Oriental, NC

Mon- Another bright sunny morning but still cool, around 45. Highs expected in the mid 60's. Decided to move on as a cold front is coming thru tonite bringing big winds. Today we cross Ablemarle Sound and down the Alligator River. The sound is only a max of 17 ft deep but about 50miles long by 15 wide, apparently the waves can be very choppy at times. This area is inside the outer banks west of Kitty Hawk. I can't believe that any Gators live in the Alligator river as the water is only 58 today. For The first 20 miles it is more like a big bay as it is 5 miles wide, but about 10 ft deep. The shoreline is lowlands with no developed areas. We anchored up a creek that was more like Piercefield Flow( will try to post pics, havn't had much luck with that). Motored thru dead standing trees to get to creek. Much of the water was only charted at 5 ft but we never touched. Anchored just before front rolled thru with big winds (25 knts) and heavy rain. Filled fuel with 17 gal. first time since the 14th. diesel was $2.92/gal, lowest we've seen yet. Traveled 34 miles today, all motoring into headwinds.





Tues- Dawned breezy, cold and clear, 38 degrees and another beautiful sunrise. Winds predicted west 20-30kt. Motor into headwinds until we turned south at Belhaven, Great sailing then down Pungo river, across Pamlico Sound thru canal and Bay river and back into Sound. Anchor up Broad Creek, very protected and scenic. Even though it was cool, when we heard there was 15 in of snow at home we toasted that with a gin-tonic. I guess I better quit complaining about the cold. Has been sunny almost every day so our greenhouse(enclosure) has stayed warm. If it wasn't for that I'm sure Chris would have mutinied by now. traveled 50 miles today, about half sailing.





Wed - Sunny and still chilly -high of 55. We sailed down Pungo River, across pamlico Sound,down Goose Creek thru canal to Bay river and back into the sound. Great sailing much of the timewith just the jib. Winds were 15-22. Anchored in Broad Creek. 49 miles today.





Thurs - 38 degres, Arrived in Oriental, NC at the town dock(free for 2 nights) around 11:30. It is still cool but sunny. We took a walk to pick up our mail. Then it was a bike ride for groceries and dinner at a real locals place. There is a marine consignment shop where Kevin found a prop for the dingy motor. There are a few restaraunts and a great maine supply store.

Pictures

Top left is in the South Mills Lock where 10 boats were going thru.

Bottom left is early morning after leaving the NC Dismal Swamp Welcome Center to head for the South Mills Lock.

Top right is just one of the anchorages up a creek at sunset.

Elizabeth City, NC

Wed Oct 22-Sunny and cold, motor to town to pick up mail and some supplies. Head out at 11 am, winds north at 18 to 22 knt, run south jib only in big waves, steering was a lot of work. Anchor at 5pm in the Great Wicomico River, Cockerel Creek, Reedville Va. Shore Was lined with abandoned fish cannerys, still home to a fleet of huge fishing trawlers (See attached picture). Saw our first Pellicans today, a good sign that we must be getting to warmer water(water temp still only 58)

Thurs- Another Sunny cold morning. Head out at 9am, Winds NE then east at 15 to 18 knots, Jib only for 3rd day, made great time and waves were more forgiving today. Long day but protected anchorages were few and far between. Anchor for evening at 5:30 in Poquoson River, Chisman Creek. Covered 107 miles under sail in the past 2 days.

Fri- Cool and sunny, mid 40's, wind east at 17. Were escorted out of the anchorage by a huge dolfin, first we've seen. Motor 12 miles east into big waves before we could turn south. Made great time then sailing with full Jib to nofolk. The harbor is huge covering many miles with all kinds of ships. Aircraft carriers and cargo ships lined the docks. will try to post a few pics. Tied up at a town park south of main city, biked around in late afternoon. 40 miles today.

