Stranded at Cape Lookout

A few nights ago, safely anchored in a favorite spot here, I looked across the spit of land and saw a sailboat that sure looked WAY too close to the shoals. Moments later it came to a stop and I hoped they were reversing out of the maze.... but soon they were moving again, further into certain stranding. I sighed, checked tides (just past a very high full moon tide) and decided to visit them in the morning, after their initial upset had died down.

The next AM I had a good chat with the guys aboard. Apparently, the Southern Cross 39 had been purchased in Wells, ME, and they were sailing south of Charleston... I didn't really listen. I DID pick up that they had rounded Hatteras and come in here exhausted, that they were very new to the whole adventure, and that they had (foolishly) trusted the chart of this area.

I discussed options for getting off the sand and took a look at their supplies, then went back to look at mine. Then, at low tide (2pm) I took this photo:

Here is what I found at low tide: lots of shoals, waist-deep water before a very shallow sandbar offshore. Their keel had essentially no paint remaining on the bottom, but otherwise OK, although mostly buried.

They (and I) thought the boat needed to be pulled over on it's side to free the keel and move it into deeper water. With high tide forecast to coincide with sunset, 8:30pm, we hoped to free it earlier (7:30 would still be within 6" of highest water). They had little spare rope, but I was able to rustle up about 600' out of various lines. I anchored out in the open ocean at 5pm, where calm conditions had made my beloved bodysurfing worthless, but made anchoring and rowing rather safe. 

I secured the lines to the very questionable halyard to their masthead, then winched in as much as I could, checking frequently to make sure I was not dragging anchor (THERE'S another story!). At about 7:30, right on time, their boat shifted when we tried backing my boat up and they were free! A local then led them out of the shoals and over to a good anchoring spot. 

They were SO lucky that waves were negligible, that there is nothing more abrasive than sand and shells here, and that people are helpful! And I am so lucky to get to do these fun little projects!

Travel from Wisconsin to Oregon

Cynthia found a new job for eight months in Astoria, OR. I offered to help her finish up her house in Stevens Point, WI, and drive 2000 miles across the country. 

Stevens Point was cold, cold, COLD, although none of the deep subzero stuff. I arrived 1/31 and Cynthia immediately diagnosed my elbow issue (bursitis of the olecranon bursa) and got me a brace. Over the next few days. we took care of several interesting repairs and finishing touches on the house (I'm quite impressed at the things she tackled and the quality of her work), loaded up the U-haul trailer, and prepared to depart. I felt some urgency to get over the Rockies while the weather remained fair.

On 2/4 we finally headed out. Just after sunset, we decided to turn back to a gas station we passed to fill up before dark. Before turning, I looked in the side mirror to make sure no one was passing... and saw a large white pickup truck coming on VERY fast, mostly obscured behind us, and showing no sign of braking. I uttered a "Holy S***!" and he slammed into us. 

I recall my Coke bottle showering me with soda as it flew out of the cupholder, then we came to a stop. Cynthia and I looked at each other in utter shock, checked the dogs, and stepped out into the snow. We all seemed unhurt and the other driver, cocooned in his airbags, seemed unhurt. Our car seemed mostly OK, but the hitch was badly bent and the back window shattered. The trailer tongue was folded and the rear smashed. The pickup truck front end had crumpled. Cynthia checked the other driver for injuries and talked to 911. The sheriff department came and did a full report, trucks came and took the pickup and trailer, and (finally, after what seemed like hours) we drove the half-hour back to the house.

It took us two days to be mentally ready to drive again. We rented a Penske truck, Uhaul brought the trailer to the driveway so we could unload it, 

and we cleared enough space in the garage to park the car

and put plastic in the window to keep out pests. All the plastic bins in the trailer had shattered and quite a few things were ruined, but we were mostly OK. 

In mid-afternoon 2/7, we set out.

We drove past the accident site and got out to look.... and then drove on. We drove past cranberry farms, manufactured bog/pond/fields covered in ice for the winter. We drove into South Dakota and the weather warmed as we left the tongue of polar air extending through the midwest and plains. We drove through Wyoming and saw the pronghorns on their winter range, along with occasional bald eagles eating road kill. We drove through Montana with wind shaking the truck, climbing to the passes, hoping to get there before the rain turned to snow per forecast... and ended up with about five minutes of flurries. We continued through the panhandle of Idaho with more flurries and mountains.... and down into the dry and fertile Yakima Valley of Washington. I loved seeing the tall trellises for hops vines, the heavily pruned apples and pears, and the wide vinyards. And we finally dropped down into the green and mossy Cascades, past Portland and down to Astoria and the nice place Cynthia is renting.

As we drove, she searched for a replacement car and found one... in Astoria! On the day we arrived we went down and bought it. I spent a day or so helping get her a better mattress and getting things working for her, then we drove the truck back to Penske and dropped me at the airport to fly back to Sonoma for another week. 

Cynthia and the dogs are really enjoying the beautiful views and the much warmer climate: there may be frost, but a cold day is 25degF rather than below zero!

Now I'm back in Artemis, tearing my hair over various issues. But I WILL get it all working and go sailing soon! Cynthia has been telling me of her explorations, how beautiful it is there, and how much Chloe enjoys racing around and sniffing things. 

Right now? Clouds block my view of the lunar eclipse.... but a pot of butter chicken simmers on my stove for a very tasty breakfast and a sunny day is in the offing! May happiness and gratitude find us all, my friends!