Oct 2013 - We're doing it again!
Well, we decided several months ago that we would go south again. Medical problems prevented a trip south on the boat last year. We did go south by car and rented a condo for a while. While we enjoyed our visit, it just wasn't as enjoyable (?) as going by boat.
We gearing up and have a week before the projected departure date. Many things still need our attention. If you are following this blog, please bear with us as we get back into the cruising mode.
May 14, 2010 - Day 29
We’re up early with coffee and a breakfast bar to start the day. We get underway at 0620 hoping to make all the bridges before the late afternoon opening restrictions. Unfortunately, all the fast powerboats had the same idea. A few got going before us, but we had to put up with all the others passing/waking us the rest of the day.
The overcast skies gave way to partly sunny and then sunny as we got into Virginia waters. We arrived at the North Landing Bridge a few minutes early and had to jockey about. Once we cleared the bridge, the race was on to make the rest of the scheduled openings at Centerville, Great Bridge, the lock, Steel Bridge and Gilmerton.
At the lock we were the last boat in and were forced to take a port side tie up. There were no line handlers to help and we struggled to get lines on the cleats. Being the last boat out of the lock, we kept the RPMs up as we raced to make the Steel Bridge opening.
After clearing Steel Bridge we ran into a show stopper at the #7 railroad bridge adjacent to the Gilmerton. The normally open RR bridge was down and they were doing maintenance. Ten boats jockeyed about for over thirty minutes before maintenance crews announced they would open. We cleared the RR and Gilmerton and continued on.
The skyline had changed only a little. The one glaring difference was the absence of the old Jordan Bridge. It wasn’t totally gone, but the span, counterweights, and half of one tower were gone. In fact, welder/burners were cutting away on one tower as we passed by.
When we reached our dock, the transmission refused to shift out of reverse and we crashed the dock stern first. We were going slow and suffered no damage except to my pride. We traveled 2000+ miles, made dozens of successful dockings or mooring approaches and then we hit the dock arriving at home. Audience…you betcha!!! The whole world will know and remember not our cruising accomplishments, just our arrival home! Sheez!
Regardless, We’re HOME!
Location: PYC Dock/Home - Portsmouth, VA - MM 0
Distance Traveled: 50 mi
Total Boat mileage on return trip: 1058 statute miles
The overcast skies gave way to partly sunny and then sunny as we got into Virginia waters. We arrived at the North Landing Bridge a few minutes early and had to jockey about. Once we cleared the bridge, the race was on to make the rest of the scheduled openings at Centerville, Great Bridge, the lock, Steel Bridge and Gilmerton.
At the lock we were the last boat in and were forced to take a port side tie up. There were no line handlers to help and we struggled to get lines on the cleats. Being the last boat out of the lock, we kept the RPMs up as we raced to make the Steel Bridge opening.
After clearing Steel Bridge we ran into a show stopper at the #7 railroad bridge adjacent to the Gilmerton. The normally open RR bridge was down and they were doing maintenance. Ten boats jockeyed about for over thirty minutes before maintenance crews announced they would open. We cleared the RR and Gilmerton and continued on.
The skyline had changed only a little. The one glaring difference was the absence of the old Jordan Bridge. It wasn’t totally gone, but the span, counterweights, and half of one tower were gone. In fact, welder/burners were cutting away on one tower as we passed by.
When we reached our dock, the transmission refused to shift out of reverse and we crashed the dock stern first. We were going slow and suffered no damage except to my pride. We traveled 2000+ miles, made dozens of successful dockings or mooring approaches and then we hit the dock arriving at home. Audience…you betcha!!! The whole world will know and remember not our cruising accomplishments, just our arrival home! Sheez!
Regardless, We’re HOME!
Location: PYC Dock/Home - Portsmouth, VA - MM 0
Distance Traveled: 50 mi
Total Boat mileage on return trip: 1058 statute miles
May 13, 2010 - Day 28
The predicted seas for the Albemarle was 1-2 feet with winds of 10-15 from the NE. Not a great forecast, but we decided to attempt a crossing of the infamous Albemarle Sound. Sometimes I think I’d like to take those NOAA weather guessers out to experience their predictions. We successfully negotiated the nasty shoals just north of the Alligator River Bridge and then began experiencing winds of 20 with higher gusts. Waves ran 3-4’ (seemed like mostly 4’) with a short period between making it a bone jarring, very rough and slow crossing. Donna stayed in the cockpit as conditions below were intolerable. Buddy took refuge in his cubby hole under the dinette next to the hull. Being at the center of the boat, he got lots of rocking action but wasn’t tossed about so much. Surprisingly, he did not get seasick today.
Conditions did not get much better until we reached the upper portions of the North River. The sky remained overcast and the temperature cool all day. It took a sweatshirt and my heavier foul weather gear to stay comfortable against the wind and spray. We heard several boats calling Sea Tow and Towboat/US for assistance during the day. Rough conditions seem to always increase the occurances of equipment failures.
When we reached the anchorage area at Buck Island, we decided to continue on to Midway Marina at Coinjock, NC. Doing so would put us about an hour and a half of travel time closer for tomorrows run home. Considering the number of restricted bridges and the lock to be timed, we needed that advantage.
We arrived at Midway Marina about 1600 and got a tie -up on the face dock. After straightening up the interior of the boat, we proceeded to the showers for a cleanup before dinner.
We went next door to Crabbie’s Restaurant for dinner. The service left something to be desired, but our NC BBQ dinners were delicious and plentiful. Back at the boat, we watched a little TV before we both fell asleep. What a day!
