What can I say... another great day and we needed the rest. We walked the beach again. Tomorrow we figure it will be just 30 miles to our next anchorage. Just curious? Has it started to snow? I just had to put that in...sorry.
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Comments [2]
Today we had a great half day. I say "half day" because the morning was spent doing some small repairs (like tightening down the snuffing box to stop the boat from sinking... just a slight leak from the rudder post), and re-wiring the running lights that we noticed last night weren't working etc...
However, the rest of the day was filled with a dinghy ride to a spot just under the bridge, where we walked 3 blocks to West marine (sorry Mike and Thera - we keep spending your inheritance). Dad (Steve) bought a casting net so that he can catch shrimp (don't laugh too hard). Next, we hit the local grocery store for some bread and veggies. No sooner had we done that when Steve and Harley started to gallop back to the dinghies. I say "gallop" because both Harley and Steve had a sinking feeling that we had left the dinghies for too long and they both (in sync) were worried that the dinghies would not be there when we got back. Meanwhile, Janice and I thought it pointless to gallop (what would a few extra minute make anyways). Turns out, all was okay. The dinghies were well beached. The tide had gone out. As we walked the dinghies back into the water, Steve in his bare feet, sliced his foot open near his big toe (but that's Steve and he just does that on a regular basis). So off went Harley and Steve to the boat for some foot repair, a beer and to put away the groceries; while Janice and I walked to our next destination ( a store called Red X) and then Motts Channel Seafood store where we were to meet up with the "boys".
Now this is just the beginning of the half day!
Janice, Harley, Steve and I decided to cook up a seafood dinner and for $10 each we purchased sushi grade tuna & 1-1/2 lbs shrimp. We gleefully headed back to the boat, dumped the seafood and raced off to the beach before the sun set.
The Wrightsville Beach is accessible to everyone even though the beach property is owned mostly by individual homes.
It was a wonderful evening. The sun was about to set and we just stopped to look at the huge beach that lie in front of us. There were people still swimming, and fisherman still casting their lines. As we walked further, Harley noticed that two of these fishermen were catching fish and throwing them back into the ocean. Harley politely asked if he could keep the next catch (if it was eatable) and they said sure! Before we knew it, Steve had a fish by the gills and we were bring home dinner. I have photos of Harley filleting the fish and of course Steve cooked us all up a wonderful dinner (Janice brought the salad) and talk about stuffed! What a meal we had. And cheap! Just what a sailor type likes .
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We have traveled many miles since leaving Elizabeth City.
We anchored in front of Raymond Creek on the Pasquotank River for a night, sailed across the Albemarle Sound to the Alligator River and anchored at Bear point (mile 102). Then we sailed down the Pungo River, pumped out in Belhaven, crossed the Pamlico Sound and anchored at Bear Creek (mile 160 - lots of mosquitoes there).The next morning we left in the fog (it cleared later on in the morning) sailed into Neuse River, past Oriental, Beaufort and Morehead City to Spooner Creek. After exploring that anchorage (which was no good) we had to put on a few more miles through Bogue Sound to White Oak River where we finally anchored in Swanboro (mile 229). We left there (again in the fog) and travelled down the ICW to anchor in Wrightville Beach (mile 283).
We are now travelling down the ICW as we had envisioned it to be.. .on our left, ocean front condo's and to the right, mainland. The scenery is very different than what we had seen just days before. The water is clearer and the sand sparkles in the sun. The wind is still cold but the sun seems stronger and adds a welcomed warmth.
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If I found this beach I'd never move on. Its so beautiful, white sands and all.
life sounds wonderful.
Love Anne xx
We are truly in the ICW. If we make the wrong turn, we'd be heading into the Ocean. We are still with the pack and it is oddly comforting to know and recognize the boats that we are competing with. . . competing for a spot on the ICW and at anchor... but it's all friendly. We are now not in Spooner creek as planned. We had to go another 18 miles to the next anchorage...Swansboro. We sailed 1/2 day and then motored the other half. It was brilliant this morning and looked like a wonderful calm sailing day..huh! It picked up somewhat and we were smoki'n. We headed down Neuse River today and passed a huge barge that was being pulled and pushed by two tugs... now that was interesting . . we had to put her in full gear to get around before the waterway narrowed.
Yesterday was a motor day and the day before was a sailing day... and that is how it goes around here.
Oh, and as I said to Janice today... aren't we glad we are retired (or took a year off work) only to get up at the crack of dawn and sail all day to anchor just as the sun sets and to eat in the dark!
I should write a book that tells the truth about sailing south... but then, no one wants to hear about the truth, do they.
I'll try to down load some more pictures next time. Life's a beach and we saw some today... yippee!
