Day Seven

This was to be a layover and maintenance day so we stayed in the Oriental Marina for another day. I started the day with run around town then we prepared a hearty breakfast of corned beef hash, shired eggs, sliced tomatoes toast and fresh strawberries. Since it was quite warm we ate breakfast in the boat's cockpit. Oriental is a very dog-friendly town. There is no leash law and many owners bring their pets when they stop by the local coffee shop (The Beanery) for their morning java. The Beanery was directly across the street from our boat slip. When the dogs smelled the corned beef hash, they left their owners and we soon had 5 dogs neatly lined up next to the boat looking for a hand0ut.

I needed to install a new wind vane atop my mast, so I pulled out my climbing gear after breakfast, while Buck worked on polishing the rails.

I use rock climbing gear to climb the main halyard

and it's very efficient compared to having to be cranked up by someone else. It's still 40 feet above the water, so it takes a bit of energy. I prepared my tool belt, climbed the mast with no problems, removed the old part, then brought it down to fix. The problem arose when I climbed the mast a second time to install the fixed part and it wouldn't fit. Down the mast and off to the marine store I went.

I bought a variety of small parts that might work and came back to the boat. After a quick lunch of salmon salad prepared by Buck, up the mast I went for the third time. This time I was able to jury rig the new parts and make everything work, although I was hanging on the masthead for close to an hour. By the time I got back down the mast, I was done for the day. A shower and a nap, and it was time for cocktails. We then prepared a mixed grill of steak and lamb chops with sauted wild mushrooms and a veal demi-glace, garlic mashed potatoes and salad for dinner. It was a memorable meal. I used my computer to check the weather after dinner and saw that there would be small craft warnings on the Pamlico Sound as of noon the next day. Since we needed to cross the Pamlico River at the mouth of the Sound heading north, we decided to leave early the next morning to try to beat the weather.