Underway at 0800. Today will be a short run to Coinjock, about 35 miles. It’s still smokey, but not as bad as yesterday. We head out across the Albemarle Sound with a light wind on the beam and the chop building. We roll out the jib and it helps only a little. By the time we enter the North River, the chop is making us uncomfortable until we reach Buck Island. Here, the wind shifts and we motor the remaining distance to Coinjock. The smoke is getting bad again and the temperature is soaring by the time we reach the marina. We are tied along side at 1330.
We’ve had it with the smoke and heat and decide to rent a room at the Midway Marina & Motel. The air conditioning and showers are fantastic. We take naps, read and watch TV until about 1900 when we go to Crabbie’s Restaurant. Donna has snow crab and I have NC BBQ. Both meals were great. After dinner it was more A/C and TV. Lots of strong thunderstorms and rain rolled through during the night.
Location: Midway Marina, Coinjock, NC at MM 50. Boat distance traveled, 36.5 miles. Time in actual transit, 5.5 hours. Top speed 7.7 mph, average speed 6.3 mph
Day 57, Monday, June 9, 2008
The winds were predicted to keep the smoke in the area so we decided to stop at the Alligator River Marina rather than anchor. We arrived at the marina about 1500. After the sun went down we showered, watched a little TV in the boaters lounge and enjoyed the A/C.
Location: Alligator River Marina at MM 85. Boat distance traveled, 49.5 miles. Time in actual transit, 8.5 hours. Top speed 6.6 mph, average speed 5.7 mph
Day 56, Sunday, June 8, 2008
Underway at 0630. Destination today is somewhere near Belhaven. This morning there is some smoke from the nearby swamp fire and visibility is down a little. We track our way out of Broad Creek back to the ICW route in the Neuse river. We have some wind and use the jib as much as we can. It’s a hot one and the Hobucken Cut is like a furnace. The closer we get to Belhaven, the more smoke and ash we encounter. We have made good time and decide to stop at the highly recommended Dowry Creek Marina. We arrive at 1330, take on fuel, do a pump-out and proceed to the slip.
The marina has a pool and a great air conditioned boaters lounge which we enjoy. The break from the heat and smoke hit the spot. Later that evening we showered, watched TV in the lounge and finally went back to the boat about 2200.
Location: North of Belhaven, NC at MM 135. Boat distance traveled, 45.3 miles. Time in actual transit, 7 hours. Top speed 9.1 mph, average speed 6.2 mph.
The marina has a pool and a great air conditioned boaters lounge which we enjoy. The break from the heat and smoke hit the spot. Later that evening we showered, watched TV in the lounge and finally went back to the boat about 2200.
Location: North of Belhaven, NC at MM 135. Boat distance traveled, 45.3 miles. Time in actual transit, 7 hours. Top speed 9.1 mph, average speed 6.2 mph.
Day 55, Saturday, June 7, 2008
Got a late start but we are finally underway at 0830. Destination today is somewhere near Oriental. Tide and wind are not much help today. It's another hot day but at least things are uneventful. The free slips are already taken at Oriental and the marinas are full up, typical for a weekend. We decide to head to our favorite hurricane anchorage in Broad Creek a little north of Oriental. We turn off the ICW at MM 174 and head up Broad Creek. We pass marker #4 and continue further up the creek to see if we can find another anchorage, but decide to return to Burton Creek just north of #4. We anchor in 7’ of water for the night. We are joined by two other sail boats near sundown. Having visited “Paradise Cove” last November, we decided to remain on the boat and skip the Saturday night karaoke and pot-luck event. The bugs came at dusk and drove us below where we sweltered all night.
Location: Worton Creek near MM 174. Boat distance traveled, 47 miles. Time in actual transit, 6.5 hours. Top speed 7.9 mph, average speed 5.9 mph
Location: Worton Creek near MM 174. Boat distance traveled, 47 miles. Time in actual transit, 6.5 hours. Top speed 7.9 mph, average speed 5.9 mph
Day 54, Friday, June 6, 2008
Underway at 0700. We bumped bottom coming out the channel from the marina, but managed to back off and get back to the ICW safely. We are starting to encounter some smoke and haze from the swamp fire north of us. Destination today was the “freebie slips” at the new town docks in Morehead City,. I ran us hard aground in the small channel attempting to locate the town dock and had to call TowBoat/US to bail me out. We came out this channel when we were going south, but the “negative” low tide got us. I should have known better. After getting out of that mess, we were going to go over to Beaufort stay a couple of days and see the town. This was also not to be as we had arrived at the biggest sport fish tournament weekend of the season. There was no anchorage room or slips were available in Morehead City or Beaufort. The Dockside Condominium Marina dockmaster offered us the use of a T-head for the night if we promised to be gone early in the morning as he had big powerboat coming in at that time. Grateful for anything at this time of the day, we took it.
