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Voyage 2006-2007: Chapter 3

Jule III wintering in Carolina Beach

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13 Nov 2006, Bye-bye, Moony, 34 02.540 N/ 077 53.480 W

All good things must come to an end and so it is with our time with Wolfgang and Denise. A small weather window opened which will allow Moony to get as far South as Charleston or Beaufort (SC). So, we headed for Mona Black marina to ready Moony for her voyage trip south. Jule III was going to accompany Moony for a while in the Cape Fear River, but Ann's recent bout with pancreatitus made that less than ideal. Moony shoved off at 1155 with a fair current in Snows Cut and a foul current in the river.
Bob and Ann hopped in the car and rushed to Snows Cut (like we did last year) and waved to Moony. Then we rushed to the Southport Ferry and tried to catch up with them. Like last year they had to heave to for a couple of minutes until the ferry caught up (like last year). Jule III should be traveling with them. Sigh!
We got off the ferry and hurried to the Southport fishing pier to get our last wave with Moony. By now the current has turned fair and she was moving at a good spend. We called on the VHF and said our good-bye's. Ann and Denise cried (on the VHF!). Wolfgang and Bob were cool. Yeah, sure. We promised to meet them in Vero Beach (us by car) within the next several weeks. When we got home, Levi, Gina, and Samantha Jane were sad. They missed their new friends.

29 Nov 2006, Thanksgiving at Homeport, 34 02.540 N/ 077 53.480 W

Wednesday, Chris and his family came down to Wilmington for the Thanksgiving holidays. Ann was still recovering from her latest bout of pancreatitus so the family was concerned. More on this later. Bob treated Chris and Collin to a ferry boat ride. Collin really enjoyed it. Bob always has fun on the ferry. Doesn't take much to amuse him.
Lilli had too much excitement during the holiday. She 'crashed' early and missed much of the fun. Ann and Collin decorated the Christmas tree while Bob put out the tacky outdoor deer and snow man. Sadly, they had to leave on Saturday as they wanted to miss the crazy Washington DC traffic. But it was great having them here.
Yesterday, we took Jule III out for a little cruise (1.3 miles) to check out the nooks and crannies of the Carolina Beach harbor. There are several areas where the the town's road water management has caused severe shoaling (including Mona Black's marina). To date, the town has not been very responsive. Sad. We heard that our county (New Hanover) has refused to contribute for dredging the ICW. It's crazy. They will pay to dredge Class C inlets, but don't think it is important to keep the ICW open. Of course the Feds have the same belief.

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