Elizabeth City Free Docks

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The Park

The Parking Lot.

Looking at the docks from the bridge on 158 taken from inside the warm vehicle!

We went to the Free City Docks in Elizabeth City today. It's really nice there, you can actually keep a boat there for 48 hours for free. They don't have electric or anything but they do have wireless connection that is free. During the summer they have Rose Parties. Not sure what that is all about but it was on something that Charles Kuralt reported on it. People get together and talk about boating while having wine and cheese. It's popular. Been going on for years.

We didn't stay long .... It was sooo cold there when we were there the wind was blowing. We only stayed about 5 minutes cause I felt sorry for Tom, he was freezing in his T-shirt and shorts. I couldn't resist... Instead of telling him I felt sorry... I said.... "Told ya So"..... I never could resist temptation.


Here is a link to the Harbor Cam that they have running 24/7 - right now they have having issues with it. but its' great to sit and watch it. Maybe if I get that job you will see me there at lunch time everyday walking. I would be working right there on the river's edge. It's nice to know I can take the laptop there at lunch and work online. :)




Elizabeth City Docks. That poor guy in the sail boat was having a rough time standing, the water was so rough and rocking the boat all over the place.........

You can see the white blocks in the red bricks, each slip is dedicated to someone and each has a different name. It was pretty cool.. I didn't take much time to read it, it's hard to read with your teeth chattering.... It's hard to focus when your eyes are chattering too......



Looking out to the River.
This marina we are at needs this dog on a leash sign.. Yesterday a dog jumped out of a boat and swam across the marina to get to Boodles...... Seriously, if you have a big dog, you should be able to control it.



There is a bar/resturant in walking distance. I do notice allot of people sitting on the seats watching the boats during the day. Next nice day we may just do that. First thing Tom looked for was the "beer" then can the dog go? Oh Dear Lord......


After we went there, we came back home and called it a day. We had enough together time for this day.


Guess probably Tuesday we are heading back to Charlotte.(More together time).... He will be taking the El Camino to the car show. Tom will spend his 2 weeks, I will head back here on Wednesday. I just got to drop off something there with the truck then me and Ms. whiney-ass-mutt can come back home. Shell gets him for the next 2 weeks, which doesn't bother her, she will have a list of "daddy-do's" for him to do to her car. And he will be stuck with her dog. Storm which Tom calls Poopsie-doo... He even sings her a little song.. (don't ask- just trust me you don't want to hear him sing that song about Silly Sally, which yes it's silly, but the dog loves it...)



Her dog really isn't a bad dog at all. Storm listens really well to Michelle, but she's big dog, and has a ton of energy. But she is comical. She has the bluest eyes I have ever seen on a dog.. Kind of makes her look psycho.... But she would give her life to protect Michelle. Unlike our Ms. Whiney-ass-mutt.. she would give my life to save Hers and Tom's.....
Till next time ---------

Happy Easter Everyone!

To see the photos better, click on the photos for a full-size view.

The Welcome Center on the Dismal Swamp-

It is on the Border of Virginia and North Carolina.

Today is Easter, of course we can't go out to dinner cause the doggy-sitter had plans. So I have to cook dinner. ugh....... But we did go for a ride today. Since the Dismal Swamp isnt that far from us we went there.



We went to the Dismal Swamp Park. Sounds like a lovely way to spend the day huh? But actually it's pretty nice there. We came down the Dismal Swamp on the boat, this time we took the truck and got out and walked around. They have trails there that you can walk around. It wasn't too bad out today. The Gift shop wasn't opened today and I would of liked to of gone in there when we stopped while boating we didn't get a chance to stay there long cause we had to get the next lock opening since they only open the locks twice a day.

But we did take time to look around.



Sign at the Swamp that gives History of the Civil War and the Swamp. It's Pretty Interesting. This sign doesn't just give you the information on the swamp of all of North Carolina and the Civil War. We did pass a sign in South Mills where a battle was fought.

Tom and Boodles Taking a break after we walked the 1/4 mile trail.

They have trails there that you can walk along the Swamp. Notice how they warn you about snakes (at the very bottom of the sign, hard to read)
but nothing about the roots of the trees that will kill you quicker than the snakes.



Notice the roots that crosses the path!





This is the potty area for the dogs. Of course we had to check it out.
I had to get a potty bag for the dog. Tom said I may need it for the dog. Luckily I didn't need it.







