Tuesday, October 26, 2010

A Lay Day - A Good Call!

SHIP'S LOG:

I took a "Lay Day", a racing term which means a day off, to lay up and get things ready for the next race. It was a good call because the rains came instead of sunshine and it would have been miserable just getting the hook up, let alone going anywhere. But it was perfect for giving me a reason to update logs, put all the phone numbers into my new phone, read up some more on the ICW and the bridges I will be encountering and laying out a course for tomorrow should the weather cooperate. It was time well spent and enjoyable.

The helos started right after reveille at 06:00 and were at it all day. The swooped and spun and went away and came back and buzzed my little ship several times until I took some pictures of them, then they stayed away. They were all sizes and all were big and noisy.

The weather cleared out about 1pm and the day became summer-like, hot and humid. It is the type of weather I am looking for but I don't think there are many more days like that on the books for Norfolk and so I will continue south.

I am starting a pool, the ICW Grounding Pool. It is said no one and I mean no one gets down the ICW without going aground . . . several times. These grounds are for the most part "soft" as the bottom is mud and sand. I have purchased TowBoat/US Unlimited towing service to get myself off but I would like to know how many times you think I'll kiss the bottom. There are 1089 miles between here and Miami, take your best guess.

You know the best part of a day off? You can do whatever you want, even if it is nothing at all!