Oriental NC to Belhaven NC

Up at OHHH DARK THIRTY, in real time that would be 4:12 am, couldn't sleep so figured I would get up, shower and get the coffee going for the captain. I watched the 72 foot yacht beside us leave and the captain was "steering"  the boat from a plate like thing he wore around his neck. Obviously a remote control. How cool is that, maybe West Marine will have them on sale one day. People drive in all sorts of weird manners - I watched a man on a sportfish standing backwards with his hands behind him "steered" the boat in!
 Garth got up about 5:30 and our day started. It was the first time since Fort Lauderdale that we had been in a slip so I was double checking that all lines were off from both sides.
We made it out of Oriental, down the Neuse River through Pamlico Sound up Pungo River across the Pamlico River back into the Pungo River to Dowry Creek! Sound confusing -- some days it is!

The boat in front of us at one point ran right into a "field" of crab pots - we couldn't believe what he did, he radioed back to tell us to watch out for them and to say he was in the mud!! He did make it out, think he fell asleep at the wheel!

We arrived here about 11 :45, there were two people on the dock to meet us and grab lines - Mary the owner and John Striker from Port Dover, Ontario!! (small world) he and Garth reminisced about Orange Glow and hot dogs from the infamous "Arbor".  He  thought our BVI flag was the Ontario provincial flag -- very similar.  I started washing the boat while Garth and Zeke went to register. Garth came back with the keys to the marinas loaner car, I quickly changed and off we went to Belhaven.

Unfortunately, Belhaven has seen better times, most stores are boarded up, I went into the hardware store/wine store/gift store but didn't see anything I couldn't live without. We managed to find ice cream cones (at the flower store) - best deal in Belhaven - a plate of ice cream for Zeke and two huge cones for six bucks. The women scooping is off to Niagara Falls next week on a seniors bus trip.  people here are so friendly. We walked around the downtown marina and it appeared empty, this marina is empty and we are wondering where everyone is?? Stopped at the Food Lion and pick up a few basics before bombing back to Dowry Creek in the white Caprice with the hubcap in the front seat, no window winder and a rattle that indicates it is in serious need of a mechanical check up! Zeke spent most of the time with his head down on the back seat.......just kidding.

Hot Caprice 198??

Downtown Belhaven on a Saturday afternoon

A Day in Oriental

We walked about the town and came upon several interesting stores. The first one of course was the Food Emporium where Garth had quiche - something he has been wanting but couldn't find - from all accounts it was delicious. From there we found a Marine Consignment store - we looked and looked but did not find anything we could use !!! Surprising eh! We did however discover the Hardware//Marine store that had some little things that we needed - like whitewall tire cleaner to use on the fenders and a good paintbrush for when we do the teak. I heard from someone - no names mentioned ANDY that women are better at this. HUMM- Garth picked out the brush so I think I'll let him use it.
We discovered the shrimp store and stocked up - too bad the season hasn't started yet.

Rock dinosaur eggs are placed around the town as Wildlife Nesting Areas

Spring has sprung

Even Zeke took time to stop and smell the flowers

Marine Consignment Store

Off tomorrow - we have decided not to do the Dismal Swamp and are going to head up to Coinjock via Belhaven and Alligator River Marina.

Beaufort to Oriental - still in North Carolina

A normal departure hour this morning - about 9 ish. Coffee was made and off we went. We didn't get very far when a boat zoomed up behind us. I thought it was TOW BOAT US but in fact it was the Coast Guard. I waived and kept doing the ropes at the back. They pulled up beside us and called Garth on the radio, by this time I had moved up to hear what was going on. They just asked how many people were aboard and where we were headed. Told us to have a safe trip and off they zoomed again.  Everyone listens when the Coast Guard calls, the next boat they asked the same questions and the guy said he did not know where they were going that night - wrong answer- the Coast Guard boarded them.
It was a short day as we only traveled about twenty miles. We arrived in Oriental around 11:30, docked at the Oriental Marina and Inn then took Zeke for a walk around town. The marine store in town is closing and everything is 60 per cent off so we got a few things and then carried on. It is a cute little village. maybe there is more to it than we saw last night. Will give it another shot today. Tomorrow is the town wide garage sale ....tempting to stay but when you only have 53 feet of living space not much more will fit on here.

Only one picture today - we saw this on our walk yesterday!!! My heart skipped a beat and a tear came to my eye.

