August 10, 2009
Strange fishing trip

Let's start with this BC cartoon which coincidentally was published August 9th. I'm not going to tell this story; many of you accuse me of "exaggerating," You all talk behind my back I know it; then there was the time with the strawberries Ahh, but the strawberries that's... that's where I had them. They laughed at me and made jokes but I proved beyond the shadow of a doubt and with... geometric logic... that a duplicate key to the wardroom icebox DID exist, and I'd have produced that key if they hadn't of pulled the Caine out of action. I, I, I know now they were only trying to protect some fellow officers...; where was I? Oh yes, sorry I digress. I prefer to call it livening up. Anyway, something similar to Thor's adventure happened to the Fishin Optishin on our trip Saturday. I'll give the FO the opportunity to tell what happened under comments.........

Since we were shark fishing we had to get some bait. Using my homemade Sabiki rig rod we caught some little pinfish and menhaden to use. FO was astonished this rig worked. Others fishing around us praised my ingenuity by stopping their boats, pointing at us, slapping each other on the back while doubling over laughing. I'm not familiar with this type of nautical salute, only seen it once before when he had the "Bermuda cover" on my daddy's old boat. However my chest swelled with pride as they lined up to come by and "salute" the Nell One.
An example of the bait.

An example of what we caught during the day. Most were 3-4 feet long and put up a good fight on light tackle. There was at least one barracuda involved also, but again, I'm leaving that to the FO to tell.

I didn't bring big or strong enough hooks. Here is an example of what happened regularly.

Someone bit the wrong end of the bait! This little croaker must have not seen what was coming.

On the way home FO took some pictures of the rig which has been working in the turning basin for several months now. They drag the bottom, put it on a barge and take it out in the ocean to dump.

On our way home after a fun day; not as many people going our way as on a typical summer Saturday afternoon, but still a crowd

Not sure why Bobby took this picture, probably wanted to look busy while I cleaned the boat........But it is a good shot of the boat and the old SkuttleMobile

Rinse the boat and trailer down, flush the engine, no fish to clean, Bobby provided some delicious burgers for dinner. It was time for a greenie from Holland (or two) and listen to what really happened during our Shark Week fishing trip. The floor is yours Bobby..........

In town all week, might be the last time for a while; would like to get out one evening if the winds lies down. Come on, let's go!

Exciting week
August 7, 2009

OK, maybe an exaggeration. On the way to VA I stopped by the old house and saw the new paint job; looks really nice.

The MhCFD was out testing some pumps at the shopping center across the street

Late Sunday afternoon Terri and I set out for Oriental. As we crossed the Neuse River an impressive rain squall was coming down east, so we got off the ferry, turned around and came back home via Beaufort.

Told you it was an exciting week didn't I? Maybe next week will be a bit(e) more, FO is heading our way in the morning for at least one day of fishing......shark fishing. Count your fingers and toes boys and girls, this might be fun

July 31, 2009
Cooper's Big Adventure

It's hard to believe it is the end of July, what happened to summer? Oh well, Master Cooper visited us last week and delighted us with his antics. Nana (grandma Terri) kept him really busy with activities throughout the week; good thing, we weren't able to get him out on the boat until the Sunday before he left, and that was for our monthly Church on the Beach at Bird Shoal. Too much wind! Hope that is not an omen for the fall......

First thing with Master Cooper: don't go past this line on the driveway, even though we're on a cul-de-sac we still don't want the best little grand baby in the world playing in the street. Although the chalk wore off Cooper knew this was the limit.

Nana took him to the aquarium; she took a lot of pictures, this is my favorite.

She took Cooper to the Teacher's Pet; he loves the train sets. His birthday is August 3rd, hmmmmmmmmmmmmm................................

Bubbles was one of his favorite past times, and no, I'm not talking about the FO's favorite dancer at the "club." In this picture Cooper is getting pretty tired, I think; it's either that or he inhaled instead of exhaled.

Here Nana resurrected one of Jackson's favorite toys and Cooper really enjoyed it, especially the medieval catapult, but after all who doesn't like a medieval catapult?

Nana took him to the pool where he slipped through the ring and tried to drink the pool on his way to safety.

Nana also decided to have a little fun and put Cooper in a sewage pipe for a few minutes of quiet. It worked well until he found an opening.

One afternoon we thought we would have some fun and let Cooper and Pop take turns driving the roadster. Here Pop helps Cooper start the car; Cooper was disappointed the car has a stick shift and not the paddle shifter with which he is accustomed. Surprisingly Pop had the quicker lap times!

Here Cooper relaxes after pulling an old fat inebriated man from the surf. Way to go Cooper! (Does my bathing suit make my butt look big? Does the ocean make my butt look big?)

While at the beach Cooper did his mandatory fill the hole up with seawater trick. All of this is encouraged to wear him out.

Speaking of mandatory, here is his July GQ shot in the dunes.

Caught in the wash, Cooper helps the same inebriated old fat guy to safety......again. Way to go Cooper!

Nana, who made all of this possible. She took Cooper to the beach, numerous stores, McDonald's, the country club, the playground, and yet no matter where she took Cooper he was always able to find his way home. Way to go Cooper!

We really enjoyed having him around for a week, but we understand why young people have babies. Cooper is a lot of fun and it is really neat to see him experience new events. Can't wait to get him back down east.

