Camp Morehead By-The-Sea
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Camp Morehead By-The-Sea
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July 1998 Tommy Cordova Cruise
To Lookout On Friday, George Newsome and I drove to Havelock to Matthews Point Marina, just across the Neuse River from Camp Seagull, where we keep our little sailing vessel, Kuheli. George told incredible lies about himself all the way there. My wife had packed lots of grub for the trip; we loaded it aboard and departed at 4pm. We steamed down the Intracoastal Waterway to Pelletier Creek, on Bogue Sound, where the Jordan family let us lay at their dock. The Jordans are the parents of Becky Cordova, Phillip's wife, and they live a couple of blocks from Tommy. After making Kuheli fast, Bill Rixey drove us and our grub to Tommy's house, where George fried up the mullet and steamed the shrimp. Bill Rixey, Harvey Martin, Win Walker, Robert Ponton, Phillip Cordova, George Newsome and I drank beer and told more incredible lies. Tommy talked so much, he took forever to eat. We turned in early, at one o'clock in the morning, just like we used to do at Camp Morehead. On Saturday morning, we took more grub over to Tommy's, where Phillip and George made a hearty breakfast. At about ten o'clock, Tommy, Phillip, George, Harvey and myself shoved off and made sail for Cape Lookout. A stationary front had moved south during the night, so we had a nice breeze from the northeast; it couldn't have been a more beautiful day. We spoke to Bill Rixey on the VHF on our way by Radio Island Marina, then hauled our tacks aboard and beat to the Cape. Tommy spent some time in the cockpit, and some time in the big bunk in the galley, but he was smiling all the while. He never touched the wheel, so he has yet to steer a sailboat that didn't have a tiller. We dropped the hook in the bight of Lookout, and feasted on the deli tray that Diane Drash had provided. Then, while Phillip and Tommy slept (it's a Cordova thing), Harvey, George and I dove off the pilot house and swam in the cool water. At four o'clock, we fished the anchor and catted it, sailed out of the bight and swung her off for Beaufort Inlet. We tried to catch Win Walker, who was getting underway after visiting Shackleford Banks, but his crew mutinied and made for home. Robert Ponton and his son, Robert Ponton, flew by in a Boston Whaler, barely under the control of Cap'n Wes Perry. They slowed down just long enough to shout at us, and flew off again. I thought I was seeing things! On Saturday night, Tommy took us all out to Mrs. Willis' Restaurant. Tommy ate a lot, and told incredible lies. We turned in shortly after the bell (everyone was worn out). Sunday morning, Tommy slept late. Phillip let Harvey, George and me borrow his outboard. We visited Bill Rixey's house at Camp, where we said hello to Helen. Bill took us on a somewhat subdued spook ride in the golf cart, and we located all the buildings that have disappeared from the now bare bluff. After that, we went over to Salter Path, down to Emerald Isle, across to Broad Creek, and returned to Pelletier Creek. George and I departed with Kuheli at one o'clock in the afternoon. George told more incredible lies all the way back to Clubfoot Creek. Between the Jordan's, Phillip and Becky, Tommy and Bill Rixey, we were all treated like kings. They gave us the run of the place, and we made the most of it. Tommy encouraged us to do it again soon. Last week, Phillip shaved Tommy's head, and he looks like Ben Kingsley. He does a good job of dealing with his chest pain, as long as he can lie down often, and his sense of humor just won't quit. I'll drop by regularly and let you know how he is doing. Let me know when you would like to take Tommy sailing again! Mac Allen
Photos From The Cruise
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