day seven - artists all around

Up before dawn to take care of chores - stow sleeping gear, break down the boom tent, get rid of trash, clean up the boat. I plug in a couple battery packs for a stealth charge on the patio of the Oriental Marina and Inn. Walking back to SPARTINA, I hear my name called out from the porch at The Bean. It is Keith, a longtime friend and editor of TownDock.net. I head over to say hello, sit down and enjoy a blueberry muffin and iced tea.Finishing breakfast I notice cars showing up and people getting out to set up easels. They artists from the Plein Air Art Festival in nearby New Bern. I have seen them here in the past, but SPARTINA has always been ignored. One year the artists focused on Martijn's PRINSES MIA, got all the attention. I guess having topless mermaids painted on the black hull will do that for you. This year, for some reason, SPARTINA gets some attention. How nice!Three artists take up positions around the boat, two to the stern, one to the bow. I see other artists painting…