May 17, 2008 (Sunday)
Wow, even though just got back to the boat, feels like I’ve been busting my butt every morning to get WS to another spot. So, can’t say how nice it was to be tied up to a bulkhead/dock and not have anywhere to go. So got up late – 6:45 I think – too bad I was awake from 5:50am until then, but still nice not to have to move the boat. So, had a nice long. Breakfast & got ready for church at 10:30am. SD had decided to stay another day & would meet up with them after church & catch the ferry over to Norfolk for the day. So back around 11:55 (hate it when there are $$ stores on the way to/from church) & SD said ferry is in a couple minutes. So jumped below, changed into shorts & back up in 2 seconds flat. Capt’n for some reason changed from black jeans to blue jeans – can’t say that was really worth it, but obviously was to the Capt’n…. Then half way over – remembered something I needed from the boat – so back to the boat. Just opening up the hatch (now have to lock the boat again since back in the states) & saw the ferry pulling up. Was a nice jump below, relock and a heck of a sprint over to make sure I made it. Did notice that the Capt’n hadn’t slowed his stride down at all – looks like he was going to make it with SD even if I didn’t… Thanks Capt’n…. hope you’re cookin’ tonight (too bad can’t cook – oh well)… Anyway, did make the ferry, but Capt’n didn’t have correct change, only a $1 and borrowed one off Susan. Nice ride over and headed right for the Naval museum… The battleship Wisconsin is tied up there and lots of other stuff to see for free. Is a charge for another part of the museum, but really wanted to see the battleship. Since SD already saw it – they headed off for the other part while WS’s crew went for the battleship. Have never been on a battleship or for that matter any ship so big in the water. Spent a couple hours going threw it, just loved it but, the ultimate for me is to go on an aircraft carrier – just think they are so awesome – maybe someday... Really was thrilled to get to see the battleship, Capt.’s dad – Matt – was on the USS Arkansas during WWII and was at both Normandy on D-Day and Iwo Jima when they raised the flag, something that has totally awed me as long as I knew Matt. Was great for both the Capt’n & me to see the 5” guns that Matt used during the war. The whole idea of being there, in the war zone – for anyone, anywhere etc. is just so unbelievable to me. I just have so much respect for everyone that has been to war or has served in the Armed forces…. Okay, off again – but, just loved the battleship… Met up with SD after & trying to decide whether or not to grab something to eat in Norfolk or head back to Portsmouth. Well what better way to decide than over a beer at the Blackfin??? Works for me… Well all voted for the German restaurant inn Portsmouth.. So headed back on the ferry – then walked to the restaurant (did have to ask why we rode the ferry to the second stop, which was where the boats were, but then walked back to the first stop – where the restaurant was – hello….) German restaurant was excellent – managed to find something that wasn’t 7000 calories, so that was good, couldn’t afford that with the diet – esp. with each unbelievably outrageous humongous beer being at least 6000 calories… but, boy they were good. Met up with some really “young” guys sitting beside our table & their girlfriends, who were in the Navy and they just loved what they were doing. They were working river gun boats & I was pretty amazed by that. Newer boats, but had been copied from some of the ones used in Vietnam – had put the new ones into service after 9/11. They were so young but, great guys and so proud to be in the Navy – very similar to the guys WS met in Green Turtle that had just come back from the Middle East. So nice to see that & seems to go against what so many people whine about in the US. These guys just love serving their country and can only say - I am so glad somebody does – otherwise where on earth would we be??? – not free that’s for sure… Whoops sorry, off on a tangent – so anyway – had a great time then back to the boats. Flipped a coin to decide which boat to spend the rest of the night on. SD won – so went over there. Ended up putting on the superbowl, so that was pretty cool. Long day, so back on the boat went right to bed…
May 16, 2008 (Saturday) Broad Creek, NC to Portsmouth/Norfolk, VA
