast said, the Atlantic Ocean was relatively calm, just like our trip down the Jersey shore, Ruth would have been at home on the water!!. A high light for me was visiting -yes- a knitting store "Fine Yarns and Gallery at Kimbeeba" in Manteo, NC. I had read on their website they had Stitch n Bitch on Thursdays from 8 - 6, so in I wandered, knitting project in hand and Sybil helped me sort out the cbl2 I was doing very incorrectly. Good thing I knit, it seems it's the best way for me to get my daily fiber. After knitting chat, I browsed and made some purchases and skinnied out only spending $52. Just a quarter of what Al dropped at the West Marine we found in the same town. He got a new fan for the vee berth to replace the very noisy one and he got a light to install in the galley above the sink. With the time change I seem to be preparing dinner in the dark so I am hopeful this will be easier on my aging eye sight. He also got some more desecator things and a new fuel gage and Velcro straps. We shared a nice meal and got home, cozied in and watched some 30 rock. It was a cold night and tonight it's supposed to be colder brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

5. ICW

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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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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.

5. ICW

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