What ever is each boater would have drink and junk food ( I had dried fruit and nuts) on hand for all. For the drink I had necter. I think I might have been the odd ball. Others had what they call mud slide and ice an all that stuff.

All turned out to be 24 in all going from boat to boat. Just think 24 on a 30ft boat. Well when every body was on one side the boat was laying over some 5 to 10 degs. WE saw the ball fall and things were stil going strong. End of story I got back to Ming at 2am way past my bed time.

I was up at 6:30 am as I had to make the muffins and be back on the cement boat by 8am which I was only to find out it was to be 9am. We had a little muffin party for Bill and Sue as they had to leave and go back to Tx by the hy way. We all wished then well and felt glad that we were not going on a dangerous thing called a hy way.

You would think it would end there but it didn't, I had just enough time to get back to Ming and dash this email to you and be on land by 1:15pm for a trip to Georges house.

For a cook out etc no telling what time I will get back to Ming and to sleep.

I need sleep but will I get it. On Jan 2 I have to get up early to go with Jeff and Sue to go to Cocoa beach. Jeff and Sue are next to Paul who is next to me in Ship creek in Oriental NC. We will do some work there (Have fun). And then make it back to Vero.

I have not had the time to keep up with emails and etc, because of my boating life style, which a lot of people think is boring. I don,t

I am in Cocoa beach where the temp is 77 deg and will stay until the wind dies down or comes from the South. My plans are to make a stop in St Augstine FL, Hilton Head SC, wrightsville Beach NCand than make a beline for OrientalNC. And hope to see a dock on my lot. big deal Once there I will work on Ming and hope to leave some time in May for NH. Had a good time in Vero Beach but it was time to goooooooo.

I would do long days if I could and short ones if I had to. I could not make any long range plans as the weather would change at the drop of a hat. I had planed to stay longer and spend more time with my friends along the way. But at times I would wake up and find thing were in the to go mode so I would leave at the drop of a hat. Sorry for that.

My frist stop was Cocoa beach where I had to stay for three days and was only able to get off the boat once. Than I had to stop at Titusville for a couple of hours to make a phone call or two. That night I stayed in Rock House Creek in the middle of no where . I had been traveling with another boat but they stopped early and I never saw them again.

On to Daytona Beach where I spent the night and took off in light fog, until I got between two bridge and the fog got real bad. The bridge operator from the frist bridge could see my mast and gave me directions to the next bridge, and at this the operator couldn't only see my mast. My radar was working but didn't pick up all the markers and that was when the bridge operater helpped me out. After the sec bridge it was a an unbent line for a few miles and the wind picked up, blew the fog away and I set sail. I was able to to make Ft Mantanza and had to spent the next day on the hook due to bad weather. This was good as it made a short day to St Augstine in some what bad weather. I dropped the hook about noon time and needed to get some propane etc. at the same time I was able to spend a couple of hours with the Muffin lady. And all at once thing went my way again I was off to Fermandina Beach for the night. The last hour was in the dark with a tug at my back. We made contact on the radio and had a nice talk, he passed me when I stopped for the night.

More of the same this day as I stopped in the boone dock(south river Ga) I looked at the sun sun set and felt what a good day is was. Now most of the water way in Ga is like a snake , you can see where you want to go but it winds around and around and it takes ten miles to get there. I stopped at the I. of Hope as I needed to get fuel in the morn which I did. The weather was so so and I stopped at New River(this is no where) for the night and the next day was rotten as well so I stayed. That night an 84 nyear old man stop as well . on a 57 foot three mast boat that he had build out of steel and had been sailing alone until this year. He has problems with seeing at night so he has a young helper. The next day we both pulled into Hilton Head together. He to see his sister and me to see Elina (Candy's aunt) and Don (Ming frist owner). This was a short stop and off again as the weather was with with me once more. I don't know where I stopped that night but I am shore I did. The next two nights were some where but who cares. Now I stop a Barefoot Landing at a free dock which is good for 48 hrs. Ther weather was so so again so the sec day I rode the bus to wall mark for food and gas for the heater.

The bad weather did a about face and I off and made it to Carolina Beach which was real good good for a sail boat. Had some skinny spots as it was low tide and Ming only needs 3 ft of water we made it. And would you believe it the Cape Fear river was going my way. Made it to Wrights ville beach two days early. Called Bill (long time friend) We got together and the real bad wether lasted for one more day and it turned real good my way. Off again well it took me over an hour to pull up both anchors as the wind was blowing very hard which screws thing up when you try to pull the anchors up. A late start but a real good run all the way to Swansboro NC. For the night.

