Gremlins and Crab Pots

The week has been spent chasing the Gremlins that haunt the electrical system.....and it seems to be about a tie so far. The Generator is up and running...does fine for an hour then odd things begin to occur. The Gremlins are much like Frady....turn your back for a moment and they will try to eat your lunch for you.

A quick phone call to Scotty Harrell resulted in Thomas Grant showing up at the boat to help me with the troubleshooting on the generator problem. Naturally, the generator behaved itself while the Gremlins hid and snickered.

After a quick shower I went down to Sean's for an adult malt beverage or two and got to gaze into the Blender Bosun's eyes....that is worth the trip all by itself! Alas, she tried to whack off a finger while slicing some bread but soldiered right on afterwards. I would have passed right out and had to call for an ambulance if it had been me.

In a weak moment, I wandered into the back bar at Sean's when I heard refrains of "Okie from Muskogee" playing on the juke box. In a weaker moment, I stayed.

Well into the evening, coin games started much to the entertainment of Erin, Cindy, and Jeannie.

They were held mesmerized by one particular magic trick performed by one of the patrons who was in time convinced to give up the secret to the trick in return for a one quarter cut of the next ten years tips the bar tenders would get.....or somethng like that as I remember it.

While talking to Thomas yesterday, he laughed when I made mention of how many crab pots there are in the Sound. He says in a few weeks there will be far more than now....as if that could be possible. The Albemarle Sound is supposed to a real haven for soft shell crabs and folks make very good money crabbing. A bushel (about forty crabs) fetches One Hundred and Twenty Dollars which makes for a good paycheck when you can pull pots every third day and generate about Sixteen Hundred Dollars per haul.

Now if it were not so much work.....Time for a nap and study this crabbing thing!

Trip North and Memorial Day!

Pulled anchor bright and early on a lovely morning in Clubfoot Creek and headed North by East.

Enjoyed a nice cup of Tea while running into the wind such as it was but near Bay River the wind was showing a bit over ten knots and up went all the sails and the clattering old Perkins was given a rest. Shortly fired up the stove and fried up some bacon and made a good BLT for morning chow. I motored sailed for the short canal run then up went all the sails again and made good time around Belhaven and pulled into Slade Creek at a reasonable hour. The Quick Set anchor did it's thing and fired up the grill to do three chicken breasts.

While I had my back turned my little shipmate Frady grabbed one off the platter for himself and tucked into his poached grilled chicken without giving me an invite or thank you. Seems he has a fondness for my chow as he bears watching when the cereal and milk are set down for even the least time.

The day was such a pleasure.....good wind...full sails....Missisippi John playing....and no where North Carolina gliding by at a stately rate. When I cross that final Bar I know what Heaven will look like. Alas chances are I will be wearing asbestos clothing praying for a cold day and looking for a bit of ice water and not cruising such fine waters.

The second day out I ran to Little River off the Albemarle. I understand now what "SO" means on a nautical chart. Simply put it means "soggy bottom" which rejects "Quick Set" anchors by mysterious means. I wore out the electric capstan winch and my arms trying a half dozen times to get the anchor to set. I finally ran deeper into the river amidst a few odd million crabpots to a gorgeous spot tucked behind Long Point. I was getting a bit anxious as it was rapidly getting dark and I was running out of options. The anchor set immediately and life got good again.

The next morning arrived as pretty as it's predecessor! The run out Little River in mirror like calm water was interesting as I found the only lane mostly clear of crabpots. Unlike the night before when it was hop scotch, mine sweeper, and spin the wheel all rolled into one.....the morning run was almost boring. But then....I got into the Albemarle Sound again! There are fine mansion like homes lining the banks of the sound and I know these folks don't run Crab Traps and in the absence of working folks houses, I really wonder who owns these zillions of pots.

Upon arriving at Edenton, Frady immediately dove under the dock at the fuel dock and did not appear till the next morning. He stopped by to confirm the day's menu, downed his breakfast, had a quick bath and disappeared.