This tree was on the trail. It looked so cool the way that the bark is on it. It kind of looks like it was glued on in this pattern.


Animals that are in the area Sign.
THANK GOD I READ THIS SIGN AFTER MY HIKE.
Notice the one sign didn't mention bears.. Only Snakes.....
Research told me there are 3 types of poisionous snakes in the area..... the snake sign should of given me pictures and how many snakes to look out for.

BEARS? Noticed they don't have the picture of cougars in the area. I didn't think these animals were beachy-type of animals. I always thought they would be mountain animals. This isn't mountains over here.

The didn't have the picture of the most meanest animal in the area. The old Sea-gull... They run in packs, attack like gangs, and Heaven help you if you drop food on the ground they will all be there in moment. It's like they have food radar.

This is from the boat dock at the Welcome Center
looking North in the Canal. It's awesome.
The water is like glass... While it looks like a glassy top, it really looks like root-beer up close.




After we went to the Dismal Swamp we went to the Free Docks at Elizabeth City. Will upload those pictures after dinner.

Beautiful Day here Today!

Ahh Today is absolutely beautiful here. It's 70 with a nice breeze. I have all the windows opened and the hatch opened, and it's so nice.

Tom is out working on the car. It again looks like a car. Notice his side-kick is right there with him. He can't do anything without her.

The car is running, and does have a 4 speed. He had to take out the seat so that he could move it back so he could fit inside. I personally can fit in it without a problem, but he thinks I'm too whimpy to use the clutch. (he ALWAYS has an excuse). It was an easy job for him. And mostly all the men around here gather at the car and talk about cars.

While I was there looking at the car, I noticed the wing- windows have glass etchings in them. While it isn't a picture I would of chosen, it's still pretty cool.

(note to Michelle- NO THIS WOULD NOT LOOK GOOD AS A TATTOO)

He leaves Monday to go to Charlotte for 2 weeks. While he is there he will paint the car and get ready for the Auto Fair on April 3rd in Charlotte. He will be staying with Shell. I'm not going cause I don't wanna be at shell's with 3 dogs there all the time. It's too much.

Unfortunately he will not be taking the dog.

OMG I will be stuck with this pain in my ass for 2 weeks!

She is a daddy's dog. This is him and her while we were on our way back from Atlanta. Notice how close she has to be to him.

She goes EVERYWHERE with him. If he has to go to the parts store, I have to go to sit in the car with her. She is playing these separation Anxiety Attacks to the fullest. He falls for it every time.

The Tide is up today.. And Since I have short legs, I have problems getting on the boat. See how high the boat is from the dock?

For me to get on the boat when the tide is up, I have to step on the neighbor's toolbox then over the railing. Needless to say, I don't go out much when the tide is up.

This is the view I have from Looking down from the boat.

I created my own little wi-fi Internet Antenna. It has helped me sooo much with the Internet connection. It resembles the old Jiffy-pop popcorn that you used to cook on the stove, and looks kind of weird, but I stay connected pretty much all the time. I do download allot of huge files so that we have movies to watch at night. Amazing that we still don't have TV. We get one station, and I couldn't tell you the last time we watched TV. We usually just pop in a DVD movie, or go outside. Since it's starting to get nicer we will be outside more, and won't need the TV. I will not give up my Internet though. But my little antenna works GREAT!

Well it's time to go outside and enjoy the weather.

Progress on Boat Works

This is going to be simple. Progress made = NONE. Tom got a new project car that he has been working on. The good news is... the car is going to the Auto Fair in Charlotte April 3rd. So this will be a short term project. So I'm really not saying anything.

Tom has been interviewing babysitters for Boodles. Actually we haven't been out since we moved here. She won't let him out of her sight. But there is an 11 year old girl that lives around here, and she likes Boodles and Boodles likes her. We are going to see if she can take the dog out of sight of Tom and see how she acts. This is pitiful that we can't go out because of a dog. Of course it's our (Tom's fault) that she is spoiled. He takes her everywhere he goes. We have been to the Part's store several times over the last two days. I thought he was being 'romantic' when he asked me to go every time.. then I learned it was so Boodles wasn't alone in the truck. Linda has no sympathy for us. After all she controls her 41 Pit Bulls and doesn't let them run all over her, and we got conned by a 35lb mutt.... who runs the family......

