The end of the North Carolina Adventure

We got the boat back on the trailer Friday morning and headed home.

An interesting thing happened to the boat on the way home.

When we were docked in Oriental, next to a Beneteau 50, our boat looked very small. When we stayed at Beaufort Docks with all the Nordhavns and 100 foot motor yachts, our boat looked even smaller. However, as we traveled farther from the ocean, the larger our boat became--especially in the rear view mirror.

NC #9

The crossing today was a little sloppy

I think we will haul out and start home tomorrow

Nc #8

Where we anchored Tuesday, we didn't seen another boat all evening or the next morning. So I decided to take a shower on the transom. Don't know what it is about nakedness that attracts people, but shortly (not a pun) after I started, it's like we had parked along an interstate highway. I'll spare you the photo.

Yesterday, we left the anchorage at 9 am and started back south. We travelled about 60 miles, and stopped at 4 pm. As it turns out, the hurricane isn't headed this way, but the wind had picked up on the open areas of Pamlico Sound.

Going through Goose Creek, I thought the Coast Guard was wake-boarding again, but they were just out patrolling. They had probably received reports of indecent exposure.

Found another peaceful anchorage last night in South River.

At least we thought it was peaceful until the helicopter. After dark there were two objects circling the boat. One was a helicopter, and the other had some dim lights glowing like nothing I'd ever seen before--at least not on this planet. Of course, it didn't show up in the photos.

N C #7

Continuing NOrth on the ICW. Quite a difference from the other day when waves were crashing over the bow and things were falling off the roof. Today, was flat calm on the Pamlico River.

We started up the Pungo River / Alligator River Canal. A long stretch of relatively narrow canal.

Didn't see any alligators or pungos. Didn't see any people either.

We don't see many boats on the ICW--just an occasional shrimper.

We're going to turn back South tomorrow. That little hurricane is on it's way. They are forecasting 20 to 25 mph winds on Thursday, and we would prefer not to cross the open areas of water in those winds.

I have my computer hooked up to an inverter onboard, and we can watch movies at night. (Or run the refrigeration--the batteries will not support everything-but the block ice is holding up, so it's movies again tonight.)

NC #6

Yesterday, we left Beaufort about 11:00 am. We had a taste of wind and waves. We were headed directly into the 15 mph wind and 2' to 3' waves on Pamlico Sound. The water was splashing up on our windshield and roof. Earlier, I had tried to replace the windshield wipers, but didn't get the right ones so it was difficult to see out through the saltwater streaks. At one time, we turned beam to the waves, and rolled so bad that the sun shower which I thought was secured on the roof, fell off. We were able to retrieve it. but the stopper came loose and we lost the hot water.

Last night, we anchored in one of the most remote spots I've ever been in. We couldn't see any signs of human habitation anywhere.

It didn't take too long for us to figure out why there was no one around. BUGS !! Swarms of mosquitoes and great herds of ravenous horseflies. We finally closed up the cabin and killed or captured all enemies inside. Then turned on the cabin fans and suffered with the heat instead of the bugs. I really thought that when I woke up this morning I wouldn't be able to see out the windows for all the bugs trying to get in.

We left the anchorage early today and headed NOrth on the ICW.

NC #5

This morning, we went to the local Piggly Wiggly to replenish our supplies. The marina has a fleet of courtesy cars that I'm sure Beth and Tracy can appreciate. Ours had only 143000 miles.

NC #4

Today is Pam's 40th wedding anniversary.

We came in from Cape Lookout yesterday on the outside.

Pam drove the boat in the Atlantic Ocean. Scary !

We came in the Beaufort Inlet and called the dock master at Beaufort Docks for a slip.

Beaufort is a very old town with a lot of houses built in the 1700's.

We tied up with some boats a little larger than ours.

We went through the maritime museum and checked out the wooden boat builders as well.

Heading out tomorrow--not yet sure which way. Hurricane Fay is headed up the coast, so we need to keep an eye (pun intended) on that.

N.C.Adventure #3

Friday, we took the dinghy out into the Atlantic. We went down the beach a ways, and found some shells.

Later, we took the dinghy over to the lighthouse.

N.C. Adventure #2

Just because a marina advertises that they have Wi-Fi available, it doesn't mean FREE Wi-Fi. So when we can find a free signal, out it goes.

Thursday, we left Oriental Harbor at 10:30, heading for Cape Lookout. About 50 miles. We followed the ICW part of the way.

A lot of this area looks like a river. Complete with barge traffic.

We found our way out to Cape Lookout. It's the southernmost point of the outer banks. There's a hook at the point, and we anchored inside that hook across from the light house near a Coast Guard cutter.

We watched as the Coasties lowered their large Zodiac over the side. Last time we saw something like this, we were in Charlotte Harbor, and the CG motored straight to us on our sailboat, boarded us and did the usual inspections etc. So we expected the same. We don't have the proper documentation on this boat just yet, so I was starting to think up a suitable story. When we looked back to the Zodiac (complete with machine guns) the Coasties had dropped one of their own over the side.

Next.........................they were wakeboarding behind the Zodiac around the cutter. Your tax dollars at work.

N.C. Adventure #1

I've been a sailor over 40 years. I was a racer, a cruiser, and even owned a sailboat shop.
In May of 2008, I traveled the length of the Tennessee River on a sailboat. From Knoxville to the Ohio River. On the river 22 days--sailed one day.

This is what happens when sailors go bad.

We drove to north Carolina on Sunday so we could pick up the trailer Monday morning. Having been in the boat business, I had doubts that it would be ready on time.

Unfortunately, I was right. We did get it on Monday, but late in the day and with only a few parts missing.

We drove the remaining 100 miles or so to Oriental, where the boat was.

We slept on the boat in the hoist, and ran an extension cord out so we could run the air conditioner that night.

I spent all day Tuesday modifying the trailer to fit the boat.

It rained all day Wednesday, but we launched the boat anyway.

We went to the only gas station in Oriental--the mini-mart. We discovered that the fuel gauge was not working because I thought the tank was empty, but it had about 20 gallons in it. So, it only cost $240.00 to fill it the rest of the way.

When we first got to the boat ramp, the outboards wouldn't start, but I pulled the boat back out, and hit them with the biggest hammer I had, and all was fine.

We stayed the night at Oriental Harbor marina, next to a 50' Benneteau sailboat.

On Thursday, we loaded the dinghy on the roof, and headed out.