In a world full of wake surfing… kinda funny (and awesome) to hear the boys (4 and 7) begging to ski. Luckily there was a mini pair of skis laying around. Super fun weekend as always. The lake was the center of our world as kids. You head for the sea for years, and only after decades somehow realize that it was all there, there whole time, on a lake close to home.

The waterways were a mess all day. As expected. Had a sunrise fish with the boys then avoided mid-day as much as possible.

Cast net and pajamas is all you need

Absolutely perfect spot for the kids to boogie board and surf little clean waves wrapping around the inlet. Just gotta roll through Camp Legeune and not go above high mark… or else! 😂 I actually think they are kinda chill about the barrier islands that are part of the military base, but not gonna push the limit. You can see the fake ranks and all kinds of practice targets for air and ground weapons. This section of water does close down during live fire activities.

Worked through some creeks out to Bear inlet where the water was bahamas clear and warm on the incoming tide. Definitely need at least 3/4 tide to get through some of the skinny spots. But a paradise unlocked for the kids

Overdue haul-out. We’ve been in the water since we splashed in December of 2022 after our restoration. Never intended to be in this long, but when we found a covered slip, we opted for no rain and no sun for storage, but staying in the water. I still think it was the right call. The boat looks incredible (after washing the dust off). The last picture is embarrassing. But I had the diver stop diving the boat in April since we knew we were coming out. Holy shit I had no idea we would get that kind of growth that fast!!! The water is bath water warm here already. And we have been so busy with SeaPeople we are unfortunately not using the boat at all in the last year, so the wheels don’t turn and the water doesn’t flow over the hull. Boats shouldn’t sit. Period.

No tears today. He really wanted to get on the boat which is a big win compared to a couple days ago. Brent is quite high functioning in the Down syndrome spectrum, and sometimes you lose track of his disability and your own expectations. But today was big. His smiles, his conquering of fears… it was all inspiring.

Seems like the waving crabs is part of courtship for fiddler crabs. Never seen it before. And WTF is a goBoat??

The mission: get Caroline uncle, a 55 year old man with Down Syndrome who’s petrified of boats, out on the water. There were a lot of tears, a lot of encouragement and a successful ending. He was dancing by the end. Maybe cried again when it was time to get off but hey, hopefully a step towards him getting out more regularly.

Always nice when they start after sitting for 6 months! Prepared with the booster just in case. 🚤 + 💧 = Summer fun can officially begin.

Glass calm. Dolphins, stingrays, crabs, cranes, and more. The water isn’t as clear as the tropics, but it sure is teaming with life. Caroline’s Jimmy Styks is definitely more for the surf than a paddle ‘round.

Up close and personal with the GP boats hauling ass in NY Harbor. Fun morning meeting the whole team in the garage, and thanks Ryan for the ride along for practice. Good times. Incredible people. Every end of the this community is incredible.

Mahi are here in numbers. Tried to get out early with the kids before school and work. Assumed it was too bumpy out, but kids were begging and already awake. Got out Tilloo cut, but just too rough to get to the fishing grounds at any speed with tike to fish and and get back in the 23. Fished off the dock with coffees for a bit and found a greedy grouper to kiss and release. Hope it wasn’t our last chance offshore before heading to the states Thursday.

Full day and two tired boys. Fished this morning. Too rough out deep but trolled reefs. Mutton & Hog 🐠 for dinner. Stopped by to chat with peeps in the harbor before a big exit this week with the good weather. Fair winds everyone. MOW for some diving, pool for a quick beve, Jumping off the dock with Aarons kids to end a long day in the ☀️. I may be biased 😉 but these stays are fun. 8.5 hour day on the boat, about half that moving, 25 miles. Would have never guessed that.

Still waiting on diving weather on the outside. But always something to do in Abaco from any wind direction. The rocks in the far end of the bite of old Robinson have super healthy coral 🪸 for a fun swim with kids or beginners.

