Camp Lejeune

     Today was day 3 of our push to get out of Belhaven, NC.  Belhaven has been described to us as the black hole of Calcutta.  The only good thing we found in the area was Dowry Creek Marina.  Our second night at the marina we went to a pot luck dinner and met some very nice people including a couple from Illinois, Pete and Jan and their German Shepard Ebony.  I have been trying to upload some very interesting photos, but that has been a big challenge with the air card.  It has been a very long time since we have anchored near civilization so that we can use our WiFi antenna.  Looking at the charts, I think we will be getting closer to something that resembles civilization soon.  Today we had planned on stopping at Beaufort, NC but it lacked what I consider good anchorages.  So here we sit at Mile Hammock Bay in Camp Lejeune.

If you have to ask.....

.....you would not understand

Down Around The Corner

       This was a common sight in Virginia and is even more common in North Carolina.  At night when we are anchored we will see the lights on the tugs as they go by.  They will often run at night when the waterways are not so busy with us recreational boaters.  The one in the photo above came past just after we anchored in Cedar Creek.  I am glad we did not run into each other down around the corner.

Milk, Bread, Eggs and Water

     Today was the first time we stayed at a marina since our departure back on October 6th.  When we were at Solomons, MD we did manage to do some light grocery shopping and take on water while we were at a boat yard to have the watermaker inspected.  This past weekend we did try to do some grocery shopping at Belhaven, NC but unfortunately downtown Belhaven is dying and the local grocery store was too far to walk.  So we decided to stay at a very rural marina outside of Belhaven because they have a courtesy car.  You may use the courtesy car for 90 minutes and replace what gas you use - pretty good rental care rate.  We decided to reserve the car for 1 PM today to go grocery shopping.  After spending $250 at the grocery store I can say that the boat is provisioned better today than when we left on 10/6.  Today was also laundry day and tomorrow we will fill our fresh water tanks with water.  We are ready for almost anything - we have milk, bread, eggs and water.

Alligator River

Got a very early (7:05 AM) start this morning.  We departed our anchorage at Deep Point just in time to catch sunrise on the Alligator River.

What Was I Thinking?

     After spending Monday night at Hospital Point in Norfolk we headed south on the ICW.  On our charts, Hospital Point is mile 0 (read "zero") of the ICW.  In the photo above the race has begun as we head down the Virginia Cut towards the railroad  (bascule) bridge which is open all the time. While in Norfolk we did have to stop for one railroad bridge just like this one and the wait was 20 minutes until the train (locomotive and 3 cars) came  through and then another 15 minutes after the train passed before the bridge reopened. 

     One obstacle in the Virginia cut, also known as the Chesapeake and Albemarle Canal, is a lock.  This photo was taken by Sharon as we waited to be locked through. When you look at some of those distances and your boat only goes 7 knots you begin to think "what was I thinking?'

Norfolk Naval Base

     When you enter the James River at Hampton Roads you are immediately in the presence of US Naval Warships.  Due to 9/11 you must be very careful where you go and do not let yourself get within 100 yards of one of these ships even if they're docked.  Security forces would rather see you at 500 yards.  These photos were taken at Norfolk Navy Base.

S/V Mystic Whaler

     This is S/V Mystic Whaler.  She was on the Chesapeake Bay, unfortunately there was not much wind.  It would have been nice to see her under full sail.

Ol' Baldy

     This photo was taken at our last anchorage.  The American Bald Eagle is a very common sight on the tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay.  In this photo the wind has ruffled the feathers of ol' baldy.

Roughing It

     When we left Solomons, MD on Tuesday we made a run for the Potomac River and a small creek called Smith Creek.  We decided on this location because of the weather reports we had been receiving - Small Craft Advisory with 3-4 foot waves on the bay for the next 4 days.  4 foot waves, depending on the direction they hit the boat, leave a lot to be desired.   So being the prudent sailors we are, we stayed in our gunkhole.  The above photo was taken after a strong low passed through on Thursday.  Although we love to spend our time in gunkholes, this one came with a price - bad TV reception, no 3G phone coverage and no WiFi. That's roughing it! 

Scratch That Idea

       The above photo was taken at Mill Creek the night before we departed Solomons, MD.  Although it was a beatirful sunset we still wanted to get out of there.  Oh yea, the watermaker, scratch that idea. 

 

GET-ME-OUT-OF-HERE

     We are still working on the watermaker issue.  Before we left our marina, Long Cove Marina, we had been informed by our service tech that he was not able to develop a solution for our watermaker.   Yes, he was well in over his head.  However, he did locate a boat yard in Solomons, MD that would look at our system and possibly help us.  We arrived in Solomons, MD on Saturday.  This is a very busy place.  As we were approaching the entrance to Back Creek a sailboat under power cut across our bow from port to starboard.  When I say cut across our bow, we had less than 30 feet when his cockpit cleared our bow.  When I informed (without a radio) the elderly gentleman that he should learn the "rules of the road" his wife smiled and waved to me!  After making that "almost deadly entrance" we headed up Mill Creek to an anchorage at the mouth of Old House Creek.  If you have been following our blog you will know by now that we do not favor marina life.  And although we are not in a marina, this anchorage is just as bad as a marina.  Too much boat traffic, too much water skiing, too much tubing - GET ME OUT OF HERE.

M/V Epilogue

     This is M/V Epilogue of Choptank River, MD. A 1992 Kadey Krogen 42, hull #173. Shown here anchored at Leason Cove on Mill Creek in Solomons, MD.  Good luck to the new owners, Philip and Connie.

Day One

     You would think we would have been up at the crack of dawn today all fired up about leaving the marina for our adventure.  We managed to crawl out of bed and have breakfast before 0900.  We closed our tab at the marina office and shoved off at 0940 hours and by 1410 this afternoon we were in our first anchorage.  We did this so we could spend the afternoon to rig the boat for cruising.  There were dock lines and fenders to stow.  The electrical shoreline cords and water hoses also had to be stowed, something that had never been done before except for winter storage.  Other than that it was an uneventful day on the boat, but that is a good thing even if it is day one. 

T-Minus 1 and Counting

     This post was generated some time ago with an automatic posting for October 1st.  Due to our busy schedule and not having a "home" and a internet provider to cruise the net we wrote this entry as time progressed starting back in August.
      It is our intention in our travels to post as frequently as possible.  I know it may seem confusing to some, but I will from time to time make entries to the blog that have been back dated to the date of the actual occurrence.   This will help family and friends follow our journey. I have employed this practice in the past of backdating entries, however it was done without giving notice.  So, as time permits and the internet is available, you may see multiple entries appear one day for the last month or whatever time frame may apply.  I know it sounds confusing, so just seat back and enjoy the journey.
      Looking back over the past 12 months, I'm glad we didn't wait until the spring of this year to start working on what had to be done.  Our yard sale work started in January for sale dates in May and June.  Our Christmas in April allowed for the items to be on hand for when the timing was right for installation on the boat this spring and summer.  Putting the house up for sale in April and locating a buyer willing to wait until September was golden.  And, Sharon retiring in November of 2009 was the key to everything.  I would not have been able to accomplish all of this on my own.
       It would be logical to think that based on the countdown we would be departing in November.  But that is not the case,  the new departure date is October 6th - let the adventure begin.