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More about Elizabeth City:
The home of Coast Guard Aviation, the base is located on the Support Center Elizabeth City campus, which is also home to the Aircraft Repair Center (AR&SC) and the Aviation Technical Training enter (ATTC). Air station personnel carry out missions as far away as the Azores, Greenland and the Caribbean. But more significantly ... Support Center Elizabeth City served as the setting (a double for Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak, AK) in the Kevin Costner film "The Guardian". And Rescue teams from the station were also featured in several dramatic scenes in "The Perfect Storm". How Kewl is that!
Okay, so I'm bored and I'm writing this as we are anchored waiting out a cold front. We didn't get as far as we'd like, but we are safe and sound. I just wish I could hear something from my children Thera and Mike and both of us hope that they are safe and sound too!
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Love the blog - i read it everyday!! Im doing great and really busy with the freelance in Dubai. Working at Time Out Magazine at the moment and loving publishing design. Good to hear you are traveling safe .... enjoy the ride, you have a while to go!
Today was all about Halloween. Finding the candy, watching the pumpkin carving, dressing up and going to town. Elizabeth City closed off almost the whole Main Street to put on a "safe" Halloween night for the kids. Wow! It was so exciting and fun... you could feel it in the air...
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Love Pam
Yesterday we left the Dismal Swamp and arrived at Elizabeth City. Greeted by a whole bunch of volunteers at the dock, we noticed the huge sign and it read; "Welcome to Elizabeth City, Harbour of Hospitality.. Free dock - 48 hours". Now that got our attention! No sooner had we thrown the lines we heard, "Please join us for wine and cheese tonight, right over there and I'm (name) and if there is anything you need or want to know just ask any of us".
At the Free wine and cheese, we were greeted by the mayor of the town who told of the many Free things to see and do in town and he promoted his city with enthusiasm and humour. Some of the people in the crowd, whom had been here before, ranted and raved about Elizabeth City. They spoke of their experiences of getting help to find propane or engine parts and the friendliness of the citizens that they had met. The mayor pointed out some of the history and architecture and pointed us in the direction of the Art Gallery and the Museum (also Free) and explained how to get the free shuttle to the grocery store. Now here's a town that knows how to do it up right! And we all know that boaters like the word FREE.
Best thing that happened... I finally caught up with "Ruth". Al & Jen joined us at the wine and cheese and we have plans to get together tomorrow.
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History: Elizabeth's Dock
Today as we locked through Deep Creek Lock, we had a cling-on. "Lion's Paw" was the last boat to tie up to the starboard side; well, almost the last. The very last boat was a rowing canoe owned and operated by Bill. He held on to our dinghy for the lock down. It turns out that Steve (who was managing the aft rope) was talking to "The Bill Spaur" whom with the help of a few buddies, built and maintains Elizabeth's Dock -a 200ft wooden dock- in honour of his wife Elizabeth. In his boat - a 2 X 8. You just never know what special moments you will have while traveling.
Today we rafted up with 11 boats. Lion's Paw was one of three boats along the 150 ft town dock and all the rest of the boats that were behind slid along side each of the three and one by one we were all tied off for the night. We had a great meet and greet at 5 pm tonight. I have yet to sort through the boat cards.
Boaters Note: We had no problem (51/2 ft) and we went through with a Cal 3-46, Morgan 416 OI, three Hunters (various sizes) and a Beneteau 46.
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Photo of War Ship 55
We were fortunate to have Warship 55 leave the dock and pass us to our Starboard side without an incident. We weren't sure if we should contact them or if we could pass so closely. . . they didn't blow us out of the water, so all is good.
Traveling from Hampton, through Norfolk was exciting. For two centuries, Norfolk has been a Navy town, and to this day it's flanked on north and south by ships in grey livery. This is the world's largest navel base.
We are anchored in a man made basin on the southern side off Deep Creek. Blue Blazes and Lion's Paw are the only boats anchored here tonight, but we are joined by many fishing boats trawling for fish. Some of these fishing boats are expensive and after 6 hours of motoring, we only one fish on the hook. I don't get it. They must hate being home and the fish they catch, we figure that fish should cost around $1000.
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Yesterday after we had anchored, we were pleasantly surprised by the sight of Janice and Harley who were just coming home from their excursion to town. "Blue Blazes" had not left Hampton because Harley had to have another appointment with the dentist. I don't know why, but is seems that Harley's teeth are constantly falling apart...just joking Harley.
Anyway, I decided to bake a cake and put it aside for tomorrow. I noticed that we were in the same anchorage again with "Shaka" and "Virage" (two boats we had anchored with in Deltaville). They had left the day before us and it was nice to see that they had arrived safe and were nicely tucked away. The cake.. well, both boats have two children each and I thought it would be fun to ask the children to decorated the cake while the adults enjoyed a pre-dinner drink.. So today after walking into town, we did the laundry and grocery shopping. We believe we have all the laundry...ha.
Steve and I still can't believe that it takes a whole day to do just that!
Anyway, 4:30 pm had arrived and we were in full swing with icing up to the ying-yang and drinks all 'round. We had a wonderful evening.
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