Left Broad Creek and snaked through the ICW up to Coinjock and wasn’t too bad, but was freezing out. It was the first time I actually thought I could use some gloves on to steer… Another cold front had moved through and boy they really are COLD fronts up north. Georgetown in the Exumas would just drop to 75 or so, really wished that were the case here today. Heard from SD, the had changed their minds – got stuck behind the truck yesterday & managed to get a special opening on the lock, so anchored there for the night, but would head to Mobjack Bay on the Chesapeake instead. As for the truck, somehow a Sea Ray powerboat managed to hit a truck in the dismal swamp canal. Guess you’ll have that with those crazy power boaters…. well maybe not – seems like the truck managed to get itself right into the middle of the ICW – actually was an Ford Expedition that was completely submerged, the poor Sea Ray just happened to be the first one there in the morning. Didn’t sink the powerboat, so that was good, but Coast Guard set up a safety zone and no boats were allowed through until they removed the truck. SD was the third boat and luckily wasn’t the first. That nice full keel w/h probably dug into that SUV pretty good. So, anyway halfway up got a call that SD decided to go for the free dock after all and there was plenty of room for WS behind them. Took forever to weed through the ICW to get there – and who knows how (cause we surely forgot to try) barely timed the bridges right and barely made the 1pm opening for Great Bridge and the lock that are synchronized. So happy to make it, otherwise w/b another hour until the bridge opened and could get into the lock. Decided to do a port side tie up on the lock, was super padded and didn’t need fenders on that side, but was “self” service... The other side was just concrete, but had the lock/dock hands to help you tie up. Okay, now how tough can this be – WS immediately went for the well padded side. Get over there and those cleats are just a tad higher than expected – have both my bow and stern lines ready to jump off – but, no – hello – can’t jump that high, plus now announcing have to have a life jacket on if you step off your boat. So Capt’n checks out the situation from hiss comfy behind the helm stance & just yells – put a life jacket on & jump off… Can’t say the words I was thinking, but they did include jump off too… So, now ran back to the cockpit, got out my inflatable, threw it on, ran back to my lines and tried to figure out how to jump off and up at the same time. Okay, well the nice rubber ends at a certain point can grab that & think my legs are long enough then to climb that then crawl onto the cement to tie both dock lines off, while the Capt’n is “steering” the boat… So, now I know why you need a life jacket, didn’t fall in but, pretty hairy trying to make the jump over. Got up onto the side, crawled onto the cement, threw both lines around the cleats & Capt’n over there in his nice comfy cockpit saying – “are we tied off or what”??? I’m getting there, @#%#@% - so finally back on the boat, but didn’t like where I tied the forward line & back off again to retie it. Not as bad on the second attempt, wasn’t holding two lines and could just crawl up the cement wall – kinda like Spiderman but, not as graceful… Okay, so now the locks filled or defiled – whatever – it was something like 2’ and a bit strange – all that to go up or down 2’?????? Well after that, now just had to make bridge openings, something WS wasn’t used to yet. Did make most of them on time, but had to wait for one “on demand” bridge that WS had just missed. Not bad, big basin & only waited about ten minutes. So after that it was looking for that free dock at Portsmouth…. Found one, but – nope not it – then saw SD’s 2 headsails and headed in there. Small basin where the ferry for Norfolk stops, but good amount of room on the southern side to tie up. So tied up behind SD & at a good time too – Paul & Susan were just coming back from a walk & could throw them the lines… So ended up having our “new” anchor drink with them on WS, then got a shower & took some appetizers over to SD for later. Nice night…
May 15, 2008 (Friday) Belhaven to Broad Creek, NC
Another early dawn start and another 75+ nautical mile day. Too bad this one didn’t start as good as yesterday. Hauling up the anchor and just started to rain. Visibility wasn’t good only about a half mile and once again Navman very helpful. Usually I steer when the anchor comes up, which I did – get us out of the anchorage and started on our way, then Capt’n takes over so I can put his coffee on and make his breakfast. Well looks like today, Capt’n just not really hungry yet, maybe I could keep steering for a while. Humm, do you think it may just be the pouring down rain that is not making you hungry right now… No, be up in a little bit. So hour and a half later, rain had just started to slow a bit and who shows up ready to take the helm, but the good old Capt’n. Very hard to see with it being so dark & dreary, steered a little longer until we were close to the Pungo Canal & then Capt’n too over. I use the Navman to find my next buoy if I can’t see it, but Capt’n doesn’t. Not real gentle with the Navman and still doesn’t trust him (actually not sure who doesn’t trust who after the time Capt’n kicked him which, was after the time the Capt’n dropped my dive light into the diesel tank etc., etc.).. So neither of them really likes the other & Capt’n prefers to go by sight… Anyway, so Pungo Canal is deep in the middle and a straight shot even with low visibility. So not needed on deck & went below to dry off, make breakfast & get some emails sent. Right in the middle of typing an email WS comes to a very, very abrupt stop, which throws me a good amount forward. Run up on deck and here