Monday November 11, 2008
The passage today was only 20 miles but Walter had warned us to leave in time to get to the Fear River at a time when the tide would be in a favourable direction. There are lots of inlets which come in along this part of the ICW and when the tide is moving in one direction when you cross the inlet it can sometimes be going in the opposite direction. Making way against the tide is difficult but when it is going with you we were doing 7-8 knots. There were more dolphins to see and it was beautiful where the shore breaks away to the ocean. We landed our crafts at St. James Plantation Marina and fueled up. Because we were staying at a marina for the first time in a long time I had to find the dock lines and that little search produced our electric heater which will come in handy tonight when the temperature dips into the 30's. Brenda had a friend at the Marina let us use his car to go to Wal-mart and get groceries and navigational lights for the dinghy. We all gathered for dinner at the club restaurant and shared stories of our trip. There are three boats staying Bandaris and Southern Cross (engine repair) and Whipoorwill (layover) day.
Vertigo 1 and Nice Butt and Grace C are heading out tomorrow morning at 7:00 a.m.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Long day on the move and missing one hour bridges
Wow what a trip. So. much to see. The waterfront properties are to die for. There are so many beautiful places one after another. The ones on the ocean are huge. We made it threw several swing bridges but the last one of the day was just before the anchorage and we had to wait an hour as it only opened on the hour. Our anchorage was just inside the bridge but there was nothing you can do but wait. Bye the time we got in it was getting close to dark. The anchorage was getting full and we moved our boat over to where it was not so busy across the channel beside Nice Butt and Southern Cross. Dennis and Karen invited us out for pizza and we were joined by Wayne, Maxine and Niki. Karen and Dennis gave us a ride in their dinghy with their navigation lights, as it was already dark. We had word that Brenda and Walter are at Southport and that is the plan for tomorrow to head there to meet up with them. We are all looking forward to the reunion.
Swansboro you will always be in my memory banks
Saturday November 8, 2008
On our way to Swansboro, North Carolina today we saw DOLPHINS three or four together along side the boat. There are inlets along the ICW from the ocean and they come in through them. The wind was howling all day and we had all planned to stay at this anchorage. When we got there we had to set the anchor about three times which is so annoying. Karen (Whippoorwill) radioed over to have some girl time in the town. Because of the wind and the current no one was to anxious to get the dinghy out. We had our motor already on the dinghy so as Diane said Dick would be the "Prince of the Anchorage" if he took the three of us to the town dock to get some fudge. I quickly threw the walkie talkie in my pocket and headed out. The wind was high but we only had a short distance to go. When we got to the village they were setting up for the evening. The town was planning to be open until 9:00 p.m. and light up the town with Christmas festivities. They were having free food and kept enticing us with such delicacies as cream puffs, cappuccinos and popcorn etc. When I called Dick to tell him he said we have to get back before dark as our dinghy did not have navigation lights. We piled into the dinghy to head back and as we were heading to drop Karen off on Whippoorwill Diane noticed that Dennis's dinghy had come loose and was floating down the river under the bridge that we were anchored beside. We headed out to rescue the dinghy but the current and wind was so strong for our (a bit defective outboard 4 horse) and with all the weight of the load we had it was all we could do to catch it before it when under the bridge. Dick grabbed it and hung on but it was over his head and we went slamming into the bridge. We were all in a panic and I was doing most of the yelling for the other woman. :) No one would jump in the boat and use their motor to start it. Diane managed to get a rope on it and we headed out to drop off Karin. By the time it was over and everyone was back on board it occured to me that there were three mothers on board and this is way to much responsibility to handle. Not to mention we were sitting on the edge of a lovely evening in town and not able to partake. Yours truly went to bed exhausted and defeated. But Swansboro your hospitality will always be one of the memories I will treasure about this "Stupid Trip" When I asked my husband why we did not have naviagation lights for our dinghy he said the last time we were at a Walmart the dollars was only 73 cents.
