Into the Chesapeake

It's been a while since the last update and WiFi, so figured it was time to reconnect.  We stayed in Oriental for two nights waiting for a couple of parts to be delivered, one of which was. We'll catch up with the other in Annapolis. Our stay there was pleasant as was the quaint town.  Dinner the first night at the marina restaurant was incredibly good! I enjoyed seared Ahi tuna, and Jeff had a spicy creamy shrimp pasta.  While waiting for our order, I tended to the ducks who were looking for a handout. Obviously this is nothing new to them and they are quite polite.

We enjoyed grilled lamb on the boat the second night, and while sitting outside in the cockpit enjoying a glass of wine, we had many admirers who just had to stop and tell us what a beautiful boat we have.
Oriental is a town of around 800 - and someone told us there were over 2200 sailboats there! It's known as the Sailing Capital of North Carolina.  No wonder we had so much interest!

We left Oriental the next morning and headed north. We'll definitely try to return to this neat place with friendly folks in the fall on our way back south. There weren't many photo op moments this day, as the ICW is either quite wide or quite nondescript, save for a few bridges and osprey nests.  Our next stop was a small marina called Dowry Creek in the Bellhaven Area on the Pungo River in NC. This is a small and very quiet marina with very a lovely owner, Mary.  We borrowed the marina loaner car and headed for the local grocery store to stock up again.

Nick, the dock hand, alerted us about the next bridge we were to encounter heading north, which was a foot shorter than all the rest and since they don't get much tide there, it would be "iffy" as to whether we'd make it under.  When we saw the barnacles showing on the pilings around our slip, we knew it would be the best shot at making it, so off we went.

A tap, tap, tap of the antenna under the bridge and we're through!  Another sigh of relief...
We're on our way up the Alligator River to Coinjock - a marina and restaurant advertising a 32 oz Prime Rib.  Our mouths were watering!  Only wish I'd snapped a shot of that dinner plate...  We shared it, naturally and it was as mouthwatering as we'd anticipated.  After a leisurely start to the morning (that's kind of what happens after a huge meal like the one we had!) we were the second to last off the dock and headed north once again.  This is the Coinjock marina and restaurant below - sort of a "parallel parking marina".

Yet another mama osprey...

Forty miles up the ditch, we encounter the Great Bridge, and immediately after that the Great Bridge Lock.

Seven or eight of us securely tied up in the lock and down the water goes. Nice chance to chat with the boaters ahead and behind us.

Once we're all lowered down, we're ready to head out the other side!

And we're all off and running again...

We left Coinjock at 8:30 a.m. and after 8 hours, ended up in Norfolk and tied up at the Tidewater Marina for the night.  It's Memorial Day and we were treated to some evening fireworks.  Thanks to all our troops through the years.

After an enjoyable evening here, we spent a leisurely morning and headed out at 11:45 after a quick run to the bank and grocery store.   Just after leaving the marina, I spotted something floating in the water and Jeff circled while I grabbed the boat hook.  Turns out it was a GREAT hat for keeping the sun off....   After a soak in some suds, it was as good as new!

After we got out of the industrial/naval section of Norfolk, we sailed to the Poquoson Channel and a beautiful anchorage.  It has been 90 degrees for the past two days and after the anchor went down, Jeff took a plunge.  We ended up firing up the generator to cool down for the evening.  

Careful what you wish for, as we woke to 60 degrees!  Bundled up and amazed at the 30 degree change....  

This was an anchorage to remember.  Quiet, secure, and apparently close to our good friends Twyla and Harry.  We didn't have the opportunity to get together with them, as Twyla is visiting her mom in St. Louis. We hope to see them on our way back south in the fall.  Twyla, we know your mom loves that you're there with her!

Tonight we are in Kilmarnock, VA at the Chesapeake Boat Basin which had good reviews from fellow boaters.  They were right.  More to come....

Cruising Update

We've had a great time since we left the anchorage. We left our quiet dragonfly laden cove on the morning of the 19th, and headed north to Osprey Marina in Myrtle Beach - a protected harbor off the ICW and very quaint.  So far, Osprey Marina is the only one we've been to that gives you a "goody bag" when you check in.  Crackers, jelly, pecan rolls, honey buns, maps, key rings, note pads, etc, etc.
We slept soundly and awoke to songs of various birds in the surrounding trees.

The next morning we would have lots of bridges to pass under.  Low tide is our best friend at these times!  So far there has only been one bridge that our antenna touched.  Good thing it's flexible.

Are we going to make it???

Myrtle Beach along the ICW offers lots to see.  Extraordinary homes, golf courses, and even cable cars over the waterway!

Our next destination was Bald Head Island, in the Southport Channel, NC which according to Active Captain is a "must-see", and it proved to be.  This island is only approachable by boat.  Most vehicles here are golf carts.  Reminds me of the Bahamas....  We stayed for a night at the Bald Head Island Marina and the next morning decided to tour the island in a rented golf cart and do some provisioning.  We first stopped to explore the lighthouse which has been almost totally restored.  This is the only lighthouse I've seen that has wooden steps.  All the others have had metal steps.  It's a good workout to get to the top. Thank goodness coming down is easier!

The golf cart was absolutely worth renting. Under tree canopies we traveled across the island to East Beach.  This beach will absolutely blow your shoes off!  The sand is incredibly fine and the beach and dunes  are amazing.  We stopped on our way back from the beach at the market, which had everything we needed, loaded up the cart and headed back to the boat.  Absolutely HAD to stop at the sail shop where we picked up a couple of souvenirs before we headed out.

Our next destination was the Seapath Yacht Club in Wrightsville Beach, NC.  The scenes along the way were interesting but not especially spectacular.  Nice place just off the ICW.  Easy in, easy out.

We left the next morning to travel another 50 miles or so and decided to target Dudley's Marina for our next stopping point.  There really aren't many anchorages on this northbound trek up the ICW, so we are pretty much forced to find a marina.  Dudley's turned out to be interesting.  The wind kicked up a bunch and we were assigned a slip where the wind was blowing us off the dock, making it a little tricky. Throwing lines to dock hands against the blow without losing the lines in the water is the goal. All went well there and with a little help from our bow thruster, we were safe & sound in port.  The adjacent boat's owners said they had been tied up there for two days waiting for the wind to lay down.

Some of the sights we saw along the way......

Statue competition among neighbors?

Osprey nests are built on almost every channel marker.  It's almost time for these babies to hatch!

This was an interesting place for a nest...

Pink?

Here come the Marines!

Anyone looking for a little getaway?

We left Dudley's this morning and after a 5 hour run we were able to unfurl the sails and feel the power of the wind.  First time we've had both sails up and we were totally pleased.  I sailed her across the first half of the Neuse River and Jeff sailed the rest.  We both agree she handles incredibly well!

We arrived at Oriental Marina at 1:30 - an hour ahead of schedule (traveling at 8 knots is way cool compared to our old 5 or 6) and are settled in at slip #9 where the tiki bar is directly in front of us.  We'll be here for two days waiting for a new VHF handheld and chart plotter which are both acting up and need to be exchanged. Our good friends at St. Bart's Yachts in Charleston are on the ball with arranging the details of shipping them to us.  Life is good.

In the meantime as I write this, Jeff is installing normal size drink holders in the cockpit  (did I mention previously that the only thing that will fit in the current ones are cans of Red Bull and French beer?) and changing the oil.  Never a lack of anything to do for that boy!

More when we have WiFi again.