Tuesday, November 16, 2010
An excruciating day on US Air puddle jumpers (MHT to LGA to CLT to EWN) with a flat out run through the Charlotte terminal to catch the last leg to New Bern. No fun, but arrived intact and aboard by 4:30. Like starting from scratch in terms of what to do next, but started making and then attacking our various lists. Boy, does it get dark fast this time of year! Walked to Captain Ratty's in the dark (recommended by a budding Optometrist from Indiana) and back the same way.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010.
Electronics guy arrived with a new Multiplexer (Back to the Future, Part 4 - The Electronics War) and spent a full eight hours aboard as frustrated as all of us. Having always been frustrated by electronics installations, I prepared for the worst and hoped for the best. Well, never mind.
Met Jack and Diane (remind you of a song) Myles from Portsmouth. They have been coming to New Bern for years to visit her mom. Now aboard their trawler. Were round the worlders in the 1980s. Had a great dinner with then at a Harris Mansion. They are planning a Summer cruise to Newfoundland, so I may have found a temporary home for my Newfoundland charts.
Tomorrow we head South….
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Out of the slip and at the fuel dock by 0800. Heading down the Neuse River by 0900. The hard part is getting started and that part is now done. Our goal for the day is Morehead City, but on arrival we decide that the anchorage is too exposed and crowded with fishermen for an early end to the day. We press on. In 25 miles we should be at the Swansboro Bridge anchorage. That’s 25 miles into tomorrow’s 40 mile day. Putting us a half day ahead of schedule. We watch the beautiful sunset at 1700 (that’s 5:00 p.m. to you and me – kind of early for sunset, isn’t it?). Then the light begins to fade.
The logbook says we stopped and were at anchor at 5:30. What I know is that I could not see the anchor chain as it went down. Tess had to look into the anchor locker to confirm how much chain we had down. What I also learned is how those idiots lose fingers on their boats. They anchor in the dark. Their fingers get jammed somewhere between a moving anchor chain and a stationary piece of the boat. What idiots! Can’t they see? Not in the dark, apparently. I noticed a bit of red on the windlass in the moon light. I then noticed that I couldn’t feel the middle finger of my left hand. Lucky this idiot will lose a finger nail and not the finger.
All was made well by Johnny Walker, a fine red wine and Chicken Cacciatore. Food is what sailing (or at least being on a sailboat) is all about.
Tomorrow we head South….
Friday, November 19, 2010
We seemed to be underway at a reasonable hour, though the anchorage was thinned out considerably. As it turned out, being a 45 foot vessel among sailboats and trawlers closer to 40 feet, we have a speed advantage. WE passed the crowd (about five boats), but found that this meant that we would wait an extra 15 minutes at each bridge opening until they caught up to us. We were able to skip our Friday plan and move straight on to Wrightsville Beach. Now a full day ahead of schedule. As we turned left off the ICW into Mott’s Channel, we were followed by those five boats. All anchored in a great big anchorage at the end of a skinny and winding little channel. A great day. And now, a full day ahead of schedule.
Best of all? Friday is Cribbage Night!
Tomorrow we head South….
Saturday, November 20, 2010
The last time we were first to leave an anchorage was in Shelburne, Nova Scotia. We proceeded to almost run through a Salmon Farm in the fog and then reversed course for 90 minutes to avoid a big, black thunderstorm. This time, no such problems. On our way at 0700 (sunrise was not until 0647!!). A big 60 mile day was planned (that’s statute miles – 15% less than the nautical miles we are used to).
The ICW is a bit of a snore if you’re expecting the spine-tingling thrill of a sail. For me, it’s quite peaceful if pedestrian, sort of like driving 5&20 through New York to get to Buffalo instead of the Thruway. However, today’s meanderings brought us some beautiful glimpses of the real ocean. Little cut-throughs in 3-4 places show that magical edge between the vast Atlantic and the protected canal through which we motor. Shorebirds feeding atop this fertile strip, fishermen braving the precipitous edge in waders or shallow bottom boats, couples strolling the sands in the furthest away place they can find …just glimpses of magic of the day to day, but truly lovely. We’ve had idyllic weather. Cold, “oh my God cold” in the mornings outside the toasty covers; by mid-day we’re down to a light overshirt, as the sun begins to set we close up to save the final bits of heat. The skies are bright with that swelling moon. No clouds by day, no rain, no need for wind and no need to curse too much of it. So, no complaints from the First Mate, and a lot of delight in the little things.
Little things like two new, uncharted fixed bridges. Including one which replaces the last “pontoon” bridge on the ICW.
A beautiful day through the last 56 miles of North Carolina. But, we are glad to be done with this long state. We are now really in the South. South Carolina.
Tomorrow we head South….
And perhaps we'll have pictures!
Finally some sun... 
First anchorage.
