Day 13 - Friday, Nov 20th, 2009

We accidently overslept this morning. I forgot to set the alarm and it was going on 0700 before I woke up. We did a regular breakfast and coffee routine and then started getting ready to depart. It was almost 0830 before we pulled away from the pier.

It was a little cool first thing but it warmed up nicely. We caught the tide right for easy passage of two troublesome inlets, Lockwoods Folly and Shallote Inlets. We motor sailed with the jib and were making good time until we got to Little River Inlet where we met it’s out going current. From there to Barefoot Landing we fought a horrific current. At one point we were reduced to 3.6 mph. Because of the current, we made it to Barefoot Landing an hour and a half later than our original projected arrival. Along the way we saw two shipwrecks from some earlier storm.

We arrived at 1630 and got the next to the last dock space for today. We elected to forego the Outlet Traps and just spend the evening on the boat. After dinner, Donna is watching some TV and I am writing this blog/log entry.

Tomorrow’s destination is Jericho Creek which is off the Waccamaw River south of Myrtle Beach.

Today’s Tech Stuff:
Location: Barefoot Landing, Myrtle Beach, NC MM354
Started: 0830 Stopped: 1630
Distance Traveled: 43 mi
Total Distance Traveled to Date: 358 Statute Miles

Day 12 - Thursday, Nov 19th, 2009

Started coffee around 0600. The destination for today is Southport. We waited until 0815 to time the tide in the Cape Fear River. High tide at Southport was about 0930 so we are hoping to arrive at slack water. That means running the current, but it will be decreasing as we approach Southport. The plan is to stop at the Southport Marina, do the laundry and shower thing and head to Wally World (Wal-Mart) to restock some groceries.

Out in Snows Cut, the current helped carry us to the river. The run across to the main channel was not as scary as the last time we transited the river. We did encounter a dredge and had to detour around that operation. When we reached the main channel, we were able to motor sail with the jib. We also had to dodge a large tanker headed up river to Wilmington. We arrived at the Southport Marina around 1130, fueled up, did a pumpout and then moved to a slip for the day.


By the time we cleaned the boat a little, we decided to take a cab to Wally World. BTW, cabs are not quick in this territory. Once back at the boat we stowed the groceries and made dinner. Then it was off to the showers and laundry to finish out the day. And you thought this was a glamorous way of life!

Tomorrow's destination: Myrtle Beach, SC


Today’s Tech Stuff:
Location: Southport Marina, Southport, NC MM310
Started: 0815 Stopped: 1130
Distance Traveled: 15 mi
Total Distance Traveled to Date: 315 Statute Miles

Day 11 - Wednesday, Nov 18th, 2009

Up at 0550 to answer the Buddy alarm clock; he wants to be fed earlier and earlier. The switch back to standard time doesn’t work with him. A small rain squall came through around 0300. The noise woke me and I immediately started checking to make sure the anchor wasn’t dragging. Gusts peaked at 24 kn and the whole thing was over in about an hour. As things calmed down, I laid down on the settee and slept until Buddy started his wake up routine.


Destination today is Carolina Beach anchorage at MM295. That means a fifty mile day with several inlets to pass. These inlets are a pain as the tidal currents there help on one side and slow you on the other. In addition, many are shoaling which means timing passage at mid to high tide. We tried to time our arrival at three bridges today, but we arrive early at all due to wind and current. The Surf City Bridge passage went without incident, but the Figure Eight Island Bridge was another story. Wind and current had us moving at 4+mph while idling in neutral so there was lots of the old wait for the bridge dancing going on. At the Wrightsville Beach Bridge condition were even worse and one sailboat went aground while doing the dance.


After those bridges, the next obstacle was the shoaling at the Carolina Beach Inlet. We arrived at near low tide. We hugged the “greens” and still found 5-6’ of water. It was even worse in mid channel and red side. I went outside the greens to find 7-10 of water and was able to pass the inlet and Towboat US trying to free a grounded sailboat in mid channel.


It was a short distance from there to the anchorage. We anchored in 17’ of water and settled in quickly as a rain shower put an end to the day.


Today’s Tech Stuff:
Location: Carolina Beach Anchorage, MM295
Started: 0715 Stopped: 1705
Distance Traveled: 51.8 mi

Day 10 - Tuesday, Nov 17th, 2009

Started coffee around 0540. The destination for today is Mile Hammock Bay or further if possible. The tide was running strong so we waited for Ajaya (Phil & Nicki) to pull out first. Once they were out, it was a lot safer for us to pull away from the pier. Back out in the Intracoastal, the tide helped push us along for a while. The fog settled in a little more and visibility lessened. The wind picked up and we motor sailed, but the wind with the high humidity made it feel much cooler than it was.



Donna went below and stayed a while to get warm and use the air card Internet connection. We lost the tide’s help and lost speed as we continued on to Swansboro.


