Eaten Alive

Whitehall, NY

No LL

Last night we were eaten alive by voracious mosquitos. They really got to me, and I stayed up to 3AM on search and destroy missions inside the boat. The most annoying thing about the destroy part was that most of the moquitos I killed were already gorged on blood.

All that despite the fact that we had the hatches and doors shut tight. The moquitos got in at dusk before we shut things up.

Actually, it is remarkable that we aren't bothered more often by insects. It happens to us only two or three times per year.

How is that? First, when we anchor several hundred feet from shore the insect problem is drastically reduced. Second, in Florida they spray vigorously for moquitoes. Third, we visit some of the buggiest places, like The Everglades, in the winter season.

Behind us on the wall in Whitehall is a pontoon boat. The crew is a couple. They said that they take two years vacation each year to camp on the boat. Camp on the boat? Yes they really mean it. At dusk, they erected a full size camping tent on the deck of the boat. At other times, they have clothes, and miscellaneous stuff hanging all over the place. Their boat looks like a family camp site. I admire those two --- they are really dedicated boaters (or should I say dedicated campers.)