We decided to leave Oriental Friday morning and start the push north towards the Chesapeake. The next two days would see us transiting Pamlico and Abemerle Sounds plus various rivers and canals. Unlike our southbound trip last fall we had great sailing conditions Friday and sailed all the way to the Pungo River; despite numerous direction changes the wind was in our favour. We found a great little anchorage in a side creek and securily anchored in 20 knots of breeze. Saturday was much the same conditions to start; sunny, hot and breezy from the south west and we made great time en route towards Coinjock. However, all good things must come to an end and we spent the last two hours of the day motoring in very light air.

Then the flies came, for those of you who have sailed on Lac St. Louis on a hot windless day you know what I mean. We were invaded by biting house flies and as we crossed the 14 mile wide Abemerle Sound they intensified beyond belief. Bev was on a mission killing as many as possible. Once the fly swatter broke any weapon was considered; sandals, magazines, towels, and whatever was handy. They chased us all the way to the anchorage and only calmed down when the rain hit.

The forecast had called for a risk of thunderstorms and it was a race to get the anchor down before they rolled through with gusty winds. We made it just in time, we found a nice secure anchorage amongst a field of crab pots and barely got the boat put away when the first storms hit. The deck got a good pressure wash as heavy rain pounded us for a couple of hours and numerous thunderstorms rolled through the area. As usual Rocky is holding us in place and we all tucked in for the night hunting the last of the flies that made into the boat.