Sat- showery but warm. First rain since we left Albany. Hard to believe that we have been out for a month. Head south at 10 am, delayed at one of the many lift bridges but still made lock opening for the dismal swamp canal at 11:30. Very narrow canal thru woods for 22 miles strait as an arrow. Tied up at North Carolina welcome center with 12 other sailboats. We were rafted 3 boats abrest but it was a great spot. Showers much of the day. Quiet nite.

Sun - We awoke early at sunrise in order to get thru the canal with the other boats who were rafted up at the welcome center. The first lock was 8:30 and there were 10 boats in the lock together. We continued down the canal to Elizabeth City, NC. This was the 1st time we have tied piers with no docks. It was a good thing that it was not windy. The harbor master was a little perplexed to have 10 boats try to dock all at once. It is great that the town provides this service for free. We then took a bike ride to see what was around. I did some laundry, then a boat community proceeded to have a wine and cheese party.

Sorry about no picures I am having trouble uploading them.

Heading for warmer climate, where the weather suits our clothes

Monday- Sunny and frosty, Decided to skip on touring Annapolis and head south. It seems we miscalculated on following the warm weather. Need to get moving, maybe we can spend more time exploring in the spring. Winds were calm and after 3 hours motoring had engine problems. Water pump (anti freeze) bearings noisy. Phone calls found marina 7 miles away had part. No wind so we made our way slowly to Deale. Md. Huge marina, Harrington Harbor, easily more boats than all of Lake Champlain, literally thousands. Turned out they had wrong pump, but were able to get correct one this morning. We spent a quiet nite up Creek at a town Dock.
Tues.- Back sailing by 11 am. Have to expect some mechanical problems with a 24 year old boat. Thankfully this was an easy fix. Big wind, ran with just genny, average speed about 8 kts, surfing down waves at 10 kts(on gps) all day. Wind n@20 gusts higher. Anchored in a pretty secluded creek(river) in Solomons Island in time for cocktail hour and another beautiful sunset. Even though it's been cool the skies have been clear since leaving Albany. Tomorrow we pick up our mail here(hopefully)then continue south, still predicting strong north winds. Covered 69 miles past 2 days. Still a long ways to Fl.

from Annapolis, sailing capitol of the east

Have had a great past few days. on Thurs. we headed out at noon to catch the outgoing tide. beautiful sunny warm day. motored and sailed to Harve de Grace MD about 34 nm.
Friday- wandering around historic town, had dinner with my sister Ellen in the evening, she lives about 18 miles south. Very pretty area but touristy. Cool but sunny.
Sat- ran south with a strong north wind and big waves, Anchored north of Baltimore in quiet narrow creek off middle river, had planned on a stop in Baltimore but with the cool weather we decided to get moving quicker than planned.
Sunday- dawned cold and sunny but a great north wind again, arrived in Annapolis early afternoon, Sailboats evreywhere. Anchored in Back Creek which we thought would be a little quieter than in the main harbor. Crowded here also, boats anchored in middle of narrow channel with docks lining both sides. Not what we're used to but seems fine. Plan to explore town tomorrow. Frost predicted tonite. Am told that the place is much more crowded during the boat show, can't imagine what it must be like.

C&D Canal

Monday and Tuesday were beautiful sunny days. Kevin did a little fishing on Tuesday with an old friend. I got a chance to visit also and do laundry.
Wed. Left Greenwich, NJ early. Sailed partway up Deleware Bay almost to the entrance of the C&D Canal. Today has been the warmest day yet. We are tied up to the Chesapeake City Dock. It is free for 1 night. Today was a short day only 34 miles. So far we have traveled 560 miles.

From Alloway, NJ

The trip from Barnegat Lighthouse to Atlantic City went very smoothly. We had a north wind all the way. It was warm and sunny with the wind behind us. We never did go to shore at Atlantic City, the current was very swift so we anchored up the creek and quite a dingy ride away. The next day left @7:45 and was sunny but cold. Lite NE winds, built to 14kts. We had a great run with full sails to Cape May arriving @3pm.
Sunday - Sunny, clear and not as cold. Went through the Cape May Canal.
Winds from E at 10, then switched to W at 10. Had an escort of dear old friends in their power boat 6 miles south of Cohancy River and then into the river to Greenwich. We are staying here for a few days to visit.