July 27, 2009
The Video
Terri wanted me to film her going down the slide on the liner; so here t'is. Enjoy!

July 24, 2009
Been busy, finally got around to posting some pictures from our cruise. Strangely enough I didn't take as many pictures as you would think, no reason why or why not, just didn't. But anyway, here is the selection followed by a very special video.
First picture is for # 1 son Jay who was always interested in the beginning and ends of highway routes. Highway 1 is a huge national highway and this is where it ends. For you Jay.......

Next picture is the departure from Miami deep water terminal. The USCG escorted us out complete with a crewman standing behind a .30 on the bow . Hope we're on the right ship Terri and Jackson in Cozumel with our ship and her sister in the background. Looks like they were getting along here

Before we left Key West there is a local law that you have to go-a-drankin, so go-a-drankin we did go. While in Sloppy Joe's we saw a wedding party come in, reminded us of Heather and Kevin; except that Heather and Kevin didn't go to a bar after they got married. In truth their attire reminded us of the Riley newlyweds.

For Kristi, Kevin and Jay, a restaurant in the cruise ship "safe" section of Cozumel.

And for the rest of you a cake resembling the float in Animal house....why? I haven't the foggiest

In Cozumel with another ship

Two shots of Cozumel; we had a great dinner downtown and went shopping
Sunset as we headed back to the ship
Each night our towels were folded into animals; this one sported my reading glasses one night
Some cool dude and an old codger on our last night at sea
Sorry, for some reason we're not able to load short videos today, or yesterday for that matter. So you'll miss Terri going down the water slide, sorry. It's available for home presentation if you're interested.

Next week, Cooper at the beach

July 19, 2009

A good walk spoiled.......................

Someone wrote a book about golf which used that Mark Twain quote "golf is a good walk spoiled." Reminds me of my fishing adventure of today.I left early this Sunday morning at 5:00 after checking the radar and latest weather report; chance of thunderstorms after 2:00, winds are calm growing to 8-10 after lunch. Radar showed a line of thunderstorms 25+ miles offshore; should be a good morning to find a few Spanish and maybe a keeper flounder or two.As I motored east and as the sun started hitting the tops of clouds I could see what seemed to be a couple of squall lines approaching from offshore. Well that can't be, but just to keep dry I decided to take advantage of the calm seas and go offshore. Got to the inlet and found a respectable 4 foot swell with more SW wind than expected. Went on out to AR 315 and found some preacher's ...............lizard fish and undersized flounder; and nothing else. Saw a little bait, but no Spanish or blues...odd.About 7:30 I looked offshore and saw two serious squall lines coming in. Having little luck, and being on Dink and Pop duty, I decided go home and to run between the two lines and then follow the first line in. In retrospect this wasn't my best move, especially since Jackson told me later that it didn't rain at the Sheraton where he was at work. Anyway the move was made and I started for the shipping channel. As I neared the channel Shackleford Banks disappeared into the rain, then I watched as Ft Macon did the same. By then I was in the channel and watched as the channel markers vanished. At some point I put the top up, probably brought on by the fact that the radio speaker started sounding kinda funny; it was soaked and so was I. Rode it out in the channel, visibility improved past 100 yards, so I started for the eastern side of Beaufort Inlet. Did I mention the calm winds? Well they weren't.Got inside and went up into the Middle Marshes. No fish at home I decided to scout a creek in the middle of the marshes, tried to punch it a little too far into skinny water and ended up hard aground on an oyster rock. Lowered the trolling motor to pop off the rock and then discovered the trolling motor took a sick leave day. Got out of the boat (where is barefooted Jay when you need him?) and thankfully was able to get into deeper water. By now it was 9 or so, and I've got my day planned to transport Dink to Pop's place, so I decided I'd had about enough. Tried the east side of the inlet with no results, went to the railroad trestle and didn't get a bite, the heck with it, it hasn't been my best day, I'm going home! My neighbors went by and asked me later if I saw the waterspout behind me; just as well that I didn't.
As I got up to speed coming out of the Turning Basin I saw something in the water that caught my eye. I turned around and netted a NC Seafood Festival hat that someone lost overboard. My luck has changed! Someone is getting a nice hat for Christmas so act surprised. Ran on to Spooner Creek, turned into the channel, and as is my custom as I throttled back I reached for my visor on the post, but it was gone! Talk about karma......

Got to the landing, backed the truck in, hit the parking brake and broke it in the locked position.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Got it unhung, got home, hit the engine skeg backing in the driveway, realized I'd lost my sunglasses in all the confusion. After searching the house and garage way too long, finally gave up and got my shower to go pick up Dink. However I did find my visor which must have blown off of my head but stayed in the boat, a la Davis Powers.Before leaving I went to the landing to try to find the sunglasses; oddly enough I found them as I got back into the truck.....I'd been sitting on them the whole time. Who didn't see that one coming? Hope I fixed them well enough to keep the lens in.

So that was my day, which is some kind of circular logic comes back around to golf. I taped The Open, sure hope Tom Watson won.................................

July 17, 2009
I know some of you are looking for cruise pictures, and we have a few but not many, and they are pretty; but not anywhere as pretty as these pictures:

Kevin is home and in the arms of his wife, and that makes today one of the happiest days of my 54 years here on this planet. You're my hero buddy, and words can't describe how proud I am to be your uncle. Rest up and thank you for a job well done.