Here Comes the Sun

Sunshine streamed through the V berth porthole, waking me from a deep sleep. The storm had finally passed. This would be the first time in four days that the sun would shine down onto our boat. It was almost energizing enough to get me to skip my morning coffee but why skip coffee?

For four days we were stuck with all our hatches shut as the rain pounded down, and chilly 30knot gusts swooshed around the boat. Nevertheless, or rather because we had the hatches closed to keep us warm and dry, tons of condensation formed all around the portholes and hatches, dripping down into every part of the cabin. The warmer we tried to keep the cabin, the more it would rain inside. A decision would have to be made- warm or dry? We chose warm.

This would definitely not be the first time we would experience such uncomfortable conditions. While we were in Havre de Grace temperatures plummeted to freezing and the rain outside and inside wouldn’t let up. We tried lighting candles, using extra blankets, and even baking brownies nightly to keep the oven warming the cabin. This time, when baked goods and blankets weren’t enough, we resorted to turning the stove on just to place our hands over the flame. Of course, this only kept us temporarily warm and made the cabin even moister.

This time also invited some guests into the cabin- mold- everywhere. A few good towels had to be called in to tame the problem but sunshine would be the only panacea for the nasty outbreak.

Today we received it. It was a healthy dose of it too. After waking, Chad raced to pull out the hatch boards and pull up the anchor and I opened the bathroom porthole (the only one that opens) and started making coffee to enjoy out in the cockpit.

We made a short trip from Oriental, North Carolina through the Neuse River and Adams Creek to Beaufort. The icing on the cake was seeing a family of dolphins swim up to our boat. They too were enjoying the lovely weather today.