Shopping Day

I ventured out of the studio this morning with a bit of paint still wet on the palette. It rained and sleeted last night but had started to clear. With Annie in mind I headed out to West Marine.

I had a small pocket full of money that had come from a melt-down silver coin sale. (Silver prices are up by the way). When we left St. Augustine I returned an 11-pound claw anchor that I had borrowed from my sailing friend Terry. It had been stowed in the bilge for weight and as a backup to the deck-mounted Danforth. With spring sailing in the Chesapeake coming up soon... it was time to dole out.

I also grabbed new flares and a waterproof chart to study and use. It will be time to get wet again soon.

Making enlarged copies of river entrances

A claw will really dig in and hold

Work Day

I arrived at Van & Denise's place on Pepper Creek yesterday, late morning. I was there to pick up Annie and had brought a small load of firewood to share. The fields were pretty soggy from the rains and it was a slow, deliberate tow out. Headed back north up the neck and turned off toward Gwynn's Island. On arriving at Morningstar Marina I found the office closed and not a soul about. The 'boat on trailer' area was open so I decided to back the rig in and get about my work.

Winterizing had alluded me. I knew it important for the outboard but with spending so much time in North Carolina and still in the Florida head, it had gone undone and fear of repercussions had set in. With fogger, 10-40 oil, a new spark plug, gear oil and crossed fingers I set in. All went well until it came to the oil drain plug. The supplied wrench (they are never the best) started to strip the hex head and I stopped. I fashioned a water bottle/water tubing suction device that worked well pulling out the old oil. All and all the maintenance, albeit late, felt positive. 

I emptied out gear that had been left aboard, did a bit of cleaning, and found the wast oil dump. Although the place was deserted the clean restroom/ shower was open. Left a note, locked the trailer ball and headed back west.

Gwynn's Island road cut-off landmark: the old Donk's Theater

A temporary mess

Works great!

Callis Wharf on the island across Middle Grounds

Gwynn's Island swing bridge from Morningstar

Great Guy

I named Annie after my mother... for her bright, adventurous spirit. But there is much more to single-handing in a small traditional boat than adventure. Along the way you must learn, plan, experiment, and fail. There is a constant parade of decisions and problems to be solved, often in the moment and full of consequences. I am a pretty handy guy that can fix things and work through adversity. I love the outdoors and thrive when I have a chance to be a part of nature. Those qualities come from my father. He passed away a few weeks ago and left our family a lot of memories. He was great guy.

I took this photo in 1980. I was waiting for a haul-out in Oriental, NC on my way south to Florida. Dad had driven down from Hickory and together we repaired Quelle's (page 24) leaking transom.

Bernette Lindon Bowman
1923-2013

30 Degrees

I have been sorting through equipment with thoughts on spring. There are a pack of checklists, some dating back to camping trips in the early 90's. Not sure why I keep them... so much has been weeded out in the past couple years.

Just finished a painting of a deadrise crabber that has been on the easel for what seems like forever. I now feel that it is resolved and its on to another. Maybe I'll have a go at a rousing run onboard Annie. Where I would like to be today... if it wasn't 30 degrees outside!

Headin' In
Acrylic on canvas, 36" x 48"
© Curt Bowman 2013