Slowing Down!

October23, 2011, Sun.

We left Dowry Creek Marina around 7:30am. Yes, folks that’s AM, for all who think I sleep all morning. My new wake up time is now between 5:30 and 6:00 am. That’s right believe it or not, and sometimes we’re not leaving till 8:00 or 9:00. It’s sure easy to get into a bad habit. Hahaha!
It was a pretty morning. When we got to the ICW from the marina, we looked behind us to see about ten sailboats sailing with the sun just up behind them. When we got to the Pamlico it was nice and calm. But, then the Neuse River was another washing machine, with about 4 foot waves, plus a swell. It was one roller after the other, till we could finally turn southwest and get them behind us. Bob adjusted the trim tabs and then it was much better for the next 20 miles. When I went to check the girls, they were in their houses looking at me, like “What the Hell”. They are such troopers. The wonderful cocktail table fell over and my little brass lantern with the glass globe broke. Glass all over the place, but no fear Bob’s favorite table was fine.

Got to Morehead City Yacht Basin around 3:30 after about 72 miles. Nice marina with courtesy car ($10) and a great Harris Teeter nearby. Lot’s of big Sportfishing boats, cause we’re very near the inlet at Beaufort, North Carolina.

October 24, 2011, Mon.

Today we stopped at Beach House Marina in Surf City North Carolina. It was a long day today, fighting tides and had to wait for a half hour for the Onslow Beach Bridge. The bridge tender wouldn’t hold it even a minute. I guess cause it’s part of Camp LeJeune. We did about 56.5 miles today.

Once we got to the marina we walked to the beach, which is about three blocks. A typical seashore town, reminds me of the Jersey shore. We stopped here with Banshee in 2008.
We met people here who got stuck in the Erie Canal after Hurricane Irene. They had to have their boat trucked out and sent to Annapolis.

October 25, 2011, Tues.

We left Beach House Marina at 7:30 to catch the 8:00 Surf City Bridge opening. We had to circle for about 25 minutes, but Bob wanted to be sure to make it. The bridge tenders seem to be very precise with their opening times, more so than I remember.
We thought we couldn’t make the 10:00 opening of the Wrightsville Beach Bridge, so we tried slowing down for the 11:00 opening, but the current was just pushing us, always when you don’t want it. We ended up waiting almost an hour, which was a pain with the current. Some days it works and others no matter how you try to time it, it just doesn’t. We did however catch the tides right going down the Cape Fear river, we were cruising at 11 to 11.4 knots.
We got to Southport Marina and Mike who was our broker for Jany K gave us a slip for the night. We cleaned up the boat and us and then had drinks and dinner with Mike & Jenna. We had a nice night, although we did miss Rusty and Mandy not being there.

October 26, 2011, Wed.

We left Southport Marina at 8:00 and we got to Osprey Marina, Myrtle Beach around 5:00. We crossed into South Carolina at 11:45. It was a long 64 miles. There were a lot of no wake zones and had the tide against us most of the day. We fueled up and then settled into our slip, which is very nice and quiet. We are staying here for a few days to slow down. Judy and Bob and Drew are going to meet us in Charleston on Friday, the 4th, so we have a little time, cause we're only two days from Charleston.