"Vorsicht mit der Gelben Gefahr."

That statement, or something like it, has been attributed to Germany's Kaiser Wilhelm-I. It was taken to mean at the time that the West should be wary of oriental powers; that European nations should "...beware the yellow peril." Presumably, he was referring to the growing  military power of Imperial Japan.

But we have a different kind of yellow peril here in Augusta, Ga.: Tree pollen. The stuff is everywhere. It has been wafting down like fine snow all week. And, though this is an annual event, no one can predict when the blizzard will end.

There are even pollen trails on the Savannah River. The photo at right shows a procession of  yellow blobs drifting past our gazebo, headed toward Savannah. (Click on the picture for a closer look).
















I have rinsed Ms. Bettencourt twice this week. The boat is still yellow as a gourd. Horizontal surfaces inside are also gritty, but accumulations have slowed since I shut down the solar ventilators.

Meanwhile, preparations continue for the Beaufort, SC, cruise which will commence next Friday. A systems check on the boat yesterday revealed a fault in the navigation lights. The problem turned out to be a double-pole, double-throw on-off-on toggle switch that I can't find locally.

West Marine's warehouse in California had one, which is now on its way to Augusta by (expensive) air freight. It is to arrive Wednesday.

Also, it is always a bad sign when you step onto your boat and the automatic bilge pump starts pumping. Such was the case this morning.  A search revealed that water formerly in the fresh water tank was now in the bilge. I found and fixed a plumbing leak in the pressure water system and refilled the tank.

So, the plan now is to hose the pollen off  Ms. Bettencourt one last time after the final loading Friday mid-morning, then head off down the river to make a noontime date with the lockmaster.

I fear we will  find ourselves in a fog of the yellow stuff most of the 200-mile trip to the coast.

On the bright side: We shouldn't run out of water for coffee and the lights might be working.