The Maiden Voyage

I first started making payments on the boat in April of 2011 and moved onto the boat in August.  I've been at a marina on Lake Norman since then, fixing up this "fixer upper", making plans for what's next and getting used to the marine life; my life.

My slip has a great view of the sunset, and one thing I will miss about North Carolina is the variety of fall sunsets.  Note:

This is the view I've been enjoying for almost six months, but before I got here, I had to do this:

It was the first week of August when Rob Pascale, Colleen Chamberlain, Martin Webster, and Antonio Martinez joined me for the maiden voyage from the seller's private dock to the marina.  The trip was just under 20 miles (across most of Lake Norman) the trial being an utter lack of wind.  I don't remember how long the trip took, but I do remember it was HOT/SLOW.
We had a great time in 90 degree heat, throwing back a few beers and designating Colleen the "Galley Wench".  Antonio enjoyed being dragged behind the boat by rope and Rob was our designated "navigator" using his iPhone.  We managed to avoid running aground or crashing into the nuclear power plant.  Martin pretty much sat there enjoying the view which was pretty much all I did captaining the vessel.