South River/Oreintal, North Carolina

SHIP'S LOG:

A year ago this day I was in the South River anchored and awaiting a cessation of the rain and a clearing of the fog so that I could cross the Neuse River and go into a Marina in Oriental, NC.I had hit my first "dead zone" and was incommunicado for a couple of days as I waited for the weather to clear.

Waiting seems to be the big thing, then and now, as I wait for the Yankee Boatyard to haul ABISHAG. The freak snow storm that blasted us as really done a job shutting down electricity in the state, especially in land and has brought everything to a crawl if not an out right halt in many places. The days are pleasant now - during the daylight hours - but the temp really drops, as quickly, when the sun goes down. It is really fall, crisp and clear and heralding winter to come. Everyone seems to be going around hoping the same hope, that this winter will be in no way like last winter. "AMEN" to that!

There are about a dozen boats left in the mooring field and they should all go away this weekend. After Sunday, the launch will no longer be running. It will be taken off for her winter "hibernation", along with the skiffs. Even the "Queen Merry" will be hauled off to a boat yard to spend the winter in safer surroundings that out in the river. She got whacked pretty good by Irene and the storms that have since followed and needs a lot of work. Then again, if this winter is anything like last, there will be some sizable ice in the river and getting hit by such will do more damage.

As side from all that, I am just waiting - waiting to get hauled, waiting to empty the boat, waiting for the WORD. Waiting requires patience and it is something I have certainly developed over the past year. Patience is a virtue it is said and you only require it by being in situations where you have to practice it. Well, practice makes perfect.