On our way to Swansboro, North Carolina today we saw DOLPHINS three or four together along side the boat. There are inlets along the ICW from the ocean and they come in through them. The wind was howling all day and we had all planned to stay at this anchorage. When we got there we had to set the anchor about three times which is so annoying. Karen (Whippoorwill) radioed over to have some girl time in the town. Because of the wind and the current no one was to anxious to get the dinghy out. We had our motor already on the dinghy so as Diane said Dick would be the "Prince of the Anchorage" if he took the three of us to the town dock to get some fudge. I quickly threw the walkie talkie in my pocket and headed out. The wind was high but we only had a short distance to go. When we got to the village they were setting up for the evening. The town was planning to be open until 9:00 p.m. and light up the town with Christmas festivities. They were having free food and kept enticing us with such delicacies as cream puffs, cappuccinos and popcorn etc. When I called Dick to tell him he said we have to get back before dark as our dinghy did not have navigation lights. We piled into the dinghy to head back and as we were heading to drop Karen off on Whippoorwill Diane noticed that Dennis's dinghy had come loose and was floating down the river under the bridge that we were anchored beside. We headed out to rescue the dinghy but the current and wind was so strong for our (a bit defective outboard 4 horse) and with all the weight of the load we had it was all we could do to catch it before it when under the bridge. Dick grabbed it and hung on but it was over his head and we went slamming into the bridge. We were all in a panic and I was doing most of the yelling for the other woman. :) No one would jump in the boat and use their motor to start it. Diane managed to get a rope on it and we headed out to drop off Karin. By the time it was over and everyone was back on board it occured to me that there were three mothers on board and this is way to much responsibility to handle. Not to mention we were sitting on the edge of a lovely evening in town and not able to partake. Yours truly went to bed exhausted and defeated. But Swansboro your hospitality will always be one of the memories I will treasure about this "Stupid Trip" When I asked my husband why we did not have naviagation lights for our dinghy he said the last time we were at a Walmart the dollars was only 73 cents.
Friday, November 7, 2008
One of my Best photos so far
The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men
Wednesday November 5, 2008
Layover day due to high winds. Not planned but this is the way things go. Headed into town to get a hair cut and go to the library to check my e-mail. Tony and Diane ran into some guys fish line and kindly showed up to replace it. The guy was so surprised he promised to bring them some crab to eat that evening. They invited us to meet them down at the River Forest Yacht Club around 2:30 pm. When we got there there was no one there. Wayne and Max showed up a few minutes later on the (go to the grocery store golf cart. Apparently the guy with the crab did no show up so he headed back to the
Anchorage. Private thought – does anything ever happen that we think or say will on this trip?
Thursday November 6, 2008
Layover day due to high winds. (ditto). This is really getting on my nerves. Rocky night on the anchor and not much sleep. We decided to check out the interior of the boat. Dick wanted to take apart the V berth to see it the cupboard under our bed had gotten water in it. The cupboard was dry as toast but the mattress cushions underneath were wet from condensation when the temperature were so cold. I took off the cushion and headed into the village to bleach the mold out of the cushions. When we got to the coffee shop beside the laundromat we meet Tony and Diane and we were telling the girl that worked there that we missed the crab and she offered to get us some and said they would deliver it to the yacht club so we could have a meal. True to their word they arrive on time and cooked up a huge feast of crab. They taught us how to crack them open and get the meat out. The only part I didn't like is they put them in the boiling water alive. It was lots of fun and I finally feel like we have arrived on the jouney.
Heading out tomorrow (weather permitting)!!!!!
Friday November 7, 2008
Grand day weather wise. Got up at 6:00 am and the fleet had taken off by 6:30 pm. Dick and I and our manual anchor always take longer and we seemed to be sandwiched between 2 feet of water so I wanted to be extra careful. We managed to stay in the deep water but when I got to the channel we hit ground. It is soft mud so no big deal. Our journey to day took us down the Pungo River to Pamlico River, across Goose Creek to Bay River to Neuse River where we stopped at Oriental for the night. The rest of the fleet decided to take a dock for the night at Whittaker Creek Yacht Harbour. Our budget allows for docking only in very bad weather so we moved on to Oriental N.C. to anchor for the night. When we got there they had build a marina and a lot of the anchorage basin was gone. There was a 43 foot bridge which stopped us from going any farther up the channel so we tried to anchor between a couple of larger boats. After two attempt we called our friend Tony and asked if they had a spot at the marina.
They advised us to move back to Whittaker Creek and meet them at the fuel dock. When we got there the dock master had agreed that we could tie up at the fuel dock for free and if the wind came up and was pushing us into the dock we could anchor beside the dock. How kind is that? He felt he had made enough money off all the other Port Stanley boats all ready. Dennis and Karen were here so we were happy to see them again. We filled up with Diesel and paid for a shower. Our free dock age includes wifi. May many blessings be poured out on Whittaker Creek Yacht Harbour.