Young Shannon called and made reservations at Chez Luna. I did a panic clean up of the boat and myself finishing just in time for her arrival. We grilled steaks, fired up the blender, and enjoyed a nice night on deck chatting and ended the night looking at a Bill Murray movie which spoofs Jacque Cousteau. Half way through the movie we got a scare! A heck of a howling and screeching came from the cockpit where Frady was on the Midnight to Four watch.

When Shannon and I got up where we could see what was going on....young Frady was telling in Cat Slang the ground rules for Cats on Luna to what looked like his twin. As best as we could make out Frady was telling the other Cat he (Frady) was on a very good lick and did not desire any freeloaders, moochers, trespassers, or competition thank you very much.

Why can he not do this to Pooches? Must be a translation issue!

Bright and too early for Shannon, we hit the Bayside for breakfast and sought the answer to the missing biscuits that had been reported by some folks that had been given my rave review of the treats at the Cafe. Bill finally awoke from his nap and suggested he had been swamped with business the day the couple had stopped by and had been unable to do the biscuits as he normally does. He more than made up for that this morning I must say. I even got Shannon to eat half of one after her five course meal. She being a starving Co-Ed ordered half the menu beginning with a foot high stack of pancakes, a pound of bacon, and a quick dozen of eggs. She must have hidden half of it behind her ear.

So good news....Biscuits remain in place at the Bayside Cafe, Frady is enjoying his shore leave, Shannon had a bit of boating, and I got to enjoy her company. I sent her home with a care package of Beef Curry in a casserole dish. I opined a nice Peach Cobbler in the returned dish would be a fair trade. She prides herself on being a "Baker".....perhaps we shall see!

Today is Memorial Day...and was a marked by the very kind thoughts some friends and family sent me by e-mail. Those kind thoughts mean a lot to me and remind me of just how lucky I am.

If wealth is measured by the number and quality of your friends then I am rich beyond my dreams.

While reading my younger Sister's note, I was taken back to my departure from home for my second tour in Vietnam. She and my folks were there to see me off and I can still see that as clear as the day it happened. Tusser (sister) was old enough to understand what it was all about and I have to admit it was a hard thing to stay all happy and upbeat despite knowing what a year away from home in that place was all about.

We all remember those who are serving but we overlook the families who have to wait it out at home with all the worry and never knowing when that sad message will arrive saying their loved one is not coming home as prayed for.

Remember those who wait and think what a poor trade a Flag is for a Loved One.

We have troops fighting in many places of the world today and there are families paying the price for our Freedom. Thank them when you can.....both those fighting and those they have at home.

Ungentlemanly Conduct and the Art of Generator Science!

To catch up on the past week or so events.....I am guilty of "Ungentlemanly Conduct" but plead the best of intentions as an excuse. I set off from Edenton despite a weather forecast that fell a bit short of perfect. Way short as it turned out!

I found myself weaving in and about zillions of crabpots in the Albemarle Sound while beating into the mild wind forecast by the Guessologists. The Weather Guesser's must be very optimistic folks as I found the wind to be a wee tad stronger than forecast and the sea state a lot different than they opined. When I turned south into the Alligator River I discovered Luna could rear up and almost whinny before plunging into waves stacked up on top of one another. The ride was akin to driving cross furrow in a Tobacco Patch. Frady was not amused.

It is said "A Gentleman never sails to wind!" I must be a very crude lout in that case. Luna actually took some waves over the bow as the wind peaked at between 35 and 40 knots for a stretch. I made it to the north end of the Alligator River Canal and anchored in the lee of the shore and had a nice night....after donating my Thirty Five Pound Danforth Anchor to Davy Jones Locker. The rope rode I had it attached to parted as I backed down to confirm the anchor was set.

Next day was more of the same....beat my way to Clubfoot Creek and anchored across from Matthews Point to discover the Generator would not power the battery charger. Next morning with a really ugly weather forecast for an extended Nor'Easterner, I decided to head over to Oriental and hide out at SailCraft Marina. That also allowed "Bob the Electrical Guru" at Sailcraft to wave his magic wand over the Generator/Charger problem and cure that one for me.

It was old home week there.....ran into Ray and his family....they live aboard a 36 foot sloop and home school their two Son's. Earl and Karen off"Temptation" were back from the Bahamas, Jim and Susie were there working on their boat "Skat". Buck dropped by to visit Jim and Earl....and yet another couple from Matthews Point was there for a quick visit for TV antenna work.

