Journey to New Home

We departed Charleston, SC early Friday, July 29 to take "At Last" to its new home in Pine Knoll Shores. I was planning on a four day trip, but we made good time and were able to make in three. I had never piloted a boat of this size and was a little intimidated to start on a 270 mile trip on a unfamiliar boat. Luckily I had a good friend, Doug Taylor, with me to help with the job. Everything went well. 

At Last at its old home in Charleston. 

This a view of Charleston taken from the Intracoastal Waterway where it crosses the Cooper River. The first day of the trip was a 70 mile leg up the ICW to Georgetown, SC. 

This is truly low country. This house can only be reached by boat. No electricity. No water. A great place to get away from everything. 

We had quite a few of these friends join us along the way. They like to ride the wake. 

Georgetown Landing Marina as we departed Saturday morning. 

Sunrise over the beautiful Wacamaw River as we head north from Georgetown. 

The Wacamaw River has been named as one of the top four rivers on the ICW. We are headed toward Myrtle Beach and points north. I was hoping to make it to Southport, NC before dark. Fortunately, we were able to make all the way to Carolina Beach. 105 miles and a 12 hour day. 

Here we are departing Joyners Marina in Carolina Beach on the third day. I called classmate, Larry Spivey, before we arrived. I knew he owned a house there. It turns out that his house is only a block away. He was waiting on the dock when we arrived. 

Some of the fine homes in Wrightsville Beach. 

The weather was threatening on the final day. It finally caught us as we approached Morehead City.  The lightning persuaded us to move to the lower helm. 

At Last at her new berth in Pine Knoll Shores. 

Summer Fun at the Beach

Today was one of those days when the conditions were perfect in the Morehead City area for boating. The temperature was in the high 80's, wind at about 5 knots and seas at 2 ft. We only get these conditions a few days per year. 

Got the last dock space at Ruddy Ducks.   Had a nice lunch at my favorite waterfront restaurant and then we were off again. 

Took the family to Shackleford Banks for sand and water. Not too crowded for a Friday afternoon. Don't try this on July 4th weekend. 

Never seen a kid that could float like my 11 year old grandson, Brendan. 

The water was great. You don't see it this calm very often. 

We are all going home this weekend. It is such a shame to have to leave a place that we all enjoy so much. We will be back in August and hoping for more good summer days. Another month and the children will be back in school and the summer fun will be over until next year. 

At Last

It is now time for our next great adventure. This time it will be a big change of pace. At my age, I no longer feel the need for speed. Now I am more interested in taking time to smell the roses, making each minute count, taking it really slow and traveling in comfort. 

I have been looking for a boat that would fit my needs for a couple of years. I finally found one in Charleston, SC that checks most of the boxes. It is appropriately named "At Last". I always did like Etta James anyway. "At Last" is a trawler. Some of my go-fast buddies call it a crawler. The reason is that these boats were designed to go slow and be economical. She is faster than a sailboat but only slightly with a cruise speed of only eight knots. Trawlers are designed to go long distances with a low fuel burn and in relative comfort. This one will get about two miles per gallon if you don't push her too hard. 

Roomy for a 39 footer, she can easily sleep six. She is not a new boat, buts she is in good condition. One of her previous owners took her around the great loop which is a 5500 mile circuit that goes up the east coast, across the Great Lakes, down the Mississippi to the Gulf coast, around Florida, and back up the east coast. 

After an initial visit to Charleston to view the boat, I returned on July 12 for the survey and sea trials. All went well and closing should be within the next few days. 

"At Last" being lifted out of the Stono River south of Charleston on the Interacoastal Waterway. 

Power washed and ready for the hull survey. 

Upper helm on the fly ridge. 

The main salon. 

Plans are to pick her up at the end of July and take her to her new home in Pine Knoll Shores. It's a 270 mile journey that will take about four days. Once back, I hope to cruise eastern North Carolina this fall.  Any classmates interested in spending some time on the water should give me a call. Who knows, this might be our next great adventure. 

4th of July Weekend at the Coast

This is the first post I have made since March.  I guess I am getting lazy.  Following  are few things that have happened since the last post. 

