One Off the Bucket List
03 April 2012 | Beaufort, NC
Bligh- great cool weather
ONE OFF THE BUCKET LIST
April 3, 2012
To some a bridge is just an obstacle to clear in the AIWW. To me one particular bridge was on my bucket list and yesterday we passed it. That's one off the list as we sailed to Beaufort, NC. It was very windy and most likely a good day to be in the ditch. We touched bottom twice in the channel. Seems shoaling is changing so rapidly that it is impossible to mark each.
We reached Beaufort Town Docks at 1645. Wow, what a nice waterfront. Seems this is a favorite "jumping off" point to the Caribbean Islands for northern boats in the fall. I am thinking we were right about being ahead of the northern migration although we did see two other sailboats heading our way yesterday.
This town has claim to a very rich history. At this time, salvage operations are ongoing on Queen Anne's Revenge just offshore. That was Blackbeard's ship. Methinks a couple hundred years ago this place might not have been so welcoming. Seems old Sir Henry Somerset, Duke of Beaufort thought this place would make a good spot to set up a convenience store and in 1713 he surveyed it then it incorporated in 1722. It has been fighting hurricanes and pirates ever since.
Scruv has now learned a bit more about our little moving water world. He has yet to learn not to bark at folks walking by and since he is somewhat camouflaged on the boat he is successful in waiting until they are near to give them a bark. Some like it and some would rather teach him to fly. We are still getting questions as to how a Texas boat got here. No, dangit, we did not truck it here.
Enough of the dreamy stuff, back to reality; more work on the forward head today. We tried a chemical cleaner that must have damaged a seal. Now, I get to overhaul the whole thing. I am starting to consider a simple solution: a bucket. Then again, Bear and I are joined at the soul and methinks she might just object. So, she gets to spend the day with her e-book in the cockpit soaking up sunshine and I get to deal with the monster. Then again, it is simply messing about boats.
Picture of the Town Dock Beaufort, NC