a powerboat was passing us and Capt’n pulled off a bit, and just a bit too much. By the looks of it s/h been okay, but by the looks of the Navman we were well out of the canal – actually showed us on shore – oh well. Think I actually heard the Navman laughing at that point (payback for that kick). Didn’t say a word about it & Capt’n finally backed off and WS on her way again – this time in the center of the channel & not moving over for an overtaking boat. Is a nice gesture but, it’s their choice to go around & their responsibility to get around safely esp. when it is a powerboat passing a deep draft sailboat… Well that was probably the excitement for the day. Good amount of the day was motor sailing at least a good amount up the Alligator River until we got to Albemarle Sound. Finally able to sail and had a very nice sail across, but wind died as WS was getting to the first set of channel markers heading off the sound. Tired at this point and wanted to just motor in, but Capt’n didn’t want to – just wanted to ghost to the last mark, on the sound, under sail – okay – whatever. So ghosted past that one then another one & were in the channel where the broad creek anchorage is. Wide open spot and out of nowhere the wind was blowing 17/18 knots, so sailed the rest of the way until WS had to turn up for the anchorage & then dropped all sail. Anchored right outside of the Broad Creek anchorage, very narrow and shallow in there & just wasn’t worth going in. Had anchored there on the way down & isn’t easy to get into and not worth it since we were protected on the outside too. Anchored for the night & decided to put Rats up on board again. W/b going through the Great Bridge lock & not sure about towing a dinghy esp. if it is crowded. Talked to SD & they were going to Portsmouth & would try to meet up with them there. Rain had quit a couple hours ago, but now started pouring again with some TStorms that were moving through. Not a ton of wind with them, but at one point couldn’t see the boat anchored next to WS. Didn’t last real long and super happy they didn’t hit before WS got anchored. Had heard too on the Dismal Swamp route that there was a truck submerged in the water, pretty odd. Didn’t really matter, WS had to go the Virginia Cut route anyway…
May 14, 2008 (Thursday) New Bern to Belhaven, NC
Got WS moving at first light, long day and didn’t want to get stuck waiting for the train in New Bern either. So slipped through the swing bridge at dawn and motored out from the Trent River to the Neuse River. Supposed to be sunny and 80 today, but sure looks overcast and cool. Motored through the narrow channel for a while, then got to where WS wasn’t weaving back & forth and put some sail up. Started drizzling a bit, but was warming up a bit. Not too much excitement – joined a slew of boats coming out of Adam’s Creek and making their way up the river towards Pamlico Sound. Would just be on the edge of the sound as we crossed over it to make our way to Belhaven. Long hop 72 or so Nautical miles but, 83 or so Statute miles. Would have to average 7 knots to make it in reasonable time but with the long days, shouldn’t be a problem to get in before dusk. Did have to motorsail through the canals, but once out on the sound and last couple hours to Belhaven – WS was under sail and was so nice. Managed to get to Belhaven pretty early around 5 pm and was a little surprised. Could have kept going for another anchorage, but Belhaven has a ton of room & is a nice spot. Dropped the hook and launched the dink. Capt had talked to someone at the marina & thought they might have the Pens game on. So decided to eat dinner on board, then head in & see if we could catch the game. Nice restaurant at the Forrest Gump marina – actually not Gump but, Forrest something. Super friendly “old town” local southern place with good old southern hospitality that you don’t find most places. Can tie the dinghy up their, use their showers, laundry & will take the used motor oil. Tried to find the game on their TV, but no luck – had a couple of sports channels but nothing picking up the game. Checked out the menu & actually very cheap dinner, probably s/h had something to eat there… One problem only two draft beers - bud light and Coors light – okay so I’ll force myself to have a Coors light – sorry no Coors light – only bud light. Well never being able to acquire a taste for bud or bud light – had to go for the bottles. Choice of around 10 or so and all were the same price of $2.50. Made sense for most of the beers until the end of the list had Natural Light. They’re kidding right – nope same price for Becks, Amstel (sp?) light, New Castle and all sorts of good beers… So we ordered two Natural lights to start… JUST KIDDING – ordered two Becks to start then had two New Castle & if we would have stayed longer probably would have had the Amstel Light next, but with no game didn’t’ feel like spending the money while there was beer on board. So back to the boat & tried again to pick up the game on TV, radio, SSB but, no luck… Oh well, found out they lost anyway so guess we didn’t miss anything.
