11/01/2009, Cedar Creek, off Adams Creek, NC - ICW Mile 187
Heading South Fall 09 IX
Sunday, November 01, 2009 - 8 AM Cedar Creek, off Adams Creek, NC - ICW Mile 187 Water temperature 69 F
We had a long day yesterday. We knew we were going to be going either into or close to the wind all day so we raised the main sail while we were still at anchor to get ready for our upwind journey. As the day went by, the wind speed continued to increase and was blowing 15 to 20 knots (true) by noon. We spent the last 3 hours going up the Neuse River with the wind about 30 degrees off our nose. It wasn't cold and the dodger did a good job of keeping the cockpit dry. But it was a bumpy ride and it was a relief to turn into Adams Creek and leave the wide open waters of the Neuse behind.
We were in a steady stream of migrating boats yesterday but we are now far enough south, not all boats were headed south. We came by Oriental, NC which is a busy sailing center and there were boats out on day sails. You get used to all the boats going the same direction you are and then you have to pay attention to boats crossing your bow. For the rest of our trip south we will see local boats out on day trips.
We anchored in Cedar Creek for the third or fourth time. It's a nice little anchorage with room for about fifteen boats. We shared it with seven other boats last night so there was plenty of room. We are staying here for the day to let the weather decide what it wants to do. We're ready for a down day.
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10/31/2009, Slade Creek, off the Pungo River, NC - ICW Mile 140
Heading South Fall 09 VIII
Saturday, October 31, 2009 - 8 AM Slade Creek, off the Pungo River, NC - ICW Mile 140 Water temperature 66 F
We stopped last night in Slade Creek for at least the third time. We had planned to go further but the next anchorage would have been 15 miles and 3 hours down the road and we just felt like calling it a day. We like this anchorage. The creek is wide, 10 feet deep, there is one house in the distance, the shoreline is attractive and it is so, so quiet.
We started out yesterday with 20 boats stretched out in a long line going down the Alligator River Pungo River Canal. We passed a few boats and a few boats passed us as the line stretched out due to different boat speeds and departure times. Later in the day, power boats that had started the day further to the north began catching up and passing us. When we stopped, the pack we had left with was long gone and we were the only boat in this big beautiful anchorage last night. That's fine with us. Today when we get underway, we'll be with a different group of migratory boaters, all heading south.
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10/30/2009, Deep Point, in the Alligator River, NC - ICW Mile 103
Heading South Fall 09 VII
Friday, October 30, 2009 - 8 AM Deep Point, in the Alligator River, NC - ICW Mile 103 Water temperature 65 F
We got a late start yesterday. We had to wait until 9 AM for a bridge to open but then it took longer than planned to put the dinghy away and longer than planned to pull the anchor. But we finally got going and once we were thru the bridge and the river widened out we were able to shut the engine down and sail for the next four hours. We crossed Albemarle Sound with one reef in the main and a full jenny on a broad reach with 15 to 20 knots true wind. (One of the boat chores we did in Deltaville was to haul me up the mast where I installed our new wind sensor. The old one broke before we left Texas in May 2007 and I've been quite happy not knowing the precise wind speed. But, my able bodied crewperson really wanted the wind instrument to work so now it does.) We averaged 6 knots going across the Sound and hit 7 K in gusts a few times.
Once we got to the mouth of the Alligator River, our course was further downwind and our speed dropped. We had twenty more miles to go to get to the anchorage we wanted to use so we motor sailed the rest of the day. When we came around a bend and could see the anchorage, there were thirteen boats there already! But there was plenty of room so we just tucked ourselves in and dropped the anchor. This location is one of the places on the ICW where you feel like you are a million miles from anyone (excepting the 13 other boats). At night, there is not one light to be seen on shore in any direction and the horizon is dark. There is no road noise and the only sound is the wind howling and the boat creaking. It is so nice to be back aboard and anchored out in the boonies after a hard days sail.
The wind blew hard all night but we had good protection from waves so the boat motion wasn't too bad. We start off this day going thru a twenty mile long narrow canal that is straight as an arrow and has one turn. The boats are starting to pull anchor, it's time to get going.
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