Waterworld

This trip we had decided to venture into new cruising ground so we left Oriental and headed up the Neuse River to New Bern.  It was well worth the 46 mile round trip.  We really liked New Bern and the marina was newly rebuilt after hurricane Irene and very reasonable.

New Bern has a long history.  Settled by the Swiss & Germans in 1710 it was the capitol of the North Carolina Colonial Government.  There are more than 150 homes and buildings on the National Historic Register and you can see most everything in the historical district on foot (well, maybe on 30 year old feet)!

We opted to take the trolley tour and the narrator knew his stuff...and kept putting in digs about those "dastard Yankees".  His best story was about two spinster sisters who had their home taken over by the Yankee soldiers with the agreement that they be allowed to stay on the third floor of the house.  As the story goes they spent three years on the third floor of the house, never leaving.  They got food, supplies and other services from neighbors who lifted them on a pulley.outside a window.  Since they had no electricity, or running water they obviously had some sanitation issues....but a pulley and some pretty darn awesome neighbors showed those dastard Yankees!!

When we left New Bern we thought we'd spend another night in Oriental BUT.....there were 21 shrimp boats in the harbor and I thought it was getting crowded with eight!  There was a spot on the dock but let me tell you a teeny little harbor, 21 shrimp boats, major smells of the sea (also known as 'stench') and the added issue of going from sleeping in a Wal Mart parking lot to a major league baseball stadium night game, we decided, oh hell no!  ( We know when to fold 'em, well usually.)

Here is a short slideshow.....

http://www.photosnack.com/B8C9686BDC9/pdhn0tx1


So we headed back out and next thing we know it is three uneventful days later and we stopped in Chesapeake, Va. at the Great Bridge Town Dock, no charge and easy access to a great grocery store and the Dairy Queen!

Now comes the story!!  We spend a peaceful night and the next morning about 8:00 the fire department pulls into the  park by the dock.  Woo hoo...some action (we LOVE action)....come to find out they were going to test a newly rebuilt fire system for oil fires.  YES!!  this is going to be great. So they started setting up the hoses...

 We talked to the guys from the welding company who did the rebuild and then to some of the fireman, all very nice guys who like talking to the boaters. When we saw them laying out the hoses we said "ummm, should we move our boat"?  The firemen said, you'll only get a little misting and we thought, 'ok,boat wash'....

First they tested the spray gun (not the technical term but I can't remember that) which was pretty neat.

Then came the hoses....after 30 minutes of tightening leaking fittings they started the pressure tests of the hoses. We were told they pump 3,000 gallons a minute! This was the beginning of the testing.  We didn't want to be trapped on the boat so we took a walk across the bridge to some thrift stores looking for books (never have enough of those).

When we started back from our little 'trek' we saw this.....  (hint here, notice the open door on the port side?)

From the bridge we saw this.....

and when a little closer it was..... "oh that's not looking good".

and.........I should have taken a picture of all the water but was too frantic.  You see, the wind carried the mist back on the boat and since we had left everything open on the port side (pure STUPIDITY, we know) We got a better wash inside than out!  It was truly, NOT funny.  The bed was wet, everything inside the storage table was soaked. I had every towel sheet and even some clothes put into play trying to soak up all the water (in the 98 degree cabin heat)!!  We had to turn on the generator to get the air and fans going to dry things up.  The salon was bad but not nearly as bad as the aft cabin, port side!  I think this one we will learn from!

 It's hard to see the water but there was about an eighth of an inch and a whole bunch of soggy paperwork.

A bucket for your thoughts?  Pictures on the wall soaked.....eeekkkkk  what a mess!!!

Gary sweating and putting foil in between the pages of our passports (yes sir, stored in a safe place, my storage table) trying to dry them out.   (They are now under his tool box, trying to flatten them out!!)


We did move the boat as soon as we came back and saw the water everywhere inside.  The firemen helped us pull her forward and were very apologetic and offered to come aboard and help us clean up. But, it was our mistake not to listen to our inner self and move the boat in the beginning, besides these are rather tight quarters and more hot bodies would only have made it more miserable!  They all came over and shook our hands when they finished the day long testing and again said they were sorry.

It's all part of the adventure guys!!