We cleaned up the boat, showered and went ashore for dinner. The dockmaster recommended “Floyd’s 1918” restaurant as a better choice to the usual “Sanitary” and “Capt Bill’s”. It was only about 3 blocks away so we walked there. The dockmaster was right. It was a very pleasant experience. The restaurant was located in a old home, nicely kept and decorated. The entrée offerings were plentiful and varied. I had the crab cakes and Donna had the shrimp and grits. Both meals were very good. We even tried the Carolina Blonde Pale Ales and found them to be flavorful and mild.
After dinner we walked back to the boardwalk and proceeded south to see if we could find the city dock area. We located the dock and noted we were only about 300 yards south of them when I ran us aground. Well, at least we know where they are and not to use the little north channel at other than high tide.
We arrived back at the boat after 2130 so we called it a day since we had to leave early the next morning.
Location: Morehead City, NC at MM 205. Boat distance traveled, 57 miles. Time in actual transit, 10 hours. Top speed 8.0 mph, average speed 5.6 mph
We cleaned up the boat, showered and went ashore for dinner. The dockmaster recommended “Floyd’s 1918” restaurant as a better choice to the usual “Sanitary” and “Capt Bill’s”. It was only about 3 blocks away so we walked there. The dockmaster was right. It was a very pleasant experience. The restaurant was located in a old home, nicely kept and decorated. The entrée offerings were plentiful and varied. I had the crab cakes and Donna had the shrimp and grits. Both meals were very good. We even tried the Carolina Blonde Pale Ales and found them to be flavorful and mild.
After dinner we walked back to the boardwalk and proceeded south to see if we could find the city dock area. We located the dock and noted we were only about 300 yards south of them when I ran us aground. Well, at least we know where they are and not to use the little north channel at other than high tide.
We arrived back at the boat after 2130 so we called it a day since we had to leave early the next morning.
Location: Morehead City, NC at MM 205. Boat distance traveled, 57 miles. Time in actual transit, 10 hours. Top speed 8.0 mph, average speed 5.6 mph
Day 53, Thursday, June 5, 2008
We got underway around 0815. We did a later start today so we can ride the tide/current up the Cape Fear River. It also gave us a chance to sleep in a little and have a leisurely breakfast, a real treat. The “ride” up was pretty nice except for a skinny water patch as we crossed the river over to Snow’s Cut. Back in the ICW we negotiated the daily trouble spot inlets, Carolina Beach, Masonboro and Mason.
As we neared Surf City Bridge it was apparent that we would not reach a suitable anchorage before dark so we called the Beach House Marina at Surf City and reserved a slip. The channel off the ICW to the marina was short and a little shallow, especially with another negative tide. We made it in and saw 6’ depth on the way in. Water at the dock was about 7’.
We walked over to the beach area for a while and then to the local IGA grocery about a block away. We then fixed dinner, took showers and retired.
Location: Beach House Marina, Surf City, NC at MM 260. Boat distance traveled, 48.4 miles. Time in actual transit, 8.0 hours. Top speed 12.2 mph, average speed 5.8 mph
As we neared Surf City Bridge it was apparent that we would not reach a suitable anchorage before dark so we called the Beach House Marina at Surf City and reserved a slip. The channel off the ICW to the marina was short and a little shallow, especially with another negative tide. We made it in and saw 6’ depth on the way in. Water at the dock was about 7’.
We walked over to the beach area for a while and then to the local IGA grocery about a block away. We then fixed dinner, took showers and retired.
Location: Beach House Marina, Surf City, NC at MM 260. Boat distance traveled, 48.4 miles. Time in actual transit, 8.0 hours. Top speed 12.2 mph, average speed 5.8 mph
Day 52, Wednesday, June 4, 2008
We arrived at the “Pipeline” anchorage area near low tide. There is an underwater damn there and I did not like the looks of the entrance depth. The low tide was going to be a “negative” tide so I decided not to anchor and moved on toward Southport. We needed to time our transit up the Cape Fear River and we also needed to refuel so stopping at the Southport Marina was a better option. Even here the low tide caused problems. We were touching bottom at the fuel dock and when we tried to go to our assigned slip we ran aground in the fairway about 40 yards from the slip. I was able to back off safely. We were then told to go to the T-head north of the fuel dock and we were able to dock there.
After docking we walked about 1.5 miles to a convenience store and bought the essentials, beer, bread and milk. After the walk back we fixed dinner, watched TV, read books and retired for the evening.
Location: Southport Marina, Southport, NC at MM 309. Boat distance traveled, 44.7 miles. Time in actual transit, approximately 8.5 hours.
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