Oct 10

My trip to FL was unexpected and quick. Thank you everyone for your condolences.

We are back on our adventure! The picture at top right is of Manhattan when we went by on day 7 and the Statue of Liberty, still an awesome site. It was cloudy and a little rough going through the harbor. Kevin did not take any pictures at Atlantic Highlands. It was a very beautiful anchorage and protected. We continued on the trip on day 14 from Atlantic Highlands to Toms River, NJ. I met up with a friend from grade school who I hadn't seen in 35 years. From there we sailed to Barnegat Bay Lighthouse (Picture taken early morn leaving the inlet). Today we arrived at Atlantic City. The evening picture is of Trump Casino. The current was sift so we anchored in a creek opposite the casinos and never did dingy in to try our luck. Today was warm and sunny, winds from the north so we sailed all the way.

Notes from Kevin-left Sandy Hook with a beautiful sunrise, Motor sailed to Manasquan Inlet. I have wanted to explore Barnegat Bay since spending time there in the 80's. Pt. Pleasant Canal brought us there but timing the canal was critical. tides at Manasquan run 4 ft but only 4 inches in the upper bay. Current in canal can run 5 knots but we timed our passage for slack current. Barnegat Bay is a huge body of water but very shallow, compares to Champain in size but average depth of 6-7 ft. We touched bottom in the channel a few times but bottom is soft mud. We could have continued down the bay to Atlantic City but opted for deeper water in the ocean. Exited back to the ocean at Barnegat Light which was a very confusing channel, the charts for most inlets don't show buoys since they move them often. Each ocean entrance to the Bay has very swift currents during tide differences.

Day 7- Left at dawn to catch tide, Anchor at Yonkers for lunch, wifi, and to wait out tide. Continue thru NYC. Very busy south of manhattan, Lots of traffic from Ships, Ferries and tugs. Caught 3 knot current at Statue of Liberty , thru Varrazano Narrows and most of the way to Sandy Hook. Anchor behind breakwater at Atlantic Highlands just as passing storm hit. Long day, over 50 kt miles.

Day 8- Planned rest day, wind howling all day. We didn't even venture ashore( i was worried if dingy motor quit we wouldn't be able to row in wind. Sunny but cool, lo 60's.

Day 9-Friday, to town for walk and shopping. Neat village with huge marina area. Call from Carol(Chris' sister) Dave passed away, but they don't have plans yet for service. Chris making plans for trip to Rochester with both Kate and Alli.

Day 10- Sat. Bike around area, very hilly but great views of bay and ocean. Daves burial to be in Florida, Chris made new travel plans.

Day 11- Chris to Ft. Lauderdale via taxi, train then plane. She will return Tuesday night. I biked around area. Sunny and warmer, mid 60's.

Day 5 - 6

Lighthouse on left is Hudson-Athens, right is Rondout Lighthouse at Kingston.

top is Andros anchored off Bannermans Castle

Day 5 - Sailed and motored-sailed to Kingston. 50 miles today. rain in the morning cleared later, late start-10 am. Anchor at one of our old favorite spots up Rondout Creek below falls.

Day 6 - Early start to catch tide, left at daybreak. Outgoing tide running almost 2 knots. incoming tide flows upstream at about 1 knot. We didn't time our trip to match the tides so we are traveling early morning then again midafternoon. Stopped at castle for a couple of hours to wait out tide and have lunch. Beautiful warm day. We forget how beautiful most of the Hudson is. I was disappointed by the dirty water around Albany but apparently the flooding rains were a cause of much of this. The water is much cleaner now but still a lot of floating debris to watch out for. Anchor at Croton Point, Walk to town. 57 miles today.