Still Treading Water

Jacksons Creek: 31 July 2019

WJ3 never far away: Marina in foreground,
WJ3 with dinghy, Bruce, at back, way out on the Creek. 

We’re cruizin’ on up to month TWO in Jackson Creek.  There may (or may not) be an end in sight to our stay here.  The spaghetti of wires that runs throughout the boat for all things electrical has been exposed, corralled and hog-tied…   So far, and fingers crossed, it all seems to be working (as long as the sun is shining!) and ALL the batteries are charging.  The saloon is now ablaze at night with blue lights and WJ3’s electrical panel resplendent in tiny red dots.  Quite the party!  Let’s hope we don’t have too many overnighters on our float plan – night vision near the chart table might be a bit of an issue.

A pretty sunset over Jackson Creek 

So, what else have we been up to?  Cap’n Valiant has weathered a few big blows down the creek (30-35 kts). A hot spell, in sympathy with Europe’s trend-setting summer bake, has scorched us here setting off regular entertainment in the evenings of wind, lightning and rain.  The geese got fed up and have flown back to Canada for some respite.   

Trouble on the way

Another storm, another day, but at least it's moving fast
 and the lightning has missed us

We’ve eaten crabs, crab cakes and crab dip until we can’t look at a crab any more (at least, for this week. Maybe..).  We’ve cruised the farmer’s markets at the Deltaville Maritime Museum, eaten hot dogs and s’mores, attended an ice-cream social, provided light entertainment for a boater’s weekend gathering - a gam (it means a school of whales; also a friendly visit/conversation between whalers at sea or ashore) at the marina, and enjoyed an evening blues concert.  Swimming is out now that sea nettles are in (stinging jellyfish) but it’s all ok, the pool is open for business.  Not that we’ve had time to use it.  Walmart trips (a 45 min drive to Gloucester) come up on Fridays for those hard-to-find products, the farm is selling cheap scallops - real ones - and local gift shops need our support.  And if it all gets too much, then there’s an air-conditioned lounge with TV and on-tap coffee to hide in.  We might never leave.  Except the staff keep asking if they can help get the anchor up. 

That mess below will be cleaned up...soon

A real big one! Oh, my...

Dock Master Dennis & Kris,
socially serving ice-cream

Heather & Bill, beer & blues

Home grown blues down on Jackson Creek

Well, we’d like to keep chatting but Kenny’s been out for his daily catch (crab pots) and is boiling them up in the marina shack.  That, Sugar, means it’s beer time, so we’re just a bit busy right now… 

Up Ship Creek

July and not a paddle in sight!

Doesn't everyone do dishes in their best hat and gloves?

Well, so far this season, we’ve moved, oh I don’t know, let’s say 500 metres.  Most of that was by travel lift so it barely counts in the great scheme of things.  We are, and remain, anchored in Jackson Creek.  Aside from the anchor dragging occasionally through gelatinous mud (locals call this plowin' and much excitement thus caused), we are sitting on the boat waiting for things to break.  And break they do. 

The Cap’n has his H460 blog which will (in time) explain what he has been working on.  Most recently he has lavished attention on the sea-going toilet (we now have a new one) and all its miles of pipes that thread through the boat; we had some fun with that!  Now it’s electrics!  GS has been unable to use her computer on board and has, in a cranky state, been “shipped” off daily to the marina lounge for Day Care.  This will continue we presume, until the situation is remedied.   

Spaghetti of a different kind

Meanwhile, WestMarine and Hurd’s Hardware staff know him personally; the lady at Nauti Nells (not what you think - a repository of second hand boat bits and other such treasures) holds all the good stuff for him and local seafood suppliers are thinking of naming a seafood dish after him.  (Well, perhaps that’s all a slight exaggeration.) 

Either way, we are having fun staying put in our little community of boaters.  Ever the planner, GS has come up with vague imaginings for a trip up the Potomac to Washington.  But it’s nearly August, holiday month, and the weather is already oh, so hot and sticky.  When we do move on, you’ll be the first to know. 

Photos?  Oh, those things.  Nope, nothing in that department either.  Camera batteries are dead flat.

(As an aside, our Map & Tracker will not be functional for a while until we decide how best to remedy the current situation, which at the moment is leading us to another provider.  Still, I doubt we'll be going anywhere for some weeks so what's the rush?)