Cool Front

We had a cool front pass this area last night so at first light this morning, the air was cool and dry. So much so that we turned the a/c off and opened the hatches. It is almost as if to say that relief is on the way in the form of the fall season. Although we are in the peak hurricane season, the cooler air is welcome and might be the time for a positive attitude about the storm future. Who knows? Whatever the benefit, Bear has chosen to take her pre-lunch nap in the cockpit.


There is talk about the increase in dock reservations for the winter months which heralds the great migration soon to take place. Some come just this far south and stay from December through March before turning north again. For some, this port will only be a brief stopover on the trek to the Keys or the islands. We are not sure what we will do. Much depends on how soon my junky butt can get underway after the neck thing. We do not plan to stay this far north and do plan to get to the islands this winter. No plan, no schedule and no destination!

The Captain of Bacalao returned last evening and we were yammering about wazzup when two other captains joined the yammering. All, except the captain of that little sailboat down the dock, operate large vessels. It was entertaining to listen about the plans. One is heading out after their final charter this weekend. They will take the vessel to the Ft. Lauderdale area and resume operations from there for the winter. Another will head directly to the islands in a month. Not sure where Bacalao will go since the owner cannot be aboard for a bit longer. She might stay here for an extended period. It is a bit of a surprise that many of the mega yachts are chartered out between owner visits.

So far as the boats that run before the wind, there are a few fifty feet boats here but most are in the thirty to high forty feet range. Like most ports, most do not leave. The anchorage opposite this dock has a couple dozen boats that appear to never leave judging from the growth on their anchor rodes. There are a couple of boats that appear to be waiting to leave at some signal from Mother Ocean.

We have been making some upgrades and improvements to Why Knot whilst here. We have replaced the lifelines, added fender covers and deck fuel tank covers and will soon unship the CQR anchor and replace it with a heavy Rocna. In addition, we will be moving the SSB from the overhead at the nav station to the nav station panel. That overhead thingy is hard on the neck. My progress in working the dang thing (single side band radio) is slow but I think I am getting the hang of it. Has my ability to understand a manual diminished since being underway or is it simply crumbly setting in? We have added some minor parts such as a check valve to the a/c condensation line to make screen changing easier without all that silt getting into the bilge. The city of Charleston gets a resounding A+ but the mud under the harbor gets an F. This stuff can be used as a weapon, so when it gets aboard we clean for days to rid ourselves of pre-petroleum ambiance. Sort of makes one sympathetic for the cave men that lived during the time of dinosaurs.

We look forward to visiting friends we met along the way and those ports we did not truly enjoy because Bear couldn’t get off the boat. As one bridge tender put it: We look forward to raising this bridge for you on your way back.

After several weeks of seemingly in-activity, this place is starting to awaken. Soon, the grand fleets of south bounders will be here. Sort of reminds you of a Mutual of Omaha spot: While the lion makes quick work of old Jim, Marlan describe the autumn sunset--- or not.