Days Events:

Wx - 73/89, humid, mixed cloud, wds SW 5-10mph.

Belhaven - we took the courtesy golf cart and drove downtown, about 4 blks, to the ACE Hardware (Riddick & Windley) for some bug spray and some diesel engine oil; then, stopped for brunch at Spoon River Artworks & Market Restaurant, and were blown away by it - see photos, which really don't do it justice. They had just reopened after being closed for 8 wks, due to Covid. The atmosphere was relaxed but elegant, as were the staff; the owner is an artist, and did most of the decorating which included paintings and fixtures. The food was 4 star quality - Marg had shrimp omelette with salad, and I had 2 huge buttermilk pancakes with bacon, fruit, butter, maple syrup, fruit compote; Marg had a specialty vodka cocktail and I had a NC craft pale ale [Copperline by Carolina Brewery - I bought a 6-pack of cans to take to the boat]. We've only eaten in a restaurant twice since April 1 and this was as good as it gets, even compared to the great eating in Florence. They had a neat wine/beer sales room as well.

Photos - other than those from the Spoon, [one of which includes the Admiral against a backdrop of library book shelving] there are several of the docs/marina, one of sunset, and one at night by the skulking Admiral; there is one of the Manor House at the marina - a grand old place which is a setting for weddings, banquets, etc. Belhaven has a really delightful small town setting. Also, the Battery Mgmt Panel modifications - one shows the broken switch [center], one of the wiring, and one of the 'hole in the wall' pending a replacement switch.

'Housekeeping' - washed the salt off the stern and aft areas; and washed away the 5 gazillion bugs devastated by Marg last night that were laying on the aft deck in surrender after they heard what she did to their cousins inside!! :)

Also, gave myself a haircut with the clippers - this would be the 4th time; becoming almost as good as Tim May, the hair stylist we have gone to for over 20 years in Florence!

Humor: Wayne Fehr sent us this enjoyable bit related to one of Maxine's stories. Four Worms in Church - and a lesson to be learned!

A minister decided a visual demonstration would add emphasis to his sermon. At the beginning of his sermon, four worms were placed into four separate jars:

The 1st worm was in a container of alcohol.

The 2nd worm went into one of cigarette smoke.

The 3rd into one of chocolate syrup.

And the 4th went into a jar of good clean soil.

At the sermons conclusion, the minister reported the results:

1st worm, in alcohol, dead.

2nd worm, in smoke, dead.

3rd worm, in chocolate, dead.

And the 4th worm, in good clean soil...Alive.!

So, he asked the congregation, "What did you learn from this demonstration?"

Maxine, sitting in the back pew, raised her hand and said, "As long as you drink, smoke, and eat chocolate, you won't have worms!"

That pretty much ended the service.!!!

Admirals Specific Notations:

Re the Gazillion bugs:

Last evening as I was sitting by the open door enjoying the calm, soft air and deciding on my night time marina photo, I noticed a large swarm of bugs in the galley lights. LARGE swarm!! Bug spray seemed the best option. After looking in all the logical hidey holes the Captain may have may have put some, the only thing I could find was the Hornet /Wasp Jet spray in our self defense store (no guns on board, only Hornet spray and a flare gun). So I thought one quick moving shot might spread out enough to kill the swarm. Logical thought? Best available option, regardless.

Anyway, the attempted spray turned into a trail of toxic foam shooting all over the cabinets, the ceiling and Rob's cookies. While attempting to clean up the spray a gazillion of the miserable little suckers died and fell onto my f*/ing "pixie" haircut and all over my clothes. The floor was covered! So was the butter.😠😠😠

Anyway, cleaning up dead and half dead bugs and killer foam at 11:30 left me wondering whether to laugh or cry.

Bought bug spray today.



MECHANICS:

Battery Switch - some photos showing the broken Genset Battery Switch - it's the one in the middle; you can see the large crack around the edge, allowing the spring inside to push the contact plate away from connecting the power connections; then one of the inside of the Battery Mgmt Panel [a veritable organized rats nest] and one of the temporary repair - a hole in the panel through which one can see the black elect.tape covering the two battery wires bolted together, allowing the generator to work when required. Have ordered a replacement [$17 prime] and it will be waiting for us in Norfolk.

Throttle/hydraulic - working well so far. Will get a bleeding kit and repeat the process in a month or two.

Daily monitoring - someone mentioned there must be several items needing to be checked daily. Well! I check oil levels at the end of each day of travel; the transmission fluid levels; coolant levels; look for drive belt dust, etc; oil dripping or other fluid drippings on the pads under the engines; signs of leakage at various fittings, such as the oil cooler lines; water under the dripless shaft seals; bilge water; anything that looks 'not right'. In the utility room, I check the Racor vacuum gauges and the hydraulic reservoir pressure and fluid level. In the lazarette, I look at the generator oil level maybe every other travel day [for me, it's a bear to get to] . I now also record the battery voltages from the electrical distribution panel.

The oil levels on both engines are at the minimum [port], or just above the minimum [stbd], line after 260 hrs of use; so I added a quart of 15-40 Rotella T5 to the port side, which brought it over the minimum - and will likely be a bit higher with time. To do that, had to move the recliner and lift the port side hatch in the salon to get to the fill cap on top of the engine block.

The oil sample report for the port engine finally arrived and it was almost identical to the stbd - only a high silicone, likely related to the earlier work on the engine, but could also be related to a fouling air filter which makes the mixture too rich; so will clean both air filters in Norfolk; the 'vacuum' monitors are show borderline need for cleaning.


That's all folks. Tomorrow we head for Alligator River Marina at the mouth of the Alligator River where it dumps into Albermarle Sound, about 52 miles. The Sound is notorious for rough waves so will not decide whether to cross the 25 miles until Monday morning arrives; although the forecast is looking better today than it was two days ago; regardless, should be able to cross Monday or Tues.


Covid precautions: we have masks, which we wore in the hardware store, although only 1 other person was; the restaurant had no precautions evident - but that may soon change, due to NC having increase/spiking in cases. We continue to stay onboard and venture out only for groceries or hardware supplies; while chatting via distancing with other boaters.


Comments:

Ernie R. - 28 Jun 2020: Rob, first, is there nothing on the boat you can’t break?! Secondly, restaurant sounded/looked awesome! Kinda reminds me of TP! Not!!

Robert & Margaret - 28 Jun 2020: Ernie, I just want you to know how hard I have to work every day to break something else!! The admiral says I have to have something to do or go mad and drive her crazy - so I deliberately, when she's asleep, look for something to 'unfix' so I can keep busy the next day!! I think I have finally accepted the truism that, "on a boat, there is always something going wrong and if not at the moment, you haven't found it yet". I will have a cluster of fix-its waiting for me to do in Norfolk.