Beaufort, NC Inlet to Georgetown, SC

Hi,  We hoped to make it to Charleston, but with no wind all night, we didn't make enough progress to put us there in daylight, so we chose Georgetown instead.  Little did we know when we started in the inlet at 2:00pm that it would take until almost 6:00pm to make it up to Georgetown!!  I had heard that the current was strong, but we didn't expect to be making just over 3 knots, (with the jib assisting us) most of the way.  The overnight was easy and amazingly warm.  The water temp was 56° and above, as was the air.  Very little traffic on the water and over the airways, so not much to report.  Sunny and warm and with finally enough wind to fill the sails, we had a comfortable day.  We tied up next to another sailboat at the Harborwalk Marina who are from Chambersburg, PA!  They were on their way out to dinner, but we had a short chat with them.  This is their 13th trip, so they had a few quick tips! Dan is already snoozing on the settee, so we're glad to have an extra hour of sleep tonight.  ~~~(\_~~~D&M
Google Earth track file


There were several dolphins escorting us out the Beaufort Inlet, and
several more that played in our bow wave along the way - - but too fast
for us to get a good picture!

We were also "escorted" by several Navy ships playing war games right
off the NC coast.

Dan plotting our overnight passage.

Not much of a moon to light our way, it was setting shortly after the sunset.

Oriental, out the Beaufort Inlet and beyond

Hi!  We're 22 miles off the New River Inlet and still have signal, so I decided to wish everyone a HAPPY HALLOWEEN and hope the peacock, mouse, panda in Philly, the Abby KaDabby fairy and Thumbelina in MA and the pachyderm in NH are enjoying the evening!  We decided to head offshore overnight as the forecasts sounded excellent.  We hope to be in Charleston, SC by tomorrow afternoon.  ~~~(\_~~~D&M
Google Earth track file

Oriental for the day

We spent two nights here in Oriental plugged in due to cold weather. The day was beautiful but cool and we did a lot of walking and looking and really not all that much buying. Spent at least an hour in the marine consignment shop and decided I could open up a bigger one than they had if I took all that is stowed on Brunelle, the garage, and the basement. It was a relaxing day. Now we have to get back at it a bit. We have traveled about 300 miles and we have about 600 to go before Thanksgiving in St. Augustine (hopefully). Tomorrow we head toward Beaufort and then we may even take a day or two outside to move on south...gotta get away from this cold! ~~~(\_~~~D&M


Brunelle is right next to the bridge in Oriental for two nights - had to get a picture of her and the harbor

Looking out from the bridge towards the Neuse River and the direction we should be going in the morning

Belhaven to Oriental, NC

Hi, After waiting out the weather for two days in Belhaven, we thought we would brave it even though it was still a bit windy and definitely brisk. We thought we would only go as far as Bear Creek (right after entering the Bay River), but the trip under jib with motor assist was quick and we got there at noon - - decided to keep going and found the Neuse River not as bad as advertised. We ended up slogging into the wind for the last two hours, but we had plenty of sun and stayed dry the whole day, so we made it to Oriental, NC. Recommended to us by Dan's brother Jay, we signed up for two nights here at the Oriental Harbor Marina. We walked over to the tiki bar (we had to go there to sign up at the office) where they were asking everyone to carve a pumpkin. How could I refuse? Of course Dan did refuse, but he enjoyed talking to a couple on a Catalina 42 from RI, while having a cocktail while I carved. We had a late dinner aboard. ~~~(\_~~~M&D
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There wasn't much traffic on the cut between Goose Creek and the Bay River...

...except these two deer swimming across.

We ended the day at the Tiki Bar at Oriental Marina with drinks and
pumpkin carving.

Belhaven to Belhaven (spelling corrected)

A very quiet day, as far as progress is concerned.  We are still in Belhaven.  I think this is working like a traffic light.  Yesterday we had a very quiet day on the water.  Today all that happened is a bunch of people came in and anchored in 20 knot winds and others came into a slip and fought the crosswinds to tie up.  Tomorrow AM if the wind improves (reduces...not something we normally would say on the Chesapeake in the summer) all of us that are anchored or are in slips will head off...a real traffic jam...not really.

Excitement today was a trip to the grocery store, a mile and a half away, in a golf cart with no brakes and less power.  No big deal until I was not paying enough attention and I rolled through a stop sign.  The UPS driver that could have had us slowed and waved.  I strongly recommend UPS over Fed Ex or DHL or anyone.  We also spent some time on battery checks...all seemed fine. 

7:00 PM now and all seems quiet.  Hate to talk about it.  Hope to be on the way it the AM.~~~(\_~~~D&M

Prettier than last night but not a lot different. Maybe tomorrow!!!!

Mile 101 to Bellhaven, NC

Hi,    Such panic,  NO SIGNAL.  We hadn't thought of that possibility!  There still isn't AT&T signal here, but the Marina where we are docked has wireless.  We were sure the same would be true with TV signal last night, but when we searched with the digital converter box we found 20 channels!  Dan was able to watch the Giants beat the Steelers.   The bight where we anchored was fairly open, but the weatherman was surprisingly accurate, and the wind was light and from the west.  The trip today was completely under power as we were in the Alligator-Pungo canal for most of it and when we entered the Pungo the wind there was on the nose.  We decided to tie up tonight to do housekeeping and arrived here at 2:30pm.  We walked into town so Dan could find another hardware store and then headed back because most other places weren't open on Monday!  We got back before it rained and are below listening to the rain and NW wind- - - promises to be a bit cooler tomorrow.  We were in shirt sleeves this afternoon. ~~~(\_~~~D&M
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Heading into the Alligator River - Pungo River Canal

Some rough days, many not. Bloody Mary's are still in order...or a
whole serving of vegetables in a glass

In a slip in Belhaven, NC filling with water, etc. This evening the
weather turned crappy and we were glad we were in the slip.

Elizabeth City to Mile 101 on the Alligator River

Good morning! Last night we had no signal so couldn't send track or message.  Sunday was sunny and warm and we sailed easily across the Albemarle Sound on a broad reach. We had to motor sail once in the Alligator River as the wind was dying, but all in all a very pleasant day and we enjoyed grilling out and eating dinner in the cockpit as we watched the sun set.  Very low scrub and cypress all along the Alligator.  We are about to head into the Alligator-Pungo canal.  Will report more tonight!
Google Earth track file


Going by Elizabeth City this morning...it didn't look that quiet when
we dinghied in on Friday and Saturday

Lots of us were held up for a couple of days and we all headed down
the Pasquotank River this morning together.

After a great day and steak and potato packets on the grill a great
sunset at the south end of the Alligator River