Water levels in the river have returned to normal levels and winds are light from the Southwest. Some thunderstorms are still transiting the area but are expected to pass through by mid morning. All gear is stowed and Otter made ready for sea. At 0930 the anchor is up and we're underway. Destination is the town of Oriental about 20 miles Southwest on the shore of the Neuse River. NOAA is calling for SW winds at 5kts under clearing skies. That puts the wind on the nose but they should be light enough to motor through. However once I come around Maw Point and stick Otters nose into the river I find much more than 5kts. More like 20kts and 2-4ft seas. I give some thought to putting half of the headsail up to see if I can make some headway by tacking but 5mins later decide not to beat myself up. The best anchorage is often the one behind you. Time to come about. A fine sail back into Bay River but as I make the turn to re-enter Spring Creek the roller furling which controls the headsail is jammed. I can't drop sail. I need to go forward and free up the furler. Once again I'm wishing I had someone with me. As it is, my solution is to sail into the shallows and drop anchor. Once the anchor is down it only takes a minute to figure out that the halyard I had been using to hoist the dinghy to deck had fouled on the upper furling swivel. It is easily resolved and the headsail furled. Anchor up and I motor back into Spring Creek for another night. It doesn't sound like much but the whole operation took nearly 6hrs. I'm tuckered out.