Location: Midway Marina, Coinjock, NC - MM 50
Distance Traveled: 34 mi
Conditions did not get much better until we reached the upper portions of the North River. The sky remained overcast and the temperature cool all day. It took a sweatshirt and my heavier foul weather gear to stay comfortable against the wind and spray. We heard several boats calling Sea Tow and Towboat/US for assistance during the day. Rough conditions seem to always increase the occurances of equipment failures.
When we reached the anchorage area at Buck Island, we decided to continue on to Midway Marina at Coinjock, NC. Doing so would put us about an hour and a half of travel time closer for tomorrows run home. Considering the number of restricted bridges and the lock to be timed, we needed that advantage.
We arrived at Midway Marina about 1600 and got a tie -up on the face dock. After straightening up the interior of the boat, we proceeded to the showers for a cleanup before dinner.
We went next door to Crabbie’s Restaurant for dinner. The service left something to be desired, but our NC BBQ dinners were delicious and plentiful. Back at the boat, we watched a little TV before we both fell asleep. What a day!
Location: Midway Marina, Coinjock, NC - MM 50
Distance Traveled: 34 mi
May 12, 2010 - Day 27
We awoke early (thanks to Buddy) to a beautiful morning. The temperature was in the mid 60s and the humidity had not started to climb. We took the time to enjoy a quick breakfast and then started the departure drill. The anchor was up at 0645 and we were on our way.
It was a short run from the anchorage to the southern entrance to the Alligator River/Pungo River Canal. The canal is usually quite boring, but this morning we encountered a number of deer down at the waters edge on several occasions.
As we continued the 20+ mile run through the canal, the temperature and winds began to increase. When we reached the Alligator river around 1100, the wind was screaming 20+ out of the SW. This meant a lumpy ride up the river with the wind driven waves smacking the port quarter. It sure would be nice to get a decent day of sailing or motoring for that matter.
The weather report calls for storms and gusting (no kidding!!) winds as we approached the Alligator River Bridge. That triggered our decision to pull into the Alligator River Marina for the night. We reached the marina and are docked at 1515.
We find several boats from the anchorage the night before. Everyone had the same idea…avoid the afternoon storms and high winds. “Shingebiss” a trawler with friends we met at River Dunes pulled in about an hour later and we had a nice reunion chat.
A little wind down time, a nice dinner, a hot shower and we settle in for the evening hoping the winds are more favorable for our dash across the Albemarle Sound tomorrow.
Location: Alligator River Marina, NC - MM 84
Distance Traveled: 43 mi
As we continued the 20+ mile run through the canal, the temperature and winds began to increase. When we reached the Alligator river around 1100, the wind was screaming 20+ out of the SW. This meant a lumpy ride up the river with the wind driven waves smacking the port quarter. It sure would be nice to get a decent day of sailing or motoring for that matter.
The weather report calls for storms and gusting (no kidding!!) winds as we approached the Alligator River Bridge. That triggered our decision to pull into the Alligator River Marina for the night. We reached the marina and are docked at 1515.
We find several boats from the anchorage the night before. Everyone had the same idea…avoid the afternoon storms and high winds. “Shingebiss” a trawler with friends we met at River Dunes pulled in about an hour later and we had a nice reunion chat.
A little wind down time, a nice dinner, a hot shower and we settle in for the evening hoping the winds are more favorable for our dash across the Albemarle Sound tomorrow.
Location: Alligator River Marina, NC - MM 84
Distance Traveled: 43 mi
May 11, 2010 - Day 26
We decide to try leaving anyway and get underway about 0745. The wind is blowing about 15 with gusts to 20 and we encounter 2-3’ waves as we reach the ICW. It’s better than yesterday, but not by much.
We hang tough and make the turn at Maw Point and enter the Bay River. We are now running with the wind and following seas. Rolling out the jib makes things are a little easier, but lots of howling below means Buddy has gotten seasick. Yuck!
When we reached the Hobucken Canal, things settled down for a while but the calm was short lived when we reached the Pamlico River. It was a 5+ mile run across the river and into the Pungo River. The turn up the Pungo provided little relief until we neared the town of Belhaven. The eastward turn at Belhaven provided the best sailing we had experienced all day.
When we reached the western end of the Alligator River/Pungo River Canal, we decided to anchor in a nearby anchorage for the evening. We found 4 other boats already in the anchorage but were able to squeeze in and dropped the hook at 1545.
Location: Pungo River, East of Belhaven, NC - MM 127
Distance Traveled: 47 mi
May 10, 2010 - Day 25
Departed the marina at 0745 and headed toward the ICW. Winds are really up. By the time we reach the ICW magenta line, the wind is blowing 20+ and gusting above 25. Waves are 3'+ and on the nose. We are only making 3.5 mph against the wind so I decide to return to Broad Creek and wait for this mess to blow itself out.
Location: Anchored again in Broad Creek, North of Oriental, NC - MM 174
Distance traveled: 7mi (but it doesn’t count)
Location: Anchored again in Broad Creek, North of Oriental, NC - MM 174
Distance traveled: 7mi (but it doesn’t count)
May 8 & 9, 2010 - Day 23 & 24
We awoke to increasing winds out of the SW and predictions of gusts to 25. We decided to move across the river to River Dunes Marina with its deeper water and protection.
We arrived there about 1030 and found several other cruisers hunkering down to wait for calmer conditions on the Neuse River. River Dunes is a “planned resort community” with a marina. The marina has all upscale amenities but is reasonably priced. It’s only negative is the approximately four mile run off the ICW route.
Location: River Dunes Marina, North of Oriental, NC - MM 17
We arrived there about 1030 and found several other cruisers hunkering down to wait for calmer conditions on the Neuse River. River Dunes is a “planned resort community” with a marina. The marina has all upscale amenities but is reasonably priced. It’s only negative is the approximately four mile run off the ICW route.
Location: River Dunes Marina, North of Oriental, NC - MM 17
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)