NO LAND IN SIGHT

Looking up through the main sail and jib sail.

If you look closely you can see the outline of two dolphins that swam under the boat.

Two salty steely eyed sailors

Me doing my best to not go overboard looking for our next marker.

Ocracoke light house, Martha and I got engaged here 9 years ago.

Some sailboats that were heading to Ocracoke as well.

No land in sight.

This past weekend was the summer solstice the longest period of daylight this year. Dad and I have always wanted to sail from Oriental to Ocracoke during this time and finally did so. My brother in law Nait, who is an impressive sailor was also part of our three man crew. The trip is roughly 48 nautical miles and takes around 8 hours one way. The trip there was an adventure as the winds and seas continued to build throughout the day, we finished the first leg racing a storm to port.Fortunately, we beat the storm and spent the night in Ocracoke. The trip back began at 5:25 am on Saturday, we made great time but ran into another storm on the way back in, this one not as bad as the first, mostly rain. I had a great time, learned alot about sailing and navigation and also gained a respect for the Pamlico Sound I would certainly to do it again;Dad says he has gotten this trip out of his system, but I bet we can get one more trip out of him.

Forest Fire

Last week there was a forest fire in Hyde County. Due to a shift in the wind we were covered in smoke all day long. Working outside in the triple digit heat heat was difficult enough, but with the addition of the smoke it was almost unbearable. I somehow had the camera set on black and white, and it kind of takes away from the images as the grays all blend together. You can still see how thick the smoke was and how it reduced visibility. This is the first time I have ever seen this happen, it brought back memories of my days as a firefighter.

Trains

We were recently driving through my hometown and we took some pictures of some old railway stations and trains. I have always been fascinated by them and love to watch them going by with their long trail of boxcars. My dad was a railroad engineer and we used to go to the railroad yard and my dad would let me ride in the locomotive with him while he put a train together before he would leave and drive it to its destination. With gas prices rising there will probably be an increase in rail transport over the coming years. I have relative who recently retired from the RR and he said that the RR can move a ton of whatever is being shipped 400 miles on one gallon of diesel fuel. If youve never travelled by rail you should try it, its a great way to see the country. When my sister and I were children my parents would put us on the train and we would go visit relatives. My dad new the conductors and they looked after us as we traveled and made sure that we got off at the right stop. It was always a good time.

" And the sons of pullman porters, and the sons of engineers, ride their fathers magic carpets made of steel"

from the son "City of New Orleans" by Steve Goodman