Earl, Karen, Jim , Susie and I played Mexican Train Dominoes and tippled a few fine drinks aboard "Temptation". I felt like the "Klampetts Come to Hollywood" when I go aboard that boat! "Temptation" is a very pretty Endeavour 42 and looks like brand new! She makes one want to put on underwear!

While on a walk downtown, I ran into Styron Sherrill, who was leaving his office at Fulcher Seafood. He was being led by his five month old Chocolate Lab who was one very pretty fellow. The dog was on a leash.....one of those extendable things....but instead of being clipped to it...he had the end in his mouth which is the way he does leashes according to Styron.

After the Nor'easter calmed down, I went back to Matthews Point and met up with Randy and Rob from R&R Diving, who cleaned Luna's hull and inspected the zinc's. Randy reckons the zinc's are fine even after having been on the boat for eight months. I think I have the electrolysis problem sorted out finally. Joe from the "Big Kahuna" was down working on his boat and joined me for dinner at anchor in the creek. Taylor and Peggy (she of the knee dancing to the blue screen of death fame) stopped for a visit. They are still gushingly in love since marrying in October. Jeff and Mary Ellen were prepping for a week long trip on "Precious Cargo" along with his yellow Lab and her white Boxer. Jeff is starting a new career as a City Police Officer at Emerald Isle. Mary Ellen, his girlfriend is a travelling nurse and seems quite a keeper!

Plans are to fuel at Matthews Point and then begin a leisurely return to Edenton. The weather forecast is for pretty weather but with low winds....from behind me this time thus it should be a more gentlemanly trip northwards.

Husband Winning Biscuits!

Life is good again!

I have found an excellent breakfast place and it is within walking distance of the boat....even by my standards of distance which means like not very far at all. Bay Bridge Marina and Cafe is on the other side of the Highway 17 bridge and caters to Bass Boaters and other low clearance craft due to the height of the bridge. The very same people that keep "waking" me when I was tied up to the Tee Dock on the creek.

Bill and Denise run the Cafe and put out some excellent chow! They make home made, just like Grandma Cooper (Miss Luna who my boat is named for) used to do. The old standard of "being able to catch a Husband" in judging biscuits applies here. They are that good!

They gave me a sample of the strawberry shortcake they are making for lunch today....home made biscuits, fresh strawberries, and homemade whipped cream! I shall be there with Bells On for lunch today!

I urged them to hang up a sign that requires the guy getting the last biscuit to kiss the cook.

You best make sure which day Bill makes the biscuits as he is a rather large manly fellow and I don't think I would care to try to kiss him! As good as those biscuits are.....that might be a rather steep price to pay! Now Denise on the other hand.....no down side to that!

I noticed something rather odd on the counter.....a huge Urn looking glass jar that had "Tips" written on it for some inexplicable reason as it was completely void of anything but a bit of dust. Must be the Bass Boaters are cheaper than Cruising Sailors....and that would be real trick to pull off!

Ol' Frady must be on the mend sure enough....he was absent without leave again this morning so I reckon he is able to get out and roam. Amazing what a Two Hundred Dollar Vet bill can do to improve his constitution.

He let me put some ointment on his hurt leg and with a bit of protest I was able to get the pain killer into him by squirting the stuff into his mouth using a syringe. As to getting the pill medicine into him.....yeah....Right!

The boat is fueled, watered, filled with propane, greased, checked, and all that is left to do is get some groceries, Cat Litter, Kitty grub, and do laundry....then ready to get underway tomorrow assuming the weather is no worse than forecast. Sounds like strong winds and some Thunder Bumpers might be around for a couple of days.

Live music at Sean's tonight.....and another chance to enjoy looking into the Blender Bosun's eyes! Sean has the best Reuben Sandwich.....nay, the second best Reuben Sandwich I have ever had! The old German place on Park Road in Charlotte had the best hands down but Sean's loses by just a smidgen.

Busy Day!

