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Published: December 12th 2009
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Grounded at Carolina Beach
Preview of where this story is going. Apparently we're just not the daily blog type of folks. This is no surprise to me because my journals sometimes skip months or years. Frank says he hasn't started yet. Perhaps we've been too busy getting about, with not much time to reflect. For years my photos were called 'mood' pictures because I only got the camera out when it was too rainy or foggy to do anything else. Hopefully this has changed a bit but I notice that most of the pics are BLUE.
Our last blog was at Mile Hammock Bay. So we now miraculously reappear at the lovely, upbeat Carolina Beach, North Carolina. Due to unfortunate circumstances... there will be time to blog.
This blog is the story of our day, Monday, Dec. 7th, leaving there before dawn, winding up at 10:30 p.m. and the ensuing events of the week that has followed. At the time of writing it is now Saturday, Dec. 12. Our current position, for Pete and Jerry and others who use Google Earth is 34 02.463N 77 53.491W
We got up at 5 a.m. eager to keep moving south and build on the good progress we had been making.
Mile
First light Monday morning
Leaving Mile Hamock Bay as calmly as we came in. Hammock Bay was just as beautiful in the predawn as it had been at sunset. A terrific surprise was the collection of dolphins that were leaping, twirling and doing 'donuts' in the ICW channel at the mouth of the bay. Perhaps they were upset by the noise of our diesel engine shattering the peace of their morning rituals or breakfast. I would be. We felt our way slowly through the group with the engine on idle, hoping not to intrude any more than we had. (I know 'whales' have 'pods' but I'm not sure about the special word for a group of dolphins. I hope someone will send us a message so we can add it.)
Ginger was very impressed by the dolphins, maybe even intimidated. For once, she was strangely quiet. The first time we saw the dolphins sharp little fins cutting the water, our reaction was 'no swimming'. After we clued in our next challenge was to be fast enough to get pictures. Frank has discovered that the red-eye feature on the camera spoils the opportunity, so we now have many good pictures of whirlpools created by dolphins emerging or disappearing.
The ICW is well marked
by red, triangular, even numbered markers and green, square, odd numbered markers. Without these navigation aids, the trip for most boats with a draft of over 3 feet would be impossible. The pilot's eye flits constantly between these markers and the depth sounder, trying to guess if the channel has zigged, zagged or shoaled.
Our route was typical of a cruising day in the ICW. Lots of creative, waterfront houses with elaborate docks lining the channel, most often on the north-west side where the water seems to be a little deeper. The houses range from mansions and resorts to single family dwellings, cottages, condos, and time-shares, which make for interesting neighbourhoods. Mixed in are scores of recreational and commercial fishing boats. One of our past-times is to choose our favourite house. Frank's all time favourite pink palace, complete with palm tress, is shown here. Perhaps he's thinking it could be a wonderful music hall, where he could party 'til dawn.
After a relatively easy day of motoring and only running aground briefly south of the Wrightsville Bascule Lift Bridge, we were pleased to arrive at our planned destination in the early afternoon. We were able to fuel
Ginger is
It's a lonely life for a boat dog. Maybe she'll learn to talk to dolphins! up before entering the Carolina Beach Inlet to anchor at ICW mile 295.5. With strong wind warnings for the next couple of days we were glad to find a relatively sheltered anchorage away from the swift current of the ICW junction.
As we were anchoring in the bay something went very wrong. The switch that controls the chain stuck in the down position so the chain was running out. Frank stepped over the winch to engage the chain grabber at the front of the boat. His heal got caught by the spinning clutch handle, knocked the end of his leather shoe off and caused a serious laceration. Long story short, we finished anchoring, called for a taxi, launched a dinghy and motored to a helpful marina at 4 pm. After resourceful cab rides around Pleasure Island, a lot of help from Joanne and staff at Walgren's Pharmacy and immediate, fantastic treatment from the doctors and staff at Shoreview Urgent Care, and a meal at Michael's, we made it safely back to our anchorage at 10 pm Monday night.
With 22 stitches, a very bruised heel, crutches for an indeterminate period and no happy hour until he finishes the
Red, right, retreating...
...into the distance, as hundreds more markers thankfully loom ahead. high-powered antibiotics for water injuries, you could say Frank is 'laid-up'.
Tuesday we rested, ate soup and prepared for the next day. Tuesday night the winds rose to 45 knots and our 2 bow anchors quietly dragged across the muddy bottom. We awoke at an angle with no rocking and tried to convince ourselves that the windy was heeling us over. As the tide receded, the angle increased quickly until we called Tom, the trusty Wrightsville Tow Boat US rescuer. He arrived at 6 a.m. and patiently swirled sand around until we were finally free at 10 am. Not that this excuses our anchoring tackle or techniques, but Tom recalls at least 50 boats being towed off that tricky little submerged shoal that wanted to tip us over.
Wednesday morning we nervously watched and waited as the gale increased and the scenery changed outside the porthole. Frank pondered the wisdom of taking his pain killers and becoming even less functional. What a drag! Literally. We called a marina for assistance to re-anchor because Tow Boat is triple booked in bad weather and we had had our turn. Jesse and Allan, local sailing experts, kindly motored over and spent
Pretty in Pink
This is Frank's favourite house to date. the rest of Tuesday afternoon trying to get the anchors to hold. In total frustration at sunset, Jesse got permission for us to dock at the private condominium complex where he works. Thank you Waterfront Yacht Club! Pizza and a good night's sleep go a long way to restoring our humanity.
Thursday, with Allan's help, we 'hop-footed' it back to the Urgent Care for an x-ray and exam. Then we raced around town in his ancient Peugeot to find another anchorage where we could hunker down for a couple of weeks while Frank gets medical care. Luck was on our side when, thanks to Rachel, we've found a great haven at the Federal Point Yacht Club at the southern end of the Carolina Beach Inlet.
It's Friday...Frank's finally got his foot up and there's time to blog!
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Dorothy
non-member comment
Grounded at Carolina Beach
What an adventure you are having! That anchor winch looks frightful. At least you can relax for awhile where you are. I was pleased to read of all of the people that have assisted you. It is a good world in which we live. By the way a group of dolphis is also a pod.