And, on this day we rest

[Marlene A. Sassaman]

Day 38

We are docked at the Elizabeth City Municipal Marina. which is not exactly as described in the Waterway Guide. Perhaps the authors never spent time in Lowell, Massachusetts. For those of you who have had the privilege, suffice to say Elizabeth City is a smaller version. The red brick buildings, though not as tall or numerous as in Lowell, they are reminiscent of the days of sweat factories; a town wanting to revitalize but amidst their near come back a few years ago they had some businesses meet their demise. However, I did meet Dave, a live a board, who not only showed me a decent place to tie up but who carried my 5 gallon gas can back from the station about 3 blocks away. Chivalry is not dead. Back at the dock he kindly wished me and Sammy a safe sail home and off he went in his dinghy.

Here at the Muddy Water Internet Cafe and Java Joint we are catching up with the world via internet access and appreciating their pooch friendliness. Sammy is enjoying the a/c. However, when another dog visits the cafe, Sammy has to go outside.I refuse to have my dog whine or bark while others sit quietly reading the latest magazines, study, or just chat quietly. When outside nearly every passerby stops to pet her ,so she's not exactly deprived of attention in her shady spot near the entrance.

Our plan is to hang here until the camer battery is fully charged, then meander back to the boat about 5 pm. I charged the hand held battery after stupidly leaving it on for hours today in error. The camera batteries take two plus hours to charge and one is on the charger now I want to have it fully charged as it could be another week until I have the desire to hang out at a marina.During the Dismal Swamp cruise I took at least a hundred pictures, it was so captivating and I know of all the places, my sister, Jane would have been in photo heaven.

Tomorrow's plan calls for the long, beautiful sail across Ablemarle Sound onto Croaten and possibly stopping at Cape Hatteras. After Hatteras we will cruise the Core Sound into Beaufort. We spent the past two days in the Dismal Swamp which was well worth the trip. The highlight was learning how to clean the fuel filter on our Nissen 9.8 o/b. In fact, so far that is probably my greatest achievement on this venture.

Ideally, from Beaufort we will sneak outside to Wrightsville. The weather was not cooperative on the way up and I want experience entering and exiting inlets. These two are billed as 'easy' for novie coastal cruisers. We'll see.

Overall, this lifestyle is so befitting me. Sammy tolerates the boat and aside from her 15 minute need to whine, jump around and act undisciplined at each docking, she settles down and makes a good pet.

What else can I say? What else is there to do? Sail and sail somemore. . .Oh yes, and the best of sailing to my Mouse-ette Rivals who are having a blast in Abaco this week. . . .Lest I forget my colleagues at Palm Bay Elementary, the best little Pirates in all the land. See you August 2nd???????????


Love, Sammy and the Sassy One :-)

[Sonia Guerao]

I spent 3 days at Martha's Vineyard Island including the 4th. There were hundreds of sailing boats, beautiful. Maybe I should drop the bike and sail with you next year. I hope you can help me fix my pic when you come back. Be safe and come home soon. Miss you