Bright, clear, cool morning when I got up....had a cup of Tea and started the day off trying to get a pill into the Cat....gave up on that as a lost cause but did get the pain killer squirted down his gullet without losing any of my fingers. Ol' Frady is a pretty mellow fellow with the pain killers working on him! The leg shows improvement already both in the wound and his being able to put some weight on it.

I made several trips to the gas station ferrying diesel in jerry cans to the boat as the marina fuel pump is still out of service. In between the trips I spent about an hour on a treasure hunt with a neighbor. Seems he had a steering cable failure and in the process of replacing the broken cable....he managed to drop a pair of pliers down inside the binnacle stanchion. With much effort, a bright light, and a lot of squinting....you can almost see the pliers way down at the bottom of the hole but retrieving them is turning into a multi-day effort. Yes....a wonderful boat project to be enjoyed!

The boat is fueled and watered....going grocery shopping in the morning after filling the propane tanks and I will be ready to get underway on Thursday morning. Live music at Sean's tomorrow night and I don't want to miss another opportunity to gaze into the Blender Bosun's eyes. That beats the beer, chow, and music by a mile!

Late in the afternoon I put the Dink into the water and took a bit of a boat ride. I rode out through the Edenton Channel to get another look at it and just enjoy the view of the town and this part of the Sound. On the way back I ducked under the Highway 17 bridge at the marina and continued on up the creek. What an incredibly pretty place. Water smooth as glass, dark as coffee, Geese, and Cypress trees on all sides as the creek winds it way around. I turned around at the next bridge but could have made it under with no problem. I understand this creek meanders on for another fifteen to twenty miles before it gets too shallow and narrow to navigate. I will make that trip when I get back from Clubfoot Creek next week.

What A Mom's Day!

The clan gathered at my niece's place near Fayetteville for Mom's Day. Bridget and her husband Wayne, put on a great meal, Granny Pat did a cake to go along with my older sister's Birthday Cake and nephew Tommy made off with every bit of cake left over....which wasn't much after his devastating attack on the cakes at lunch time.

I was treated to a bit of exploring by my Niece's older Son Joel and his buddy Caleb. We took a short ten mile forced march through the wilds of Cumberland County, climbed a mountain, circled around a really pretty fishing pond....eased through a derelict house trailer site and eventually found our way back to the Cake Crumbs.

Walking with Joel and Caleb reminded me of growing up in Winston-Salem with all of the great outdoors at our back door step. Tommy Whitlow, Jimmy Hutchins ,and I had the time of our lives hiking and messing about the woods and Salem Creek. What is now strip malls, four lane roads, and housing areas were just farm land and timber when we were growing up.

I got back to Luna right at dark to be met by a black flash and the clatter of cat hooves on the dock.....as Frady was very glad to see the Ship's Cook back on duty.

About an hour later.....he fell into the cabin howling and screaming....hissing and really sounding like the World was coming to an end. A quick investigation discovered he was working on knocking off part of his Cat Life Ration. From all appearances, it looked as though he might have had a compound fracture of his left hind leg as there was a six inch long scrape and a puncture type wound bleeding a bit on the inside of his leg. We spent a long, long, night....him hurting and me worrying.

I took him to the Chowan Animal Hospital and was standing in their door when they opened. After a bit of wait they got him into the examining room and did a check of the leg. I must admit the Vet has some awfully good reflexes....as Frady was well ahead on strikes but had not made contact. He was at a bit of a handicap as he could only use one hind foot to brace and I had hold of him around the head and neck.

When they took him back for a visit with the X-Ray Tech.....I could hear his protests all the way in the front office. Frady was not amused by the bedside manner back there. After a few minutes one of the Vets showed up with form for me to sign so they could sedate Frady as they had run out of courage and welding gloves.

The good news is the young lad has some cuts and abrasions.....no broken bones but does have some really sore muscles and tendons. He will be hobbling around for a week or so.

If he would put on his "Visit the Vet" warface when confronted with dogs.....I would change his name to "King Fish" as he would sure never have to run away. Hell....he scares me when he gets into that mode! Way back at the start of this Blog I recounted my $300 dollar visit to my own Doctor after ignoring Frady's request to leave him be!

