ICW, finally!

Well, there have been many adventures and misadventures since my last post. For you loyal readers I appologize for the delay. Lets see.... where to start. Well, I wasn't going to write about my first night of this year but I think it is worth retelling.

James and I were spending another night in Ocean City, Maryland, due to weather. We had a mellow New Years Eve (I went to bed before 6pm). It was on the first and we had been having some trouble with our little outboard engine. A couple of days before we were heading ashore when it began to rev and failed to push our humble inflatible forward. After making it ashore and grabbing a bite to eat, we managed to phone a mechanic and line up a diagnostic visit. I called the cab company and found out the cab ride was going to be $35. No way! forget it. We were towed back to the boat where all the tools were. I called the mechanic back and told him we wouldn't be able to make it. He suggested two things, 1) add some oil to the gas\oil mix 2) possible check the shear pin, it may have snapped off.

I thought the first option sounded the easiest so I added some oil and gave it a pull. Nothing. A few more tries and it was on to option two. Taking the propeller off I quickly saw some pin (apparently the shear pin) was snapped in half. I fabricated a new one from a spare cotter pin and hopped in to try it out. We were back in business and it was running fine.

Fast forward 30 hours. I had spent my evening in a coffee shop with wireless access. Around 10 I headed back to the boat where James had stayed. I was no more then 300 yards away when the engine on the inflatible died. I started it again only to have it quickly go silent. By this time the current was working against me, and pushing me out of the inlet at about 3 knots (fast!) I managed to paddle with the one oar (we l0st the other one when we had the raft flip during the 40 hour nightmare) and make a small barrier island. I realized what was happening and felt as though I was prepared. When I had added the oil to the outboard, I overloaded the oil mixture and ruined the spark plug. Having an extra spark plug with me I grabbed my handy Leatherperson and changed the plug. I launched the



( I just got a warning that I have to get off the computer, oh well, to make a long borring story short I had some major struggles that night. My laptop computer which was with me, was in a waterproof bag, (LL Bean) but it had a hole in it. Saltwater and electronics do not mix to well, I knew that before I started but I thought it would last a little longer, oh well.

So here I am now, things are beginning to settle down, I am alone on the boat making my way down the Intracoastal waterway. I spent last night in Coinjock, N. Carolina and will be heading south again tomorrow in the AM. Computer access is limited to say the least and my phone rarely has a full charge. I miss you all and can't wait t share stories.

Here comes the guy to kick me off,

take care, sorry no photos, hopefully soon.

Se