Layover day due to high winds. Not planned but this is the way things go. Headed into town to get a hair cut and go to the library to check my e-mail. Tony and Diane ran into some guys fish line and kindly showed up to replace it. The guy was so surprised he promised to bring them some crab to eat that evening. They invited us to meet them down at the River Forest Yacht Club around 2:30 pm. When we got there there was no one there. Wayne and Max showed up a few minutes later on the (go to the grocery store golf cart. Apparently the guy with the crab did no show up so he headed back to the
Anchorage. Private thought – does anything ever happen that we think or say will on this trip?
Thursday November 6, 2008
Layover day due to high winds. (ditto). This is really getting on my nerves. Rocky night on the anchor and not much sleep. We decided to check out the interior of the boat. Dick wanted to take apart the V berth to see it the cupboard under our bed had gotten water in it. The cupboard was dry as toast but the mattress cushions underneath were wet from condensation when the temperature were so cold. I took off the cushion and headed into the village to bleach the mold out of the cushions. When we got to the coffee shop beside the laundromat we meet Tony and Diane and we were telling the girl that worked there that we missed the crab and she offered to get us some and said they would deliver it to the yacht club so we could have a meal. True to their word they arrive on time and cooked up a huge feast of crab. They taught us how to crack them open and get the meat out. The only part I didn't like is they put them in the boiling water alive. It was lots of fun and I finally feel like we have arrived on the jouney.
Heading out tomorrow (weather permitting)!!!!!
Friday November 7, 2008
Grand day weather wise. Got up at 6:00 am and the fleet had taken off by 6:30 pm. Dick and I and our manual anchor always take longer and we seemed to be sandwiched between 2 feet of water so I wanted to be extra careful. We managed to stay in the deep water but when I got to the channel we hit ground. It is soft mud so no big deal. Our journey to day took us down the Pungo River to Pamlico River, across Goose Creek to Bay River to Neuse River where we stopped at Oriental for the night. The rest of the fleet decided to take a dock for the night at Whittaker Creek Yacht Harbour. Our budget allows for docking only in very bad weather so we moved on to Oriental N.C. to anchor for the night. When we got there they had build a marina and a lot of the anchorage basin was gone. There was a 43 foot bridge which stopped us from going any farther up the channel so we tried to anchor between a couple of larger boats. After two attempt we called our friend Tony and asked if they had a spot at the marina.
They advised us to move back to Whittaker Creek and meet them at the fuel dock. When we got there the dock master had agreed that we could tie up at the fuel dock for free and if the wind came up and was pushing us into the dock we could anchor beside the dock. How kind is that? He felt he had made enough money off all the other Port Stanley boats all ready. Dennis and Karen were here so we were happy to see them again. We filled up with Diesel and paid for a shower. Our free dock age includes wifi. May many blessings be poured out on Whittaker Creek Yacht Harbour.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Heading out on the ICW
Saturday November 1, 2008
So much to see leaving Hampton, Virginia and heading to the ICW to start the journey to the south.
This one just has to be a pictorial. I was shooting pictures all day like Naval yards, cool buildings, and freighter container packers, landscapes and architecture. The ICW starts with a lock at Great Bridge that only takes you down the differential of the tide between Elizabeth River and Albemarle Sound.
We anchored for the night in a Swamp at Buoy 32 as the other places were reserved and there was no room for three Canuck boats. It was calm and peaceful at the anchorage. We were happy to get a call from Peter (our Nova Scotian friend) who had news for us that Albert was home in Nova Scotia and recovering quite quickly. We got his number in Canada and called and he said he feels great he just cannot do anything. They winterized the boat in Solomon's and may return there after Christmas to bring it back. It was great to hear his voice and Dick was the one talking to him. :)
add photos
Sunday November 2, 2008
We were planning for an early morning getaway but mother nature had another idea. As lovely a day as we had had on Saturday the night went down to almost freezing again and so we awoke to a thick fog which burned off fairly quickly. The area of the ICW is more remote and we saw a lot of trees and birds. Dick and I saw a bald eagle but I regret the shot was facing the sun and impossible to capture.
We stopped at Coinjock, North Carolina at the Midway Marina and Motel to get diesel and a pump out.