May 14, 2008 (Wednesday) New Bern
So, go up early (no kidding) got a load of laundry together & asked Capt’n to get the towels together, throw them in with the sheets & meet me up there… Figured I’d take a nice hot shower while the first load was in then, after Capt’n brought ALL the towels up, throw them in then…? Well plan worked well as far as I could see, Capt’n brought the sack filled with sheets/towels and dumped it into the washer while I put the other clothes in the dryer. Didn’t find out until later that Capt.’s version of ALL towels was just his towel and the aft cabin hand towel – nice. Looked later and had re-hung the towels I set out to go in the laundry, uh – thanks but – not a real big help… Oh well… So, in-between showers & laundry got WS filled with water, fridge cooled down, took the rental car back – with a side trip to Wal-mart & the BP to check out their fuel dock etc… Alamo drove us back, so that was nice, then radioed the marina that WS was heading for the pumpout dock (used to be the fuel dock too), untied the dock lines & WS was off. Well sorta – current didn’t want let her back to port, nor did the wind – so was a major maneuver to get her pointed in the right direction with out hitting one of the docks or boats for that matter. Either way was glad Capt’n Ron was at the helm and that I was able to wait out the “what looked liked obviously creaming the docks” until WS got moving in the right direction…. Capt’n did a wonderful job – very good at getting her in and out of tight spots – just could use some help in those channels - whoops – w/h to wait for the next episode for that one… So over to the pump out dock, dock hand very helpful, but still had to jump off to tie off the one line, think he m/b new was great, but didn’t seem to be used to tying up slow and hard to maneuver sailboats…. Either way got her pumped out and now ready for phase 3 – fuel dock… Since the Sheraton doesn’t have a fuel dock anymore, have to go to the BP – nice – but, is just outside the bridge & has a wonderful deep water tie up…. Only problem is - no one there to help, have to get tied up alone & with the tide, nice jump down to the dock…. Capt’n inching the boat closer & closer – already has mentioned that the wind will blow us off automatically, so waiting, waiting – on the bow – Capt’n wants to turn off, but not good from the bow – will never make the jump – so closer and closer – more than I would usually be comfortable with – then when the bow almost hits the dock – turn away slightly and WS slides gently along the side where I can jump off… Somehow, get both my lines around cleats (same time Capt’n up their yelling – tie her off, tie her off ---- NO shit Sherlock, what do you think I’m trying to do)… So had both the lines wrapped on cleats and Capt’n finally strolls off to help…. Walked the boat up to the end of the pier where we could access the fuel better…. Great fuel dock, nice easy entry and not crowded etc…. Got WS refueled for the outrageous price of diesel $4.39 per gallon – really bites…. Luckily, we can sail – but the ICW is mostly motor sailing – which really bites with the cost of fuel…. So after, left the fuel dock & motored back to the anchorage – anchored close to our old spot, but a bit closer to the railroad bridge than before….
May 13, 2008 (Tuesday) Back to New Bern
Well looks like another bad luck day. Got to the airport around 5:30 and checked in for the 7:05 flight. Over 50 seats open, so pretty much a done deal – or so we thought. Well the airlines just seem to like to stress me out, so they canceled a Ft. Lauderdale flight that was leaving at 8am. First they delayed it so all of the USAir employees traveling to Florida jumped on the 7:05 Charlotte flight. Nice – they called 53 standbys and we did not make it. Worse luck was a lady trying to get to charlotte since Monday & another since Sunday night. Didn’t look to good all of a sudden. Well three more open flights in the morning s/b okay – NOT – when they finally canceled the Ft. Lauderdale flight they rebooked them through Charlotte. So now we did not get on the second flight. So, went to special services to see what we could do. Capt’n had already checked the board and saw a flight to Raleigh, closest place that we could get to. Special services verified we would probably not get on a flight until the 3:55 one, if that one. Even if we did, the problem was – at that point only 2 more flights from Charlotte to New Bern and when I looked on Sunday, ZERO tickets had been sold. Don’t think they would put the plane in the air for 2 standbys. So, decided to go to Raleigh and rent another car. Called & reserved one with National then found a better price with Alamo, so reserved that one too (did cancel the other one later, but only after we had the Alamo car – just want to make sure…). Flight to Raleigh was great, had us on the plane with the rest of the passengers, and didn’t even have to wait for them to call standbys. Got the car at Alamo & off we went for New Bern. Not a bad trip at all & managed to stop at the Dollar General & Food Lion to reprovision – so worked out well… Have the car for the day, so will take it back tomorrow sometime. Can leave the marina whenever, no charge unless WS is there the entire night – nice – so no rush.