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VuDuLou
July 22nd, 2007, 11:11 AM
There were many distractions for this year’s odyssey to the east coast. Work requirements had me cancel out of the Morehead City trip (with Scububa) with the Little Rock crew. I did make it to Va. Beach for my father’s birthday…two blocks from my parents’ house was a dive shop…oopps, no charters, just sold their boat and the upgraded version not ready yet…no problem, go to next dive shop, oopps, blown engine nothing going out while I’m there…no problem, go to next dive shop, get booked on a dive to the Mexicana with “Rad Diver” from NCDivers website…I’m at my Dad’s birthday party, get a call from dive shop…not enough have signed up, shorter trip scheduled to the John C. Morgan, no prob, I’m in…get a call from Rad Diver, I tell him about no go Mexicana, switch to Morgan…he calls me back…Morgan cancelled also…would I mind driving to Nags Head and diving the U-85...”Let’s go!!”
7/14/07...Nags Head, Outer Banks Dive Center, the good ship “Go Between”…head out to U-85, surface temp 81F bottom 75F, vis 25-30’. Rad Diver takes my picture at the deck gun…lots of marine life, water surface like glass…surface interval, crew provides lunch of grilled bratwurst and sauer kraut (they didn’t even know I was coming). Next dive, artificial reef/ liberty ship “Dionysus”…surface temp 82F, bottom 73F, vis ? “If it was colder I’d have thought I was in Greers Ferry on a very bad day“…made max utilization of lines and reels (and right angles on hull). When asked about dive by crew, replied “High Adventure”.
Back to Va. Beach
7/15/07 - Breakfast with brother (1 lb Jumbo Shrimp w/ Landshark Lager)
7/16/07 - Drive to Morehead City
7/17/07 - Olympus Dive Center - Dive Boat Olympus - U-352, surface temp 81F, bottom temp 79F, vis…80’+!!! Not as much marine life as last year and awesome!!! A bit of current, remembered self pledge (forgotten) from last year to start on flutter kicks one month out from trip…second dive to Atlantic cable layer Aeolus…surface temp 81F, bottom temp 79F, vis 65’+
7/18/07 returned to AR
7/19/07 tanks refilled, gear ready for 27/28 Jul diving at Greers Ferry. Have three new t-shirts, two Todd Snider CD’s, and a big beer mug “Stolen from Mable’s Whore House”…
Cheers,
Lou

nauifins73
July 22nd, 2007, 12:57 PM
Thanks for the report - persistence and patiences pays off. I must ask how did you like the Landshark Lager? We don't have it in the KC area yet but I tried it at the Buffett concert in Dallas.

Becky

VuDuLou
July 22nd, 2007, 02:24 PM
Landshark Lager is OK, as a person who spent about 13 years in Germany along with making my own beer...I would say that the taste reminded me of Corona on steroids...I thought it was a 'little light' to be considered a lager...but tasty on a hot summer morning on the beach...went well with the shrimp!!!

scubajoe
July 26th, 2007, 11:26 PM
I must ask how did you like the Landshark Lager? We don't have it in the KC area yet but I tried it at the Buffett concert in Dallas.

Becky

You did?..........Must have been in the foggy part of the concert.
Or is it the foggy part of my memory?
Joe

nauifins73
July 27th, 2007, 07:39 AM
You did?..........Must have been in the foggy part of the concert.
Or is it the foggy part of my memory?
Joe

It is the foggy part of your memory. It was your beer I tasted. :D

scububa
July 27th, 2007, 08:47 AM
Glad you got some dives in, Lou. As you guys experienced last year, I this year, and again, your encounters this year diving in the Atlantic does not come with a guarantee!

VuDuLou
July 27th, 2007, 03:28 PM
Roger - Roger...

Looks like we're diving here Sunday...
Email from Tim suggests some mandatory training coming up in Aug (lift bags and cars, yippee!!!!) and the question of some training w/ the SWAT boys (making us the SBS 'Special Boat Squadron' / SWAT delivery vehicles - BYOPFD how do you swim with all that stuff?)
Aug 11/ 12 ...the VuDuBirthday/ VuDu Anniversary weekend (Diving and Dining) at the VuDuLounge...you're welcome to attend...Mark and I are going in together on an U/W metal detector...(I'm still looking for that Rolex)...Tim and I are planning next year's trip...your input would be appreciated...I'm assisting Mark on a class tomorrow morning as part of DiveCon stuff...FrauVuDu is still in NC with 2/3's of children, 1/3 of grandbabies...so I'm home alone on a Taco Bell/ hot dog diet (though I made some venison chili last night)...seems I forgot how to cook or maybe too dependant (spoiled) by the Frau...

Cheers,

Lou