So....a bit of rain today, an ailing Shipmate, marina fuel pump broke down.....so time for a nap as I did not get very much sleep last night. Frady is already sacked out having sorted out the Vet Crew and organized the Ship's Cook for dinner in bed.

Saturday in Edenton

Nice windy day in town today!

Yacht club had a rummage sale going on at the downtown marina, the American Legion had the annual Hog Fest in session at the Fairgrounds.

I did a recon of the local area looking at For Sale signs and getting an idea of the lay of the land.

At lunch time I stopped in at Sean's for an ice tea.....gazed into the prettiest eyes in town....belonging to the "Blender Bosun". One could get lost in them! Made small chat with the folks there until I had tanked up with tea and set out to make the rounds.

I wound up on the boat and nursed a blender full of Rum based Lime drink....read up on the destruction of a Russia bound convoy PQ-17 during World War II and chatted with all the passers by.

About Sunset, the Canadian Geese started the daily Flt-Ex evolution....circling around and makinjg water landings in the middle of the marina. The Goslings are growing like weeds....we have three bunches of them now....all different sizes.

Am off to Fayetteville tomorrow to my niece's place to celebrate Mom's Day....back tomorrow tonight. Monday will start prepping the boat for a trip down to the Neuse River, New Bern, and Clubfoot Creek for a Saturday meet up with Joe Earl and Karen and whoever else shows up. I will be back about mid-week and start some local exploring to find good sailing ground for next month's Full Moon period.

Thoughts are the Chowan River will be the spot for that as the Albemarle Sound is chock full of crab pots and drift nets which would be a real hazard in the dark as they are a big pain in the hind end during daylight.

A Run Ashore!

This town called Edenton is a very interesting place....with some very interesting people!

I am a key card holder at the local American Legion having made my first visit there and enjoyed the company of a fine group of Veterans. The place is upscale and the Post seems quite active in local events, sponsors a couple of youth baseball teams, and puts on several good fund raisers in the form of Cook Offs and the like. This weekend is the Hog Cooking contest and I hope the rain holds off so it will be a huge success.

After the Legion, I wandered down to Sean's in Downtown Edenton, had a good Cheeseburger with a Pasta Salad then gathered up my courage and got my pocket knife close to hand for a visit to the Bar. A young barefoot fellow was playing a guitar and playing music about two generations too new for me. I was let down he did not know the forty six versions of "The Chicken's Last Walk To The Wood Pile" but then not many do.

I enlisted one crew member for Luna while sat at the bar....fair young Anne who works at the place. One interesting bit of news fellas....if you want your nails done...Wednesday night at Sean's. A couple of ladies provide manicures to all and sundry. Only in Edenton at Sean's can one watch a hockey fight on TV while getting your nails done with a glass of Guinness in the other hand!

The night was complete when I arrived back at the boat to find Frady very glad to see the Chef return. I wish he could talk....as he arrived clean, dry, burr-less, and without any cobwebs on him....which makes me wonder just where the Heck he has been for a day and a half!

Shannon suggested I might be spending quite a bit of time in Sean's the day we had lunch there.

Shannon as usual is pretty perceptive!

Another rainy day....reckon I will do some reading and vacuum the interior of the boat and try to get the ten tons of cat fur off the upholstry and carpet. That will upset the Cat's siesta I am sure!

Now We're Cooking With Gas!

After a cup of tea this morning and waiting for the deluge to end.....I worked up my courage and decided to tackle the Gas Grill problem yet again. Within a few minutes of taking things apart link by link and checking for gas flow....I determined the problem was the regulator between the tank and the grill control valve. We are now cooking with Gas again!

I ran the generator for a while and finally got it to charge both house and start batteries.....and hope it was just a time delay issue for the Generator to warm up and start producing current or else I have an intermittent problem. For the time being all is in order.

For lunch I hit Sean's downtown to discover several wonderful things....two of them are the wait persons....they have Guinness on tap....and live music tonight after Eight PM. I enjoyed a great Reuben Sandwich and conversation with a lovely lady who was after my money as it turned out. Nothing new there! I will see if I can retrieve some of it this evening.....perhaps a game of Horses or Ship's Captain and Crew might work.