A short day to Spooners Creek which was good as I need to change the fuel filter and do some other etc to Ming. Went to shore looking for fuel filter didn't find but got alll kinds of oil etc to the tune $95 most of which fit in my back pack. My back pack has wheels which I used the sad part is I don't think they are as good as they used to be.

This is the last days run to Oriental and on the way I stopped for fuel which happens to be where Paul (my Oriental neighbor) is having his boat painted. Looks like tow more weeks to me. WOW I am pulling in to the town dock which are empty never seen this before. I look to the east to see another boat from NH who I had met at Barefooot landing went to the bean had coffee with them.

Saw the sign shop lady and than Bev (Bills wife who I met 3 years ago). After that came Hi I used to be a great bay yatch club member etc. And today I will see Fred and his wife (F&S) they are from NH/Tenn. Now I am wrote out I will let you correct my spelling etc.

Neal

Well things change a lot some have new email address and many other things.

Here is what is going on in my life, yes I do have a life and I am happy with it.

I left Oriental in a dither what ever that means I was bent out of shape (if i ever had one) no dock yet. The frist day was a 100 mile day that found me waking up on the north side of the Alligator river bridge in the little Alligator river and the next day I was off to Elizabeth City NC It was only a fifty mile jump and I got there at 11. Saw Fred and went to the Food Lion.

That night it was the Rose Buddy boat party a good time was had by all. Spent big money and ate out It must of cost me at lease twelve bucks I had a fish salad which was good. Next day Wash the clothes I did. No party as there weren't enough boats (need 4 or more) Went to Freds house and said my good bys as I would leave in the morn.

Made it to Norfork and made plans to make one stop on the way. After I make them I had to un make them. It turned out to be another 100 mile day and the next day was only 97 miles and than a 70 mile day to Cape May NJ.

Now the weather Gods were a little upset with me so it was a short trip to Atlantic City when I went and ran another 20 miles in the inland route. I spent that night in the mud wich was a problem in the morn, had to let the tide come in so I could getout at eight, but it even got worth as the bridge that I needed was down so I backed tracked three hours so I could make it to the ocean Now I am alset right not so the bad weather got me. I pulled into Barnegat and dropped the hook around 2pm And it looks like I might be here for a few days. Only 60 miles to NY.

Now you know that when you ask me when will I be here or there, all I can say is I don't kow. Very few boats going North and the places that I stop always ask what happen this year, not very many boats.

Better days are comming so look for me at the bend in the river

Neal

Now it is Thur and the sky is almost clear and only a little head wind so I got to NH just in time to come up the river with a sub. Now the frist bridge is being worked on and an opening is iff'y at the best. Me lucky day they opened it for a big ship and let me go. But I was a little late for the next bridge more luck the frist bridge called the sec and fixed it up it would open when I got there.

Picked up my morring ball about 4pm (my sisters hub) had it ready for me. Called Fred on the phone about my car, lucky again, He was near by and by the time I got to shore he was waiting for me. Picked up the car and was back on the boat by 7pm.

Fri off to my sisters to get mail and a short stay sat it was paper work getting reaDY for a fast trip to NC to take care of dock problems.

Oh need I say email doesn't work from the boat and the cellphone is almost not working either. I go ashore and down the road about ten miles to find a hot spot where it works. And I just found out that one half of you are not getting the emails hops this fixes that.

All for now as the wash is ready for the dryer etc.

I have been here for a few days getting ready for the big blow. Well It started last night about 8pm. I sat near the table and braced my self as I was being bounce around like a one year old kid by gramma. About 1am it let up a little bit so I did the shut eye thing, I think.

Up at 6am and looked around. Ming had draged about 500ft.
I only had two anchors down and a 10 to 1 scope. Not happy with this but I made out. Now looking around this is what I saw. As you can see see she is hi and dry. She was on a mooring not anchored. I shall stay put today.

Later: I think I might know why I draged. I used a danforth and a plow with a 10 to 1 scope. This has worked for many years foe me. When I pulled up the danforth I found a beer bottle stuck in its spades and a lot of plastic the kind that is is put around the waters edge when people are redoing the earth. The plow came up clean. Now I know why I use two different types of anchors.

My PC and my cell phone has been a real problem this year, but I think that I have handle on that with my new PC. It took a long time to get it on net and email, but that was my problem as I transposed a couple of letters in the set up.

I will tell you what went on in my life this year, it might sound like I am feeling sorry for my self but I am not. These problems is what made life interesting.

I took in the Miami boat show by car this year (it was good but not great, I did get to see a few friends) as Mings motor was ill. If you can remember she was only running on two out three cylinders, as one lifter was not lifting. Could be cam or lifter. I made it to my lot in Oriental and pulled the motor took it to New Bern where it was given a clean bill of health. They could not find a thing wrong. Not good but I will live with it. My dock was not even started and the dock man never returned my calls. I stayed 10 days or so and took off.