It was another sunny but cooler day and we decided to keep going and try to get over the Albemarle Sound and threw a bridge. If time ran out we would stop at an Anchorages and go threw in the morning. Guess where we are tonight. We sent the night at an Anchorages just north of the bridge. It was a little more open to elements so we did not get much sleep due to the rocking of the boat. We tried to call home but our phone had no networks available. As if not having the internet is not bad enough now we have not phone. :(
Monday November 3, 2008
Historical Day in Canada but Nana and Poppa will miss Miss Elyssa's First Birthday. She is one years old and I cannot believe where that year has gone. We were anchored at Little Alligator Creek last night and headed to Belhaven, North Carolina. It was along day on the ICW with power boats going by and leaving us in their wake. The country side is mostly forests and swampland. When we passed over the Pungo River we got to put up our head sail for some of the time. When we were arriving at the anchorages at Belhaven Nice Butt hailed Vertigo 1 on the radio and it was grand to hear they were in the same place. We took our dinghys ashore and meet in the middle. Nicki and Max invited us back to the boat and when we got to Nice Butt Wayne was having a conversation with our Mentors Heather and Murray Rand. How cool is that. The Rands have been doing this for more than 10 years and have been a wealth of information to us.
Tuesday November 4, 2008
The historical election day in America!
Dinghyed into town to do our laundry and Dick found a library to do emails. When we got back to the boat we meet some people who said there was Rotary Club lunch for $7.00 per person. We decided to go since it was on the way to the grocery store. When we were at the lunch we meet a wonderful couple who have been sailing for 8 years and their home port is in Scotland. A gentleman by the name of Cecil Smith a town developer and historian offered to show us around and we spent the afternoon learning about the area. He drove us out to his grade school which is now a museum and we had a look around. Of all the gifts we have discovered on the trip nothing is more heart warming then spending an afternoon with such a gracious gentleman.
So much to see leaving Hampton, Virginia and heading to the ICW to start the journey to the south.
This one just has to be a pictorial. I was shooting pictures all day like Naval yards, cool buildings, and freighter container packers, landscapes and architecture. The ICW starts with a lock at Great Bridge that only takes you down the differential of the tide between Elizabeth River and Albemarle Sound.
We anchored for the night in a Swamp at Buoy 32 as the other places were reserved and there was no room for three Canuck boats. It was calm and peaceful at the anchorage. We were happy to get a call from Peter (our Nova Scotian friend) who had news for us that Albert was home in Nova Scotia and recovering quite quickly. We got his number in Canada and called and he said he feels great he just cannot do anything. They winterized the boat in Solomon's and may return there after Christmas to bring it back. It was great to hear his voice and Dick was the one talking to him. :)
add photos
Sunday November 2, 2008
We were planning for an early morning getaway but mother nature had another idea. As lovely a day as we had had on Saturday the night went down to almost freezing again and so we awoke to a thick fog which burned off fairly quickly. The area of the ICW is more remote and we saw a lot of trees and birds. Dick and I saw a bald eagle but I regret the shot was facing the sun and impossible to capture.
We stopped at Coinjock, North Carolina at the Midway Marina and Motel to get diesel and a pump out.
It was another sunny but cooler day and we decided to keep going and try to get over the Albemarle Sound and threw a bridge. If time ran out we would stop at an Anchorages and go threw in the morning. Guess where we are tonight. We sent the night at an Anchorages just north of the bridge. It was a little more open to elements so we did not get much sleep due to the rocking of the boat. We tried to call home but our phone had no networks available. As if not having the internet is not bad enough now we have not phone. :(
Monday November 3, 2008
Historical Day in Canada but Nana and Poppa will miss Miss Elyssa's First Birthday. She is one years old and I cannot believe where that year has gone. We were anchored at Little Alligator Creek last night and headed to Belhaven, North Carolina. It was along day on the ICW with power boats going by and leaving us in their wake. The country side is mostly forests and swampland. When we passed over the Pungo River we got to put up our head sail for some of the time. When we were arriving at the anchorages at Belhaven Nice Butt hailed Vertigo 1 on the radio and it was grand to hear they were in the same place. We took our dinghys ashore and meet in the middle. Nicki and Max invited us back to the boat and when we got to Nice Butt Wayne was having a conversation with our Mentors Heather and Murray Rand. How cool is that. The Rands have been doing this for more than 10 years and have been a wealth of information to us.
Tuesday November 4, 2008
The historical election day in America!
Dinghyed into town to do our laundry and Dick found a library to do emails. When we got back to the boat we meet some people who said there was Rotary Club lunch for $7.00 per person. We decided to go since it was on the way to the grocery store. When we were at the lunch we meet a wonderful couple who have been sailing for 8 years and their home port is in Scotland. A gentleman by the name of Cecil Smith a town developer and historian offered to show us around and we spent the afternoon learning about the area. He drove us out to his grade school which is now a museum and we had a look around. Of all the gifts we have discovered on the trip nothing is more heart warming then spending an afternoon with such a gracious gentleman.
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