After lunch I dropped into a Real Estate Office where I did not have to take a number to be served.....matter of fact I thought I was going to have to call the SWAT guys to free me. Ronnie Sawyer the Agent was very helpful and invited me around to the American Legion for a beer or two dozen. I shall take him up on that today.

My last stop in town was the Library.....what a nice place! The Used Book sale was on....got a double arm load for Eleven Dollars...checked out two. I will certainly add this place to the must visit list.

Thus....a very good day today!

Now if the Cat would just show up again! He is off on a ramble again.

The Gas Grill Saga Continues

I was up early yesterday and removed all the above deck plumbing for the propane system and carried the bits out to Western Gas for their Service guy "George" to work on. I enjoyed a great cup of coffee and some interesting talk with the two Ladies in the office while George did his thing in the back room. After about an hour, with two new tank connectors, a bit of new hose, and one hose cleaned out with a burst or two of high pressure air.....I was billed a wee sum (actually) and sent back to the boat to re-install the lines. Frady rode along to make sure I found the place.

Hooking the hoses back up to the manifold proved to be interesting (in cruiser lingo that means lots of sailor language and high blood pressure). The kind fellow who had installed the propane system had hidden the manifold inside a water proof plastic box which meant a regular box end wrench would not work. He also bored the entrance holes in the bottom of the box offset from the connections so the hoses were crooked when hooked up.....which made getting them attached a real pleasure. (NOT!). I dug out my crow's foot wrenches, battery powered drill and hole bits, and proceeded with the job. That is after re-charging the battery as both of them were flat. That did not become apparant until the drill bit came into contact with the plastic box.

In the end....it all came together with properly located holes for the hoses, and the connections all done up nice and tight.

Then.....time to light the grill and get the thawed steaks out of the Fridge.

One small problem....the grill does not work at all now!

This is a simple system....even a Dull Third Grader such as myself should be able to sort this out....really! I flew helicopters, right?

Anyway....I at least have something to ponder while running the blender for this evenings Sundowners.

This morning upon arising from my slumber, I discovered Frady had left me a Trophy again....another bull frog. I hollered for him as he was no where to be seen....and in just a minute I spied him crossing the road from the wood lot on the far side. He ran the whole way back to the boat taking a wide detour from the flock of Canadian Geese that live up at slip 64. He got his five minutes of quality time and still smells of Apple Shampoo from his bath yesterday.

I've decided to quit worrying about him getting whacked by a car on the highway....he is enjoying his roaming and as I have done much of the same all my life perhaps I might as well accept he is doing the same. I reckon sailors just enjoy a good run ashore when they can.

The Cat Is Back!

Ship's Cat Frady went UA yesterday.....he missed morning muster and was put on report for being Absent Without Leave. He arrived in time for Evening Colors and was duly recorded as being back aboard. He was covered in cobwebs and dirt which suggested he has found some interesting places underneath the docks that needed exploring. The good news is he was not converted into a "Sail Cat" out on the highway.

Several interesting people appeared on the dock today....some had boats here and others were boaters just taking a wander around the docks looking at the boats moored here. One fellow was a Blimp Mechanic working for a company at Elizabeth City and who owns a 32 Foot Westsail Sloop he is restoring up in Jersey City, NJ.

The couple who own the Hunter Sloop next door were down giving the boat a bit of a bath. Well, the First Mate was.....the Captain spent time with me discussing the progress the Mate was having on the boat scrubbing. Gail, the Mate, who I thought to be the Captain's daughter turned out to be his wife. Captain Barry has done well for himself in my opinion.

After a while I stated that I could not stand around and watch a woman work.....so I went below and got tucked into my lunch and a finished a book by John Sandford entitled "Hidden Prey". Sandford tells a great yarn and I have read about a dozen of his books so far.

Next on the reading list is "Duffy's War", about Chaplain Patrick Duffy of the Fighting 69th Infantry during World War I. It appears to be an excellent historical account of the 69th's fighting in the trenches along with telling Duffy's story. I can see crossover's between the book and the James Cagney film....."The Fighting 69th".

Up early tomorrow morning to take half the propane system into the gas dealer for his service guy to replace the tank connectors. This is yet another chapter of the never ending saga of the "Grill Doesn't Work Right" saga.

