SailingKnitter: Low Country Boil

Friday, September 11, 2015

Low Country Boil

LOW COUNTRY BOIL

So, what did you have for your labor Day celebratory feast? We had our first experience with what is called a "Low Country Boil" courtesy of the Brunswick Landing Marina. What is it? Well, it's a big 'ole boiling pot of water with sweet corn on the cob, potatoes, sausage, and shrimp all flavored with hot pepper spice! Yummy!

There was so much food, including the bring-along side dishes, that our big group couldn't finish it all! What? I thought that there was no such thing as leftover shrimp - but I was wrong. I just couldn't squeeze another of those succulent crustaceans into my belly that day.

Jonesy and I contributed a couple of watermelons to the party and there were PLENTY of desserts too. We didn't even recognize a lot of the people there as they were (we heard) local folks who owned boats that were kept in the marina. These are people we don't interact with everyday in the laundry facilities and club house.

FRED AND JONESY

But, there were plenty of friends there too. Yes, Fred from the catamaran Makai is really is as tall as he looks in the photo with Jonesy. We first met Fred (and Cathy) down in French Harbor Roatan, Honduras when we were both anchored there in 2012 - and here we both are in Georgia, USA. We also have two other boats currently hanging out with us in this marina whom we met in Guatemala years ago. It's truly a small group of people who do this cruising lifestyle and we tend to bump into each other often.

So, besides partying dockside, what have we been up to? Well, Jonesy has had the pleasure of overhauling the plumbing hoses to the forward head. It's a boat. Just when you think you have everything working, something has to go wrong.

LABOR DAY PARTY

Because our boat (as most do) uses saltwater to flush the toilet, a hard rock-like buildup grows in the exit hose over the years. You can't see it, you can put acids down the line to delay the buildup, but it will be there. You'll never know how bad it is until just one day no water will flush down.

Surprise! You've got chores!

So no big deal right? Simply remove the hoses and replace them. What could be so hard about that?

Well, often when they build boats, they install things like the hoses before they install the cabinets, sinks, etc. Yep. He had to remove the sink counter and plumbing, the cabinets, the toilet, and some flooring to reach the offending hoses. This took several days of work in the small cramped space.

Thankfully, we are in the USA and there is a West Marine store (you know, that place that sucks all the cash out of boaters' wallets) so we were able to buy the correct hoses ($100). For safety reasons (and only an additional $75) Jonesy replaced the anti-siphon valves as long as he had access to them. These valves prevent seawater from being sucked up the hoses and into the boat.

What was I doing all this time?

Oh, just the usual crafty endeavors including socks for Jonesy (above) and lots of pottery. I've been playing with glazes and combinations of glazes for the pine needle basket bottoms and assorted trays.

Then, of course I've been continuing to work on my reed egg basket a few reeds at a time. It really gives my fingers a workout! Soon, very soon I'll get working on the pine needle baskets. It's just that the clay stuff is too much fun and is very rewarding.

Life is good.

# posted by Terry Sailingknitter @ 10:22 AM