Waiting it out in Beaufort

We were prepared to head out this morning but the weather did not look very good so we stayed put. We spent a great deal of the day calling marinas in Georgian Bay looking for a slip for the summer. Narrowing down the options, a lot of places do not have room for bigger boats.  Garth decided to fill up with diesel and that took about a half hour by the time he got the hose and soap and spill bottle all set up. He went up and paid for the diesel and another nights stay, when he handed me the bill I looked at it and the girl had charged us for three gallons of diesel instead of 275 gallons - only about a thousand dollars difference.

Dark and dreary morning

Little swells but big wind

This poor guy tried to dock in the wind.

You can see the person standing on the sailboat - protecting his boat - I went out to put fenders on the side when I saw him turning in . There were four people on the dock helping and the wind still pushed him into the sailboat.

Sometimes you're the show and sometimes you're the audience!!

Feeding the twins!

And, yes, Garth went back and told her she had made a mistake - so she gave us a discount!

Hopefully we will be heading to Oriental tomorrow - the sailing capital of North Carolina! From there we are aiming for Bellhaven NC then contemplating heading up the DISMAL SWAMP to Norfolk, Virginia.

Beaufort North Carolina

We had a well deserved long sleep. It is amazing to me how tired we get - has to be the sea air and the early mornings. We tidied up  the boat this morning, Frankie and Andy were coming over at 11:30 and we wanted to make sure the boat was presentable. They left it so clean and neat - inside and out ! Garth washed the deck, I had just done it in Myrtle Beach but it wasn't clean enough for him . I dusted and vacuumed !

Andy and Frankie Bailey - FRANDY (Algonquins previous name)

Frankie and Andy arrived about 11:30 , we had a list of questions to ask them. They ran this boat for twenty years so they know it best.  They also had two carts full of goodies for the boat that they had stored in their garage! It was like Christmas, Garth is still going through the things and I am sure the label maker will come out tonight. Frankie had new sheets for the guest beds - a welcome addition! We drove into town and they treated us to a wonderful lunch at Clawsons.  Off to Oriental tomorrow weather permitting!

Wrightsville Beach to Beaufort N.C.

We had three bridges to time today, the first one being right in front of us - we made all three just in time. The Onslow Bridge keeper said as long as he could see us he'd keep the bridge open so Garth hit the throttle and we made it.

We were warned against trying to get in here, I think Dan just wanted the 89 cent beer!

The Marines run this swing bridge

Camp Lejeune

more of Camp Lejeune

Zeke and Garth at the Welcome sign

Beaufort attack cats eyeing Zeke

We passed through a military training facility for a great part of the day and therefore the tanks on the banks. Frankie and Andy (the previous owners of this boat) live right at green marker 23. They were out on the dock to wave us through. We had spent the best part of the day all by ourselves then just as we were approaching marker 23 two other boats appeared and a huge barge!  We made arrangements to meet tomorrow. As we round the corner into Beaufort we saw wild ponies on the island - will have to look up the name. We stayed at the Town Creek marina and once we got docked we walked over the bridge into town. We walked around to the city dock and meet "Tropical Breeze" who we have seen all along the way, they were docked behind us in St. Augustine weeks ago and then we ran into Antares again, Zeke had a visit with Lucy and we headed out to dinner. We had a great dinner at the Beaufort Grocery Company, unfortunately we had Zeke with us and had to sit outside with the bugs so dinner was quick. We walked back and hit the hay.

Myrtle Beach to Wrightsville Beach

Timed our departure to get the bridge opening

We had only planned on going as far as Southport but got there about 11 and thought it was such a nice day we would carry on.  We once again passed several sailboats - one in particular that we had seen in Myrtle Beach. Neither of us can remember the name but the owner is 82 years old and sailing by himself. He ran aground the night before and was saying (on the radio) that he made it worse by asking a power boat to make a big wake.....he continued on to say he took on water through his bathroom sink but that he was OK and moving on down the ditch. Can you imagine, 82 years old and out here by himself!!
We arrived at the  Wrightsville Beach Marina just in time for the live music to begin so we had entertainment throughout dinner. Lots of action in that little strip of the ICW.

Something went wrong somewhere

Early morning fishing trip

Shrimp boats all along the ICW today

I thought of Kilkenny Creek when I saw this dock!!!

Beautiful herons along the shore

Cape Fear posed no problem for Garth

Passing by the barges gets a bit hair raising at times

Live bait for sale in the middle of the channel

Wrightsville Marina with entertainment out our back door!