We were approaching the Onslow area when a US Navy patrol vessel stopped all traffic and instructed us to anchor. The Marines were conducting live-fire weapons maneuvers and the waterway was closed. After almost an hour we were told to proceed on and seven boats raced to catch the 1300 opening of the Onslow swing bridge.


We arrived at Mile Hammock Bay about 1415 and were anchored by 1430. We might have made it further today, but this place fills up fast as there isn’t another anchorage for 15+ miles. There are eight boats riding at anchor already and its just 1615.

Today’s Tech Stuff:
Location: Mile Hammock Bay, NC. MM244, N34°33.051’ W77° 19.542’
Started: 0645 Stopped: 1430
Distance Traveled: 41.4 mi, Max Spd 9.3 mph, Avg Spd: 5.7 mph
Total Distance Traveled to Date: 244 Statute Miles

Day 9 - Monday, Nov 16th, 2009

I’m up at 0600 and got the coffee going. After that, the day started out wrong. I climbed in to the cockpit and found the boat wasn’t lying to the wind, in-fact we were 180° out from the 4 other boats in the creek. I took a quick look for the anchor trip line buoy and it was nowhere to be found. Upon further investigation I realized the buoy was under the boat and hung between the prop an the rudder. It, would not budge for anything. Into the dinghy I went and was able to pull enough of the line to the surface and cut the line. A few more minutes of boat hook fishing and the buoy was retrieved. We got underway at 0815, well behind the other boats in our group.

 We had a nice motor sail down to Adams Creek but had to wait on a CG buoy tender to enter the creek first. Moving through the Adams Cr Canal, we picked up the outgoing tide and were making 8.8 mph. We arrived in Morehead City and passed two of the Dowry Creek gang at Portside Marina (Al & Jennifer and George, Kathy & Ben). We proceeded on to the Sanitary Restaurant and took one of the cheap alongside slips. We were docked around 1330. Shortly afterward, Phil & Nicki Hoskins (the British couple) came in and docked at the restaurant too. We took a walk around the waterfront and then had dinner with Phil & Nicki at the restaurant. Afterward we walked down to Portside Marina and visited with the others.

Location: Morehead City, NC. Dockside at the Sanitary Restaurant. MM205
Started: 0815 Stopped: 1330
Distance Traveled: 30 mi, Max Spd 8.8 mph, Avg Spd: 6.1 mph
Total Distance Traveled to Date: 205 Statute Miles
Everyone was tired so we headed back to the boats. Donna and I were asleep before 2200.

Day 8 - Sunday, Nov 15th, 2009

It’s another miserable cloudy wet morning with some fog, but we are determined to get this boat underway again. We were supposed to be 3rd in line to do a pump-out this morning, but just as we started leaving the slip some transient boat from out of nowhere pulled up to the dock leaving us with no place to go. It was either wait around for him to refuel or whatever he was going to do or just proceed on. Since is was already 8AM we elected to proceed on.

Out in the Pungo River it was even cooler and more damp. We motored on and the sun finally started to peek through around 11AM. As the day progressed the temperature rose, the sun shone brightly and a little wind helped us along. We finally reached the Neuse river and made our way down to MM175 where we pulled into Broad Creek and then into Burton Creek. This place has been a favorite anchorage for us since we rode out the remnants of Hurricane Noel back in 2007.

We dropped the hook about 3PM, kicked back and enjoyed a couple of brews. Donna was fixing supper when a hoard of mosquitoes tried to invade the boat. A few got in before we got the boat secured, but we managed to kill them later.
After dinner, I poked on the computer to get this log done and then we watched a little TV.

Location: Just North of Oriental, NC in Burton Creek.
N35 05.660 W76 36.454
Started: 0800 Stopped: 1507
Distance Traveled: 45 mi, Max Spd 7.9 mph, Avg Spd: 6.4 mph
Total Distance Traveled to Date: 180.5 Statute Miles

Days 5,6,7

Just a few notes so our followers and friends know everything is OK. Travel will resume tomorrow.

Days 5 & 6 were pretty nasty. Lots of wind and rain. The rain finally tapered down to a heavy bone chilling mist late yesterday and today.  This afternoon is cool and the wind has clocked around to the WNW to NW and dropped in speed to about 12 knots and gusting 16+.

All the transient boaters and Mary, the Marina owner, piled in to several vehicles and went into Belhaven for dinner last night. We dined at George's Sport & Oyster Bar, nothing fancy, but obviously a locals' favorite. Seafood was either grilled or steamed, no deep fry stuff here.  Hatteras style clam chowder was steamy good, but a little heavy on the potato.  The grilled Crab Cake sandwich was tasty, but not as spicy as I like it.  I guess I should have ordered it with the Jamaican sauce. We all returned to the boaters' lounge for after dinner libations and conversation.

Day 7 - We're all sitting it out today hoping the Neuse R. will settle down as the winds decrease.  The women folk have a group pot luck dinner planned for the evening meal.