SHIP'S LOG:
"Perfect Peter" and "Debbie Diction" - the voices of the NOAA Weather Forecasts, used those three little words last night and again this morning which meant that I wasn't going anywhere. Truth be told, if I was at TYC 20-25 knots and gust to 30 makes for an exciting ride but there would have been no small craft advisory. The shallowness of the Bay allows the winds to whip up some nasty waves that make for hazardous travel by small craft, hence the advisory.
I actually think that gusts were more than 30 because they really got ABISHAG sailing around on her anchor.The rigging sang and everything that could rattle did! But the sun was out and it was in the high 60's so it was a good day.
I got a chance to complete a couple of jobs. I Re-hinged the port side cover for the anchor/ windlass locker that had been torn out by the storm. A little drilling, a little screwing, a little gluing and all is right with the world. I also put a barrel bolt latch on a locker in the forward head which broke during the storm. The banging was enough to drive you crazy when it was really rocking. Fred had literally duct taped it in place. IT was half open/half closed and not really usable, but I only just now got around to it. I also got around to learning the GPS/Chartplotter at the Nav station which is different than the one at the helm in the cockpit. Lots amore buttons to push but I think I have it down . . .sort of.
This morning I was awakened by what I thought was some idiot letting of a string of firecrackers. Then it dawned on me . . .in my paranoia . . .that someone was shooting of a gun to get my attention because I was going aground or something. As it turns out, today must be the first day of the duck hunting season, because Bubba and Cooder and Billy Joe were in a duck blind on the other side of the creek blasting away at anything in the sky, including the low flying aircraft approaching BWI! They kept it up until 10am when they ran out of targets, bullets and/or beer. I expect a reprise on the morrow. I wonder if they would get too upset if I used an air horn on the ducks? Naw, they'd probably shoot me!
"Sea-Fever"
ReplyDeleteI must down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking.
I must down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.
I must down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull's way and the whale's way where the wind's like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.
By John Masefield (1878-1967).
(English Poet Laureate, 1930-1967.)
Lay off the duck imitations.
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