Left this morning at oh-dark-30 and watched the sun rise over the sails of a couple of boats that beat us out of the anchorage. As soon as we hit open water, the promised wind was there and we were beating into 3ft seas and 25kts of wind. Green water over the dodger and into the cockpit before 7:00AM. Murph was not amused. Tali slept peacefully under the dodger. She's starting to put the sea dog to shame. After about 5 miles of that nonsense, we turned up the Neuse River and downwind. It was a rolling sail but much better with the wind behind us and it was great having the motor off for a while.
We made good time up the Neuse and turned into Adams Creek in the company of many sportfish and our first major barge and dredge combo. Those long barges are always fun to pass in narrow channels. This one was only going about 1/2 kt slower than us, so we had to really put pedal to the metal to try and get around him as quickly as possible.
We stopped by early afternoon in Morehead City and were able to get the last space on the virtually free Sanitary Fish Market and Restaurant dock. Oh boy, fresh shrimp for dinner and only $10 to tie up. You can't beat that. The market name comes from the 30s when it was first rented for $5.50 a week with the understanding that no beer or wine would be sold and it would be kept clean. The name was chosen to project compliance with the lease. Looks like it is dry to this day. Oh well, that'll keep the dinner bill down!
| ICW 2009 |
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Comments [2]
If you continue to make good progress , you may get here on Sunday 11/7. Do you plan to stay at Coquina Marina where you stayed before? We are looking forward to seeing you. We picked tomatoes yesterday so we will have fried green tomatoes when you get here.
We finished locking through the Dismal Swamp canal first thing this morning in the company of about 10 boats. It was a full load, with some boats having to raft 3 across. Murphy enjoyed the rather unique experience of having another Irish Terrier in the lock with him. Our Lancaster neighbors were also in the lock with Puka, a little girl terrier. The two roo-rooed back and forth to each other in that ever distinctive IT yodel.
After motoring down the Pasquotank into increasing head winds, we arrived at Elizabeth City mid-day and were able to get one of the last open spots on the concrete bulkhead. Thank goodness for big fenders and for winds mostly blowing us off the dock.
Halloween evening brought out all the ghouls and goblins for trick-or-treating. The picture shows some well-dressed Canadian boat parents and their children. EC closes off Main Street and with homes decorated to the hilt, the locals and visitors alike enjoy the booty. Murphy even scored a few dog biscuits as we wandered along with the kids.
| ICW 2009 |
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Well we are underway at last. Charm is loaded to the gunwales and as usual I think I have enough canned goods to get us there and back. The menagerie is on board and doing OK. Nikki actually came out into the cockpit a bit and Tali resumed her usual traveling position under the dodger. Murphy hung out on the cockpit seats and snoozed the day away.
We awoke to rain today and it took a bit of convincing ourselves to proceed with the departure. However, by the time we were ready to go, the rain had stopped and it soon cleared to a beautiful morning and a windy afternoon.
We enjoyed a brisk sail/motor down the bay with winds oscillating between 10 to 20kts. At 10, we motor-sailed, at 20, Charm took off under sail alone. We made great time to Hampton Yacht Club, where enough of their own members had already departed south that we were able to get a free slip for the night. Despite all our stores, we were easily convinced to get fried oyster sandwiches at the bar and save our goodies for another night. It's oyster season in the bay and it's hard to pass up fresh oysters.
Tomorrow we get started with the first of the many bridges and the Dismal Swamp locks.
| ICW 2009 |
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