Fog

Eastham Creek, N3518 W76 36

November 8. Today started off with dense fog for the first time this year. We could only see about 25 meters until 0945 when it lifted and we could way anchor. I suspect that we sat in a little patch of fog. There was no wind to blow it away. Boats that sat 200 meters away could leave two hours earlier. Oh well, it’s not as if we’re in a hurry.

We came up to the young couple that we met in The Great Dismal Swamp. They appear to be about 20 years old. They appear to have only one set of clothes (hooded sweat shirts). They have a small 23 foot boat. They wash dishes in the sand. When we came up on them they were dead in the water but they looked totally relaxed. We stopped to ask if they needed a tow or other assistance. They said, “No. We ran out of gas and when we get around to filling the tank from this jerry can, we’ll go.” Boy I admire their spunk. Perhaps I’m a little envious that they live the cruising life at 20 rather than at 60. How will they make the world a better place by their existence? I don’t know but they are still young enough to start a family or to start a career so it’s too early to judge. I wish them well.

A sailboat passed us and the people got all excited and waved and shouted. They are friends of Al Hatch, former owner of Tarwathie and they thought I was Al. They veered so close to us they almost made me collide with a third sailboat nearby.

Now it’s 1430, not even mid afternoon, and we’re anchored in an idyllic quiet spot. Why so early? No good reason, it is a nice day and that’s a nice place, enough reason. Commercial fisherman dock their boats further up this creek so we’re hoping to flag one down and buy some fish or crabs. Boy this cruising life is hard to take.

Remember that thingy on the engine that I said took hours to screw in, and then caused a runaway engine? We’ll I didn’t mention that when we took it out it had a mangled rubber washer. I tried replacing the washer with an O ring when we put it back. Now that thingy is dripping diesel fuel when the engine runs. That means taking it off again - groan. Richard the mechanic said that we need an articulated extension to get at it. That’s a curved open end wrench that attaches to the end of a socket extender. I have no idea where to buy such a thing.