I have found a way for a young person to make a golden living.....become good at Propane, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration for boats. Add in AC and DC electrics.....and they could earn a very good living if they did good work and showed up when promised.

Sundowners tonight.....frozen margaritas!

Touring Edenton and the Surrounding Three Counties

Today started off looking like a day to get something done. Several simple, easy, nothing to it boat repairs, put on the sail covers, remove some the fishing lures from the boat rods, and have an easy afternoon.

What was I thinking?

No boat repair chore....no matter how innocent looking works out like you plan unless you really goof something up.

I quickly sorted out the Aft Shower drain.....a clogged strainer in front of the diaphram pump. Ten minutes and all done on that. Then in a weak moment I decided to finally sort out the Forward Shower sump pump plumbing. Why do I do these kinds of things to myself?

For almost two years now I have avoided this job.....it is in an awkward place to work, and I use the Aft Shower so I was not too bothered by the problem. The problem.....whoever the Moron was that designed the shower sump system plumbed the shower drain line through a diaphram pump and then tee'd the pump output into the sink drain line level with the sink drain outlet.

I am just a dull third grader but I know water will seek the path of least resistance....usually down hill. In this case, when you turn on the shower sump pump, the pump makes what looks like "Old Faithful Geyser" out of the sink drain. In the past I tried using a check valve between the Tee and the sink drain but there was not enough "Head" to open the check valve thus the sink would not drain. I removed the check valve and reverted to Plan B....which was ignore the problem.

Plan C was implemented today. That was to install a ball valve between the sink drain and the Tee thus allowing me to close off the sink drain line.

I scoped out the work....made up my parts list...checked it twice....measured once...and set out to the hardware store in town. The good news was they had what I needed and it is only a mile to the store. Upon getting into the job I determined I should have checked the list and measured twice instead of what I did earlier.

This should have been an omen.....but as most boat jobs take at least three trips to town I was not fussed. The hardware store did not have the one part I needed....a simple pipe thread to hose barb plastic fitting size 3/4". They do not stock them. Nor did the building supply place but they did point me in the direction of Nixon's Hardware.

That kicked off the three county tour.

I finally found Nixon's and fell in love with the place. A young lady behind the counter was eating a snack....a can of Potted Meat with a couple of crackers. After a bit of getting to know one another and her Mom along came a second young lady who escorted me to the plumbing department. Alas, no fitting to be had. We returned to the counter and discussed ordering one. Mom called the distributer and after a short chat she asked me if I could use a white plastic one instead of the gray plastic one I had shown her. Well.....errrrr......sure!

While waiting for Mom to sort out the ordering thing.....I noticed a couple of old farmers sitting on the church pew. Please to remember this store is out in the middle of no where.....and supplys all the farmers in the area. A very interesting place to shop I might add.....most anything you can want and lots of local color.

Remembering my North Carolina History....I started a conversation with the two Farmers. First I made an inquiry as to whether there had ever been a big ol' lie told on that bench. They looked at me like I was from New York or somewhere and allowed there had not. I smiled and said perhaps no lies but a bit of harmless prevarication perhaps. That got a smile out of both of them.

Rising to the moment I opined all them hard core down east Democrats must be awfully uncomfortable lately with the ways things have been going up in Washington. From the looks I got from that comment I sure hope I don't run out of gas or have a flat tire out in that neighborhood!

Anyway....the young lady led me to the spray gear department and Hello! There were dozens of the fittings I needed.....in white. Thus, I still have to drive hundreds of miles to get a single item to do a boat chore! At least I had fun doing it.

While studying the empty bin in the plumbing department I struck up a conversation with a fellow who was also walking around looking for the Holy Grail....in his case a plug and a small brass fitting. Seems he is rebuilding an old wooden boat and is enjoying himself immensely. In time I hope to see that old boat and spend some more time chatting with him.

This being in a small town where everyone seems to know everyone else is enjoyable.

Now.....Chicken Madras Curry bubbling away on the stove, the rice is done, time to toast some Paratha's and enjoy dinner. Perhaps a blender full of slushy lime based Rum drink after dinner and see what kind of trophy Frady Cat brings in tonight.