We'll, we're off again. After a nice Thanksgiving at home, we left Wednesday for Oriental, NC. A long day. Twelve hours from our door to River View Marina (Car-Plane-Plane-Car). While we were exhausted from our last plane trip (48 hours from our hotel in Phnom Penh to opening the door on Gorham Pond Road; Bus-Plane-Plane-Plane-ten hour layover at Heathrow-Plane-Car), on a miles per hour basis, this trip was longer.
Endurance was in good shape though. Power still on. Bilge clear. Batteries charged up. Thursday was a work day. Checking systems. Stowing provisions and gear. Temps in the high 70s. We actually started the trip by moving to the fuel dock and topping off the fuel tank. That, after spending an hour blowing out the fuel line vent to dislodge a wasp nest. It's always something. Picture trying to clear your nose by bicycle pump through your navel. And, someone holds the tissue by bending like a pretzel out the living room window to reach the kitchen sink. Picture Tess, thinking this is fun.
River Dunes is a gorgeous place. We'll protected. If it wasn't closing in on mid-December, it would be a great place to spend some time.
Leaving River Dunes at 0744 on Friday, we caught up with s/v Lee Shore, an Island Packet 350 which had anchored out in Broad Creek on Thursday night. We travelled together across the Neuse River in deep, deep fog and into Adams Creek. Fighting wind (20-29 all day) and current, we rarely made more than 5 knots all the way to Morehead City. Thus, we lost two hours on our "easy" day. Lee Shore peeled off at Portside Marina in Morehead City, but we soldiered on toward Swansboro. Last time heading south we stopped at the same place, anchoring during & after sunset, & Tony almost lost a thumb in the anchor rode. This was better, no injuries and plenty of light, but I'm thinking it's not MY favorite spot!
With opposing wind and current, we dropped the anchor and 100 feet of chain. Immediately the chain was under the boat and the anchor well behind us. After some twenty minutes of maneuvering on it, we were able to back down and confirm our security for the night. Sunset at 4:30. In bed by 7:30. But it stayed warm and we held like a rock all night.
Off the hook today at 0722 for another "easy" day to Wrightsville Beach. The early morning fog blew away quickly. Easy to do with our regular 20-29 knots of wind. Again, we fought current at 5 knots or blew by at 8, depending on which side of each inlet we were on. Not much traffic. M/Y Small World out of Falmouth, Maine left her dock at Casper's in Swansboro after us, but passed quickly. We caught her at the Onslow Swing Bridge. But she made the 11:00 opening at the Surf City Bridge. We were ten minutes late so had a 50 minute wait for the Noon opening. No other traffic except local fisherman. And we seem to be the only sailboat out here since losing Lee Shore. Saner heads prevail on other boats perhaps, but they don't have secret stash of fresh Vietnamese coconut toffee.
Capt. Buck and Miss MacKenzie headed North on the ICW
Today's schedule includes four swing bridges and a fixed bridge. Cooling down to the 50's in overcast skies and intermittent rain. It's not snowing though. And, we'll explain the difference between Atlantic (brown) pelicans and Pacific (white) pelicans later. Dolphins are doing well, too!
If you look real close - at two o'clock - that's dolphins splashing.
At the Figure 8 Island swing bridge we came upon two more sailboats. Small Canadian vessels that let us pass the bridge ahead of them. We were on a tear to hit the Wrightsville Beach Bridge for its 3PM opening. Otherwise we would have to wait till four. We barely made it, blasting the last ten minutes at 3200 RPMs and hitting 9 knots. Luckily, the current was with us. The Canadians arrived 15 minutes later and faced a 45 minute wait for the 4PM opening…30 minutes of which were just cold rain. By then, we were not only at anchor, but had Paula & Tim's propane heater toasting us up after a cold and damp day. Thanks P&T!
Home, Sweet Heated Home!
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