Deltaville, VA & Solomons, MD

May 16 – 22, 2012

Well, 2 days in Deltaville at Regatta Point turned into 6!!  The wind and waves just wouldn’t let up!  I even poked my nose out into the Bay on Monday morning but Greg turned me around.  The waves were screwy!!

Greg wanted to see Jumbo Lump at the Maritime Museum!

Statuary on the Nature Trail at the Museum

Tuesday turned out to be a much better day.  It was still cloudy and gray, but there was only a light wind and it wasn’t raining.  We ended up at Solomon’s Yachting Center with Boreas and Sea Venture.  Kismet and Sea Biscuit were at Zahniser’s, and Brown Eyed Girl, Erika Lin, and Marc’s Ark were at Spring Cove Marina.    Everybody got together at The Dry Dock Restaurant.  Kate said they had a great time catching up with folks.

Wednesday I will be home in Knapp’s Narrows.  Can’t wait to see my friends!

Oriental, NC to Norfolk, VA

May 10 – 15, 2012

I left River Dunes on Thursday morning and headed to Dowry Creek Marina in Belhaven, NC.  It was not too bad a ride.  The Pamlico was a bit bumpy, but Kate didn’t get green – a good thing!  And it was interesting – as always- getting into the slip!

On Friday we did the Alligator River.  Not as bad as last year, thank goodness!  It was a bit bumpy, but once we cleared the bridge it was calm.  Nothing at all like last year!  We saw jet fighters, maybe heading to a carrier, circling over us then heading out to sea.

Can you see the plane?

Alligator River Marina is always the same - a convenient spot to stop.  Fuel if you need it and food at the “Shell Station”.

Saturday I headed to Elizabeth City to meet my friend Boreas.  The slips were almost empty – only 3 sailboats.

I took a slip and Boreas and Sea Venture (a friend I made in River Dunes) went on the wall.  There was a nice guy there – Gus – who helped us all tie up.  The Farmer’s Market was still going strong and Kate was able to get some good bread and veggies. 

I headed out for the Dismal Swamp on Sunday morning with Boreas.  It wasn’t as bad as last year.  We even made the 4:30 opening of the Gilmertin Bridge! 

Heading thru the Dismal Swamp

I spent 3 nights in Norfolk.  Kate & Greg did some walking and shopping and eating.  They also visited “Nauticus” – a museum and education center.  It traces the history of the area and the US Navy. The battleship Wisconsin is also there to tour.  They saw a Carnival cruise ship – the Carnival Glory - come into port, reload and depart.  They also saw Theodore Too, a tug from Canada.

Carnival Glory - 2 day cruise to nowhere

Theodore Too

They also went to Portsmouth by ferry and walked around the historic area. 

Oriental, NC

May 8, 2012

I did it!!  I crossed my wake today!!  I left River Dunes in Oriental, NC on May 26, 2011. It took me less than a year (and they made me sit for almost 4 months in Florida!).

I’m not sure how many miles I actually traveled – Kate didn’t keep track all the time.  But I know it was a bunch!!

My friend Once Around is in New Bern, NC.  She just finished the Loop in Morehead City.  Her people, Frank and Carrie, came to visit Greg & Kate to celebrate with them.  They had champagne, took pictures, and went out for pizza.  At least they didn’t break the champagne bottle on me!

Greg putting up my Gold flag

 

We did it!

I am getting my radar fixed and then will be heading north to the Chesapeake.  I will keep blogging until I am back in Tilghman (I know y’all didn’t check to see where I’d been on Jany K’s blog)!

I’m ready to do it all again!

Swansboro, NC

May 7, 2012

I left pretty early this morning to catch the 7 AM opening of the Wrightsville Beach Bridge.  It was so early the tender opened for me at 6:45 AM!

I had 4 bridges to go through today.  I had to wait at 2 of them – 30 mins. @ Surf City and 15 mins. @ Onslow.  Other than that, it was another kinda boring, gray sort of day.  Not too much to see, winds and current always pushing against me!  Just once I’d like to have both the wind and the current with me!

Today I went through Camp Lejeune!  Kate & Greg’s son James was here for a bit (yeah, he was/is a jarhead).  Nobody was shooting today, thank you!

I docked at Casper’s in Swansboro about 2 PM, just before a 110 ft. ship came in.  Very snooty and high class!

Casper's marina, Swansboro, NC

My people walked into town and found a few gift shops and an Irish pub!! Yeah for Kate!!! There were also a couple of restaurants, but all else is on the highway.  Oh well – at least they could go have dinner.

Sunset

 

Tomorrow I will cross my wake!  When I dock at River Dunes I will have completed the Loop!  Wish me luck!

Southport & Wrightville Beach, NC

May 4-6, 2012

Friday I traveled to Southport, NC.  I stayed 2 days because the weather report looked bad for Saturday and Greg doesn’t like to travel on Saturdays if possible.  Of

course the weather was fine until about 10 PM Sat. night!

They walked around Southport both Friday and Saturday to get some exercise.  They also walked to dinner on Friday and ran into a moon tide that was extremely high!

In front of the Fishy Fishy Cafe -- moon tide!

I didn’t have to far on Sunday.  Only 3 hours and 25.8 miles to Wrightsville Beach.  The Cape Fear River was a little snotty and it was very cloudy, but not a bad ride.

Greg & Kate took a walk to the beach and had lunch before coming back. They said they felt like the oldest people in town!!

North Myrtle Beach, SC

May 3, 2012

Today was a quiet day on the water.  No skinny water and a pretty straightforward shot to Myrtle Beach.  And there were no horse flies!!!

I only had to wait for one bridge, and that was only 10 minutes or so.  This is considered the prettiest stretch of the ICW.

Along the Waccamaw River in South Carolina

I arrived at Barefoot Marina about 1:15 PM and Greg & Kate were in the pool by 2:00!  It looks like a very nice resort/condo complex.  They had dinner at the restaurant and enjoyed it.

The Barefoot Marina, N  Myrtle Beach, SC

Georgetown, SC

May 2, 2012

I headed out to Harborwalk Marina in Georgetown, SC this morning.

It was slow going today – there was lots of skinny water and other areas where I had to go slow.

Tides out!  Mark is high and dry!

But OMG!!!  I saw an alligator today in the Estherville Minim Creek Canal.  Greg didn’t increase the throttle but I swear I was going faster (Kate must have been paddling)!!

They walked into town tonight for dinner.  It was only

about a block from the marina to downtown.  Nice!

Charleston, SC

April 30 – May 1, 2012

On Monday I left Beaufort around 7:30 AM.  It was cloudy – off and on – with very little breeze.  And horse flies again!

I went through a couple of very skinny spots – very carefully and very slowly!  Even though today was a longer day than the last couple, it wasn’t that bad.

I got to Charleston at 3:30 PM.  Wow!  Megadock!!!  I feel so small!

I feel so small!!

When Greg saw how much fuel went into the boat opposite me and then checked the cost, he was really grinning and told me I was wonderful!  (It cost that owner $5894.00!)

On Tuesday they took the shuttle into Charleston to walk around and have lunch.  They didn’t get back until almost 3 PM.  But my friend Kismet came in to keep me company.  She’s staying for 3 nights, but we leave tomorrow!  Hope I see her again soon! 

Ft. Sumter

Waterfront Park -- wading pools