I stopped in at E City and took in the Dismal Swamp I love it. After that it was get out of my way NH here I come. In NH Fred picked me up (he has my car in the winter) and I took my car for the summer. Made to my sisters house a few times helped with a yard sale or three. Now I have less junk.

My teeth came next no problems there. I do grind them dam it. Talked to my dock man who said he was going to started next week. I jumped in my car and made it to Oriental (963 miles one way) He never showed, I did get to see him but it all went in one ear and out the other. On the way back to NH I stopped in Mt Airy NC to see my Daughter etc had a good time as all is well with them. Than I stopped in NY to see my friends Jeff and Susan. They also have a lot near me in Oriental and had some bad dealing with the same dock man. I stayed a couple of days to cool down.

Back in NH and a few phone call latter I had a lawyer. $250.00 He wrote a letter that I had to tell him what to write as he made no suggestions. I had given the dock man 50% a year ago, and before he would start my dock I had to write check (for the rest of it) and give it to my lawyer which he would release when I gave the ok. In Aug a dock of sorts was in.

Now things get interesting. The kids (river rats) Mom and dad have split. The girl who use to come out to Ming and see me two or three times a week stopped in only a couple of times last summer. She would spend as much time with her father as she could. Her brother who would stop in a few times in the summer would stop in every day if I was there. And would see his father once a week. Another clubmember (Helen) stopped by and asked me to house sit for her so she could go to New Port Ri and help bring a boat back to Maine. At first it was ????? but than the truth came out she could care less about the house but she wanted me to cat sit. In return I had the use of her neibours 40 foot raft to tie Ming to and work on her. And If I wanted the use of a dock and the use of the house and the use of her work shop. I did it. I worked Ming's little windows and a few other things. She came back and it was time to go. As I left the outdrive started to scream,

Back to the Cat ladies house for a week while I took it apart and got new bearing. Time to go again as I left the water pump started to scream. Back to the cat ladies house, put the new water pump on and repaired the old one. Now it is time to winterize mymooring. I take the large ball off and put small fenders on and that can be seen at height tide and one that can only be seen at low tide. Well wouldn't you know it The chain had a problem and I couldn't get it to the top to tie the fenders on. I tide a line to the pick up line and to Ming and began to tug and tug and than I got a running start and the pick up line broke and the chain went to the bottom. I got out my hook and dragged fot it no good. Backto the cat ladies house. Well she said lets take my boat and pick up Ted and go back for it.

Ted also had a hook which he took with us. Back at the mooring they dragged while drove Helens boat about 15 min into it Helen said I got it. We could not pull it up so we put a float on it and went back to Helens for the night as it was raining and cold. Next day at low tide we three went back to see what we could do. We picked up the float and the chain came right to the top. We tided the winter floats on and left. Lucky Me. Can't go yet as Jane the dock ladies was going to have a party for Bob and Jean as they were leaving also.

I left and made it to NYCity where I stopped for the storm. I put down two hooks and let the storm come to me. There was one other boat near me he was on a mooring. The storm came I dragged some 500 ft and the other boat broke loses and ended up on the beach. I pulled up my hooks and found a beer bottle stuck between the spades. Lucky me I use two anchors most of the time.

Now I am late as I want to make the Annapolis Boat show and need to get there a week ahead so I can find a stop the drop the hook. I got there two days ahead and found my normal spot vacant and less the normal boats there. I got to see some friends from the club in NH plus a few more a good time.

Next I pulled into Delterville Md and saw a cousin that I had not seen in 30 years. Another good time.

Now on to Oriental and no problems but what about the time I pulled over for the tug and hit a stump at 5.5kts. Now Ming has a dent in her keel the size of a coke bottle. No leaks that night I stayed in 4ft of water just incase. On to Oriental and what I found for a dock. On the land side it was 30 plus inches off the ground and the water side it was extended into place where the lift should be. (no lift yet but the poles were in). Had words with the dock man (who does not have the rest of the money yet). He is to fix things and get back to me. The reason the lift was not install is he didn't the money to buy it and wanted me to put it up front. Now way no way. After he is done and wants his money I will I will point out the fact that he used some second hand pilings in my dock and I think an adjustment is in order, other wise take me to court. If he needs up front money that means he is low on money and has no credit which also means the will not have the money to go to court. It take 2500 for a nonrefundable retainer. Look who wins. We are talking about the 9K the other half of the price of the dock. Very interesting.

Made it to my sons house for Tday and stayed a couple of days. I left Ming in Cocoa Beach on the hook. Are your grand kids more interesting that there mom and dad? Hard to tell. Now I am in Moore Haven Fl and time to leave but it is cold wed and windy.