Brunswick Georgia

No report for a few days because we have had no internet. Our mechanical problem was fixed in fine style. Beta Marine in North Carolina shipped the parts (pump shaft, bearings and seals) and Mike Harris (the floating poet) our mechanic extraordinaire stripped the pump down, installed the new parts and reinstalled the unit into the engine - no more leaks! We also changed the oil and filter. Mike's recommendation for the future is to run fresh water through the engine before extended periods of inaction because salt crystals otherwise can collect in the seals and they will score the shaft and render the seal ineffective - which is what happened in our case. I also bought a complete new pump as a future spare because it can be installed without the rebuild process. Mike was first class and very helpful, he works out of Beaufort.

We left the marina early Wednesday morning and sailed outside to St Catherines inlet. Very little wind and we motored all day (lots of dolphin) and anchored just inside the inlet in a completely deserted creek. The next day was more of the same except even less wind. I have never seen the Atlantic so flat calm. We went into St Simon's inlet which is the Brunswick River and anchored in a side creek off the ICW. Friday we motored around into the river proper, under the big new bridge and into Brunswick Landing Marina in the East River, which is where we are now. Today we will go outside again to Fernandino Beach; the winds are forecast 20 to 25 knots from the NE so it should be a nice sail.

We understand the NE is getting snow this weekend - we have had rain but it is very pleasantly warm here.