Alligator River Marina

Not much here so I'm sure it's an early night then an early morning.

But, Radar is very happy to have grass to walk on.

Adios,


Istaboa

This is interesting...

Fake Capsizing Boat Trolls the High Seas

Artist Julien Berthier created a boat, named Love Love, that looks like it’s sinking, but actually has a motor that allows it to be driven around, fully afloat. Check out inside for a picture of the boat out of the water.

Underway finally...

Capt. Will was nice enough to quickly drop everything and fly up to Virginia to help me get the boat back south.
We left AYB this morning at first light and we're not sure where we will stop for the night.
Mel's mom continues to improve so hopefully we can pick Mel up somewhere south, soon. The boat doesn't seem right without her presence and Radar is sure not a happy pup when she's not around.

Adios,

Istaboa

Happy Birthday

Captain Spooner and Cousin Dave... 

Both good folks... must be a good day 11-11. 

Next year will be better... 11-11-11

Happy Birthday.

Crew Isaboa

Things change...

The rumors of Mel's mom's demise may have been exaggerated. Today she seems much better. Maybe the good thoughts and prayers helped.

Thanks,

Istaboa

The last few days...

So we made it down the bay in a norther with an incoming tide which makes for a lumpy boat ride. This makes the bay stack up waves high, sharp, and fast.

But with that all behind us we made it to Atlantic Yacht Basin. 

Which is a very neat old boat yard/marina. Walking around I found lots of interesting things to take photographs of. 

Tomorrow we will pull the boat out of the water to do a small repair and finish up the Navigation Systems display. 

Then... we wait to make plans.

In our last post I mentioned Mel had to fly back to Memphis to take care of personal issues. I am sorry to say that Mel's mother is very ill and it appears she will not get better. Any good thoughts or prayers for Mel's Mom, Mel, and her family would be greatly appreciated. They are a very close family and this is a painful and difficult time for them all.

More pics of AYB inside

But not for long...

After an enjoyable few days at Gloucester Point, the bar/restaurant, and saying our see-ya-laters to friends there, we threw off the lines and made way south to the ICW and Atlantic Yacht Basin.
It was a very bumpy run down the bay but didn't last long. Peter on Morewater followed us down and now we're both tied up here. Pete made dinner that night. Apple Chorizo sausage in red sauce on Pasta with an Avocado salad. Excellent.
Then.... one phone call later and everything went to shit.
Without going into the personal details... Mel made hasty arrangements to fly into Memphis to take care of a bad situation that's making our near-future plans a bit nebulous.
But... Atlantic Yacht Basin is pretty cool in it's own funky way. It's a good boat yard, so maybe Istaboa has a little work done. New monitor for the Nav system and maybe I will finally replace that backup depth transducer that's been bugging me since we bought the boat.
Also... AYB, most of you cruisers know, is just south of a lock that only opens on the hour. This means in daylight hours—when the lock opens— it's a boat parade of cruisers like us heading south. I've seen many friends and acquaintances pass by for the last few days. Other than that, Radar and I have quietly enjoyed our guy time and been taking many long walks. 
Not much entertaining to write about but I did see this on the Huffington Post this morning.

Video inside... Worth watching.

Rare Pelagic Octopus, Hawaii 

We've escaped—

—the ties that bind us and made it back to York River and Istaboa.
Kinda chilly here in Virginia but, free at last, free at last.
Gonna do a little tightening up on Istaboa, a bit of provisioning, and put together a plan for our trip back home to Stuart/Sunset Bay. Talked with Sam today and he has kindly held our slip for us. We have enjoyed the Chesapeake, but we've missed our buds in Stuart also. Hopefully good weather will hasten our trip and we'll soon be having drinks and dinner at Sailor's Return watching the sunset and feeling the warm fall breeze that Stuart enjoys this time of year.

Adios,

Istaboa

PS.... check out our friend's blog. Good pics of Halloween at Hope Town.

Just released...

Huey's new CD, Soulsville, was released today. Should be a hit. We bought it off Itunes this morning.

Very funky... Very Memphis...
and the first reviews seem to agree with us... http://www.thelineofbestfit.com/2010/11/huey-lewis-and-the-news-soulsville/

A very large night...

Indeed.

Our good friends Jim and Sandy were presented with Beale Street's Walk of Fame Brass Notes by Huey Lewis and Joyce Cobb. It was a very cool night.

More inside...