Debi
11/22/2009

Up around 6:30 am (this is so NOT my style) and back down the ICW. We went through a very narrow channel called Snow's Cut down to the Cape Fear River (lots of eddies and currents). I didn't like the Cape Fear River at all. It was just rather ugly with towers standing in the water and a bit wishy washy (Or, put another way, there were range towers, islands, eddies, currents and wind). We passed the town of Southport, Lockwood's Folly, the Shallotte Inlet, through the Sunset Beach Pontoon Bridge, then the Little River and tied up at Barefoot Landing Marina. Guess what? It's the home of an outlet mall!! Unbelievable, an outlet mall on the water. We got in around 4:00 pm, invited our friends we've been following, Carole and Al over for drinks/appetizers and then we went with them to a fabulous dinner at a restaurant called Greg Norman's Australian Grille. We were in bed very late (9:30)!

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Debi
11/20/2009

We enjoyed a nice evening with Al and Carole aboard their boat, Voyager. Fortunately we didn't have any loud commotion last night from the Marine's. We awoke by 6:30 and pulled up anchor at 7 am and started our day. Heading out of Mile Hammock Bay we continued on in the ICW and saw dolphins. We were second in a line of about 7 sailboats. We passed by the New River Inlet, through Stump Sound, past New and Little Topsail Inlets, then Rich Inlet. Then we were in the Masonboro Sound and passed Wrightsville Beach, and then Masonboro Inlet. We continued on through Myrtle Grove Sound to Carolina Beach Channel where we are anchoring for the night. It's a beautiful anchorage with a half dozen boats anchored out. As boating would have it, we did not make it to our planned destination, the Cape Fear River. We had to deal with 4 bridges along the way which slowed us quite down a bit. Some open on the hour, and some on the half hour. They sure don't time them like they do the traffic lights.  When you approach a bridge and it isn't opening time, all of the boats do the "bridge dance" as Al calls it, while waiting for the opening. We had about 5 mph currents, which got us moving at about 9.5 knots. It's hard to believe we are on day 12 and we have only gone (from Norfolk) 295 miles. If our goal is Jupiter Beach, that's mile 1,000; which means we only have 29 days to go. YIKES!! I think we've got to get out of "The Ditch" and into the big ole' ocean!!
Along the way today, we saw some huge, beautiful homes. I've posted some in the photo gallery. The funniest thing was a home with a giant Giraffe in its yard. You can also check that out in the gallery.
Much to Carl's dismay he was stuck below for about 1 ½ today taking apart the macerator pump on the aft head. It wouldn't have been so bad, but he had to take apart the forward head pump yesterday. YUKKY job! I was happy to run the boat. 
We're hearing different weather reports from other boaters. Voyager is traveling in front of us (Al and Carole) and there is another boat named, Plan B, following behind us. They were planning to go out in the ocean in the next day or two and sail to Charleston (as were we), but they are saying the weather might not cooperate. Aw, shucks. I guess we'll wait and see. I'm hoping we end up in Charleston for Thanksgiving. I think we could find a good meal there. Maybe turkey and grits. ;)
BBQ chicken, stuffing and corn tonight for dinner, then bed, once again very early. We love and miss everyone!

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11/19/2009

We are still in Beaufort where we spent the day doing laundry, shopping, fueling up, getting rid of trash, etc. It's really cloudly and it is drizzling rain. It is basically a relaxing day. We plan to take off in the morning and head to as far as we can go.

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11/19/2009

We left Beaufort Docks around 7 am in a slight drizzle. We motored out of Beaufort down the Morehead City Channel past Atlantic Beach, through the Bogue Sound (which was very beautiful) to Craig Point, where we anchored at Mile Hammock Bay. This is right off of the Marine Corps Base, Camp Le Jeune. Everyone says this is the place to anchor, but at any time day or night, the Marine's can tell you to pull your anchor and get out, so that they can do their military maneuvers. We are not allowed on to go ashore. It has turned into a gorgeous, sunny day, about 70 degrees. We are back in shorts again! Carl almost jumped over for a swim. We caught up with another couple we met in Elizabeth City, Al and Carole aboard Voyager and are anchored next to them. We are going over to their boat to have cocktails at 4 pm. Life isn't too bad.  Tomorrow we will head to Cape Fear River where Carl wants to sail outside down to Charleston, depending on the weather or my nerves.

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Debi
11/18/2009

Tuesday morning we went into the town of Oriental. It was a cute little town. While there, we ran into a new friend named Graham, who was with us in Elizabeth City. We had breakfast at The Bean and walked into a few of the shops. Graham mentioned to Carl that the holding where we were anchored wasn't all that great and about a minute later someone asked who owned "River Rat" because their anchor was dragging. I was in a clothing boutique, so Carl jumped in the dinghy to head out to the boat and realized I had the dinghy key, so he rowed himself to the boat. We "kissed" another boat very gently. Fortunately they were on the their boat and they didn't seem to mind. He then brought the boat into the city dock. We went out for lunch and then decided to head on down to Beaufort, NC. We went out into the Neuse River and down Adams Creek to Adams Creek Canal and then on to the Newport River where we saw dolphins. We took the shortcut through Russel Slough Channel to the Gallant Channel and into Beaufort. We read the anchorages in Beaufort did not have good holding, so we got a slip at the Beaufort Docks. We then ran into our other friends from Elizabeth City, Jeannine and Richard from Canada. I noticed a boat with it's hailing port from Kilmarnock, VA (one town over from White Stone). I went over and introduced myself. The Captain's name was Hobbs Goodwin and as our small world would have it he lives in Clifton Landing and is neighbors with our friends, the Browne's. In addition to that I commented on his VMI hat and asked if he knew our old neighbors, Pat and Sharon Morrisson. He about had a heart attack and said he and Pat were in the acadamy together and were great friends. He had no idea that Pat had lived one town away from him for about 5 years! What a shame. We went out for drinks with Jeannine and Richard and then on to dinner at the Blue Moon - WOW - it was an awesome restaurant. Fabulous rockfish dinner. When we arrived we ran into Hobbs and his crew, Paul and Geri. They asked us to join them for dinner. We had an awesome evening. Lots of laughter and jokes. I took Hobbs out on the porch and called Pat, said I had left Carl in Beaufort for another man and I wanted him to talk to him. Hobbs joked around with him for quite some time until he finally told him who he was talking to. Anyway, they had a great conversation and Hobbs was so thankful that I had hooked them back up. Back to their boat for another drink, then on to bed.

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11/16/2009

We left at 9:15 am from the River Rat Yacht Club. We motored down through the Pungo River to the Pamlico River to Goose Creek to Bay River to the Neuse River and into Whittaker Creek to get help for an alternator problem. I was able to get Hanna off the boat and on her leash for a nice long walk. She is slowly adjusting to the idea. $50 later we left and went around the corner and anchored out in Oriental, NC. It was a gorgeous day, 70 degrees and sunny skies. We aren't sure what we are doing tomorrow. We may stay put and walk around the town, or we may just get back out on the water and continue on.

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