1.  Finished a bonus room addition and an another bath at the Pine Knoll Shores property. 

Bonus room while under construction. 

Bathroom addition turned out really nice. 

2. Sold the Haystacks condo in Morehead City. 

We really enjoyed the six years we were here. Great neighbors. Beautiful views.  We still visit our friends there often. 

3. Found out that I will be a new grandfather in October. A little girl this time. Three boys and one girl. 

Big brother Levi with the announcement. He and his parents recently moved to Chaple Hill from Nashville, a 50 minute drive vs. 10 hours. I guess they finally got tired of us coming to Nashville and spending a week each time. 

4. Doing a little gardening at the coast. 

These lilies were planted by the previous owner. Gorgeous!

5.  There was a little neighborhood party Sunday afternoon three houses up the canal to celebrate the 4th of July. The weather was a little wet but we all managed to stay dry and enjoy the event. 

There were about forty neighbors at the party. 

Now we are all up to date. I hope to have something of interest to share in a couple of weeks. 

Brunswick Stew Time

Actually, it is later than I usually make Brunswick stew. I like to make it in the fall and eat it all winter, but it is good year a around. 

4 whole chickens, four pounds of beef and two pounds of pork. 

The vegetables. I cheat. My mother used to can all of these. I go to Costco. I do use my mothers recipe. It's the best. 

It is a lot of work, but well worth it. We started about 8:00 am. It will finish around 5:00 pm. Then another hour to put it in containers for freezing. Should make 40 quarts. That's 10 gallons folks. I do like my mother's Brunswick stew. 

Initial taste tests says it is the best I have ever made. The only thing that could make it better is to have my Bulldog classmates over for to try it out. 

2015 Year in Review

2015 has come and gone. It was a good year. Following are some pictures taken during the year, things we did and places we went. 

A sunny January day of 2015 and we are motoring up the Intracoastal Waterway from Morehead City to Oriental. Every now and then you have these warm days in the winter where you can get outside and enjoy nature. 

When the weather turns cold it's time for a low country chicken bog. 

This young Levi my,1 year old grandson, at the Nashville, Tennessee zoo. 

Levi's first Easter egg hunt. 

Here's my Winston Salem family on the boat at Ruddy Duck's in Morehead City. 

Yelp, turned 70 in 2015. 

Had a few friends over to help celebrate. 

We took a trip out west to visit some friends at their cabin in Montana. This is Becky and me in the Montana Bad Lands. 

Saw Mount Rushmore at night

Crossed the western divide. 

Saw Ole Faithful in Yellowstone. 

This big by walked right by our car. 

Finally made it into Montana where my friend Bob took me fly fishing on the Bighorn River

Saw the Custer's Last Stand reenactment on the Little Big Horn. 

Visited Deadwood, SD where Wild Bill met his end. 

Completed a remodel of my Dad's house. 

In September we went with friends to Ireland. Here we are enjoying pub food in Adare, Ireland. 

The Cliffs of Mohr on the west coast. 

More food in the town of Ennis. 

I swore I had done my last major project when I finished my Dad's house. Wrong. Started on a bath and bonus room addition on my daughter's house in Pine Knoll Shores. This time I have help from Levi. 

I hope 2016 will be as nice. Looking forward to warmer weather and spending time with family and friends. 

A Photo from the Past

It has been a long time since I posted anything on the blog. Things get very busy and uninteresting in the fall of the year. Summer vacations are over and we start planning for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Well, thanksgiving was a big success and most of the Christmas planning and buying is done. 

The only thing I can think of that might be of interest is an old photograph that Larry Spivey gave me recently. This was especially interesting to me since I am in the photo along with two other classmates that you might recognize. 

That's me on the left, Berti and Tony. 

I have no idea of when and where it was taken. There are some trees in the background and there also appear to be some rocks. I'm guessing that we are 12 or 13 years old at this time, 58 years ago. 

Thank you Larry for giving me this picture. I have shared it with both Berti and Tony and we all enjoyed it tremendously. 

If anyone knows where this was taken please let me know.