Wind coming up fast today. Had a very brief window and two excited boys. Got sharked on a Cero and never found the Mahi. No real bird action. Now for coffee ☕️

Beauty of a day. Kids chased fish for a long time in the morning down in the shallow lee of tilloo. Dove a couple wrecks in the Point Set channel and MOW channel. Headed to Scotland to warm up with plans to do Sunday Funday at Guana, but the hundreds of boats headed that changed our plans. Cruised back to Tahiti beach to meet some friends and finish the weekend. And a special surprise SeaPeople hat delivery to a SeaPeople PLUS user and new friend.

Tried to dive with the boys up N but it was too windy. Hit up some kid spots on the inside.

Little morning troll before school and work. Feels great to be settled into Hope Town. Boys woke up this morning pulling out Wahoo lures but too rough offshore. Found some hungry yellow tail, a little Nassau grouper, and a cuda along the inside. Everything is back home under water… today. 🫧

Woke up to ❄️ on the roof this week. Can’t wait to get back aboard, get to the Bahamas 🇧🇸 and get under water! Living shoreside part of the year and aboard part of the year comes with lots of pros, and lots of cons. Pro: it’s nice to mix things up a bit and spend time in the mtns. Con: boats that sit, like to quit. Hard to let the ole girl sit for so long without being used. And also hard to get the lungs back in shape for diving after long breaks. The kids are excited to move back aboard this season, but maybe not as much as Banks 🐕! Who’s gonna be in the Bahamas this Winter/ Spring?

Camping and canoeing lake days with the boys and some of their friends, trying to keep their scales wet. They’re already asking when we’re getting back on the boat to go to Bahamas 🇧🇸. We love these mtn days but have to agree…. The islands are calling.

Starting where the trickle emerges from the mountain and bush-wacking / rock-hopping down as the trickle turns into a creek and almost into a river. Someday will complete following this trickle all the way to the sea.

Great beach rendezvous with the Hobbs who ran down from Beaufort in their Jupiter. Kids had a ball. Blowing 25kts by the end of the day.

Another first this week. Never tried wake surfing. Pretty similar to real surfing. Fingers crossed for an active hurricane season that stays offshore and sends NC some summer swell but keeps all of our boats safe.

12 hours in Florida and just a couple mins to meet friends before my flight. Instead of drinks, I got tossed onto a foil for the first time. Way harder than I thought it would be. Thanks Jon and Ray Test…test

Hours of running after minnows in the shallows should = a good night sleep for the boys tonight. ICW was a zoo today. Summer has arrived on the NC coast.

Crazy that we were in the Bahamas two days ago. Shocking change of environment.

Frustrating, exhausting, but such a gift when you need it. Weather is good, but timing with kids and work not letting us offshore.

Buuuut. It’s been 6 years since I’ve been able to stop in Melbourne for the greatest hot dogs in America. If you pass through, Mustards is the mustard. Night sleep at double breasted is never great when wind goes against current. But still worth the stop. Had some annoying chop on the beam for most of the ride across the bank, and once we got into the deep water it was refreshing to cruise over ground swell. Went flat flat calm for the last hour. Fuel stop at Harbortown $3.49 members $4.19 regular. But they only had a drop of fuel left to give after a busy spring break week. Ran across Phil from Nefertari’s parents. Small World

Never seen so many boats headed north at once. So few weather windows this year, with the calm weather coming Sunday/ Monday it’ll be a party crossing the Gulf Stream. Some rollers in Whale Cay Cut on a 5ft forecast. Nothing breaking.

Water run and stop by firefly. It’s been a strange year sitting in the harbor pretty much full time. With kids schedules and work schedules and everything between we’ve been sitting on this mooring. Great to spin the props and use the boat a little. Tracking did not pick back up after departing Firefly.

Paddled the boys to Tahiti Beach for a lunch break and swim. 💕

Last trip to Little Harbor for the year. Detoured to the creeks for some rays and turtles. So much life back in these mangroves.