Going through Downtown Elizabeth City there is this sign painted on the side of the building. It's pretty cool. I haven't seen a sign painted on a building in a long time. Except in the photos I have been restoring.

This is the bridge we have to go over when we leave Lamb's Marina to go to Elizabeth City. Luckily I haven't been caught when the bridge is opened. I am not a fan of bridges at all. This is on Highway 158 towards the Outer Banks.

Tomorrow Tom will be working on the car some more, I will be here working on the computer. But I do walk over there several times a day, it's suspose to be in the 70's tomorrow I can hardly wait.

We still don't have cable or satallite for the TV and believe it or not we don't really miss it. I have Internet connection, which is all that I need. We pick up one channel with the bunny ears, I haven't watched Opera or anything since we moved. Instead we have been outside doing something. Tom watches DVD movies on the TV. Well actually he puts the movie in and falls asleep. He gets up early, and well like tonight, it's 8:45 and he has been sleeping since 8pm. (she (boodles) is sleeping too right beside him)....


Tomorrow my antenna should be here for the wireless so that I can get better reception on the internet. I will have to build it, but should work out good.. I can barely get signal from the Router at the marina, I just need a little boost to get better signal.

Proof that the dog is always up his Butt

Poor Tom can't do anything without Boodles being right there with him. She could care less about what I do, where I go - she is a daddy's dog.

In the Picture see them taking a nap. She's not taking any chances of him leaving and her not knowing it. She just better hope he doesn't have gas this morning.

Tom is excited about the thought that TJ may come down and go fishing with him soon. They want to go deep sea fishing and well, I'm not getting out of site of land. With these two on the boat, I am looking up the number for Gilligan's Island the reservation department to make their reservations. Does anyone know it? As for me and Karen, we will stay on land and find something to do. Probably do Directions by phone for these two.

Today's my birthday, for all of you that forgot to send the cards out ahead of time, I do accept paypal. Tom is going to get the car running this morning, then we may head to the beach. (yes you know Boodles will go too). We can't go out to dinner cause she won't be left alone. I think she is spoiled. So what ever we do we have to do with her. Last week Nicole had me buy a cake while we were at the store, I know it was suspose to be my birthday cake, she said cause she was craving cake... Sly chick she is. Talked me into buying my own cake. And again I fell for it.

Who is the Spoiled Boat Princess?

We got back home today after 3 days on the road. It's good to get out of the truck and back home. We've drove about 10 hours each day. Left here, drove to Charlotte, then Atlanta and stopped in Raleigh then back home. It was a long trip.

Boodles Sleeping
Boodles got back and is now sick; she threw up 4x on the boat. We don't know why she is throwing up. But this is her sleeping on the couch covered up with her head on the pillow. She stayed there for hours. Tom was able to leave the boat for 3 hours without her. But by the evening she was back to normal. And I had to take her to the Men's Den so she can visit with her friends up there.


Last night we stayed at Neal's and Nicole's and Boodles woke them both up early, but jumping in bed and giving them kisses. They may not admit to it, but they loved it! Mercedees ate tom's toothbrush and toothpaste while Boodles kept us occupied. They worked well together. Benz was the innocent dog in the trio. Which usually he is.


I guess Tom will be working on his new Project instead of the boat for the next few weeks, I will upload the photos of the new project as soon as it quits raining here and I can get pictures. After 1500 miles 3 states, and 3 days, he chose one.


Its a 1971 El Camino, 4-speed and has to be ready for the Charlotte Car show in the first week in April. This is an easy job he says, solid car, just needs to replace the front end, and get it running. He has to have ready to paint in 2 weeks so he can get it in the shop. So he will be heading back to Charlotte soon. (him and Boodles)... We are hoping that this car sells, and he can bring home the Expidition that he has left there and I don't have to go get him. We're just waiting on the title to clear NC DMV (and most of you know how I feel about NC DMV) and release it to us which should be done soon.


Other than that everything is still the same, we're heading to the Outer Banks on Sunday to celebrate my birthday hopefully the rain will stop by then. I want a metal detector for my birthday so I can scour the beach for treasures. Maybe Tom will read this and get the hint!

Then next week, we're on the road again heading to the other side of Raleigh to get parts for the car. LOL, and people thought we would be sick of living on a boat. Hell we're only in the boat to sleep at night. Most of the time we are off the boat doing something. And the weather is changing, been in the 60's for a few days now, it's been nice. I love it here!