| WINTER/SPRING March/April/May 2010 Page 5 |
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APRIL 29 Southport, NC - Southport Marina
We had a great time at the AGLCA rendezvous and met so many new people
as well as some we met while doing the loop. We also had the chance to
share ideas and information to those doing the loop now and those planning.
It will be nice to meet up with those boats again as we travel home and
when we leave in late June to head north to Lake Champlain and Canada.
We had a great time at the AGLCA rendezvous and met so many new people
as well as some we met while doing the loop. We also had the chance to
share ideas and information to those doing the loop now and those planning.
It will be nice to meet up with those boats again as we travel home and
when we leave in late June to head north to Lake Champlain and Canada.
| CLICK ON THE THUMBNAILS TO ENLARGE FOR DETAILS. |
| Pictures of our dock at Barefoot Resort, a condo, and a terrible storm that came by late in the afternoon. We did have a beautiful rainbow and a striking sunset. |
As we left, the ICW looking south was calm and clear.
However, once we headed north, we hit a fog bank.
We were lucky to be behind 2 sailboats and were able
to follow their masts as we traveled through the
"Rock Pile", a very narrow channel with rocks on the
bottom and sides.
However, once we headed north, we hit a fog bank.
We were lucky to be behind 2 sailboats and were able
to follow their masts as we traveled through the
"Rock Pile", a very narrow channel with rocks on the
bottom and sides.
APRIL 30 Caspers Marina, Swansboro, NC
We left Southport Marina at 7:00 with very calm winds. The Cape Fear River was also calm and we had
a good push from the current. Snows Cut, a narrow passage into the ICW had lots of current and some
shallow water, but we were soon on back on the ICW channel where we had more room to travel. the
water was a pretty blue and things were good. I actually road up on the bridge for a while which I never
do because it can get a little rocky up there, but today was so smooth and peaceful until the afternoon
when the wind began to kick up.
We left Southport Marina at 7:00 with very calm winds. The Cape Fear River was also calm and we had
a good push from the current. Snows Cut, a narrow passage into the ICW had lots of current and some
shallow water, but we were soon on back on the ICW channel where we had more room to travel. the
water was a pretty blue and things were good. I actually road up on the bridge for a while which I never
do because it can get a little rocky up there, but today was so smooth and peaceful until the afternoon
when the wind began to kick up.
Scenes along the ICW today
A young boy was on the dock to catch our lines. He could catch the line, but didn't know how to tie it to
keep us in place. It was a big mess. Finally the sailboater in front of us ran over to help. The wind was
so strong that we needed someone strong to quickly tie the lines around the pilings, the push the boat
away enough to get fenders in. At least the pilings were old and worn, so we didn't damage the rub rails,
although we scraped more wood off the pilings which splintered onto the deck. No hard done, but another
big mess. We rocked and rolled all night and I had to sleep on the couch because of the loud wave slap
and bouncing. We did have a nice walk into the cute historic town of Swansboro and had a great dinner at
this tiny Italian restaurant, so it was worth the stop, but don't know if we'd go there again with the
open exposed area to the winds off the ocean.
MAY 1- 3 River Dunes Marina, Oriental, NC
We left Swansboro at 6:30 AM and had a nice ride to Morehead City where we turned north toward the
Neuse River. We were so lucky to have a following sea of 1-2 feet on the river which can be a very
nasty place in high winds. We headed east 8 miles, then turned into a creek to River Dunes which is an
absolutely beautiful new developing community with nice docks and facilities. They have a free courtesy
car to get to town and bikes. Our bikes are tucked away in the bike bag and with rain coming, better to
keep in there.
We were going to leave today, but the seas are 2-3 which means 4, winds 10-20 MPH. Tomorrow
T-storms in the PM and we have a long day, Tuesday T-storms possible all day. Wednesday and Thursday
look like the best days at this point with open water areas to come 1 foot and no storms. It will be worth
the wait and a chance for us to rest up, wash and clean the boat and get ready for our last section home.
MAY 4 Belhaven, NC, Dowry Creek Marina
We left this morning around 9:00 along with Seamantha and Andiamo from Sarasota, FL who is doing the
loop. It was overcast, but no T-storms as predicted, and the Neuse River and Pamlico were less than 1
foot!! We were all happy and now tucked away at the end of a very long dock, easy to get Lily off, and a
great view of the salt marsh. We are leaving tomorrow for Coinjock.
MAY 5 Coinjock Marina, Coinjock, NC
We left Dowry Creek at 7:15 along with Seamantha and Andiamo. It was 30 miles along the Pongo River
and canal to the Alligator River. We were very happy to see our 15 mile run on that river to be flat calm!
To our surprise the Albermarle Sound had waves less than 1 foot all the way!! We arrived at Coinjock at
4:30, and our friends who we met in Ft. Pierce last December who live in VA Beach, drove to see us. We
had a great prime rib dinner at the restaurant here. Karen brought crackers, dip, a bottle of wine, and
strawberries! It was nice to see them after all this time. We are tied up at a very long dock with at
least 20 boats, all who are leaving tomorrow.
MAY 6 Tidewater Marina, Portsmouth, VA
It was a calm day on the water, but for the 42 miles, very tricky. We had to time several bridges as
some of them only opened on the hour or half hour, then we had to time a lock. We eventually wound up
traveling with several boats throughout the day. We arrived at Portsmouth around 3:30 and had a great
view of the cruise ship Enchantment of the Seas as it departed Norfolk across the way.
keep us in place. It was a big mess. Finally the sailboater in front of us ran over to help. The wind was
so strong that we needed someone strong to quickly tie the lines around the pilings, the push the boat
away enough to get fenders in. At least the pilings were old and worn, so we didn't damage the rub rails,
although we scraped more wood off the pilings which splintered onto the deck. No hard done, but another
big mess. We rocked and rolled all night and I had to sleep on the couch because of the loud wave slap
and bouncing. We did have a nice walk into the cute historic town of Swansboro and had a great dinner at
this tiny Italian restaurant, so it was worth the stop, but don't know if we'd go there again with the
open exposed area to the winds off the ocean.
MAY 1- 3 River Dunes Marina, Oriental, NC
We left Swansboro at 6:30 AM and had a nice ride to Morehead City where we turned north toward the
Neuse River. We were so lucky to have a following sea of 1-2 feet on the river which can be a very
nasty place in high winds. We headed east 8 miles, then turned into a creek to River Dunes which is an
absolutely beautiful new developing community with nice docks and facilities. They have a free courtesy
car to get to town and bikes. Our bikes are tucked away in the bike bag and with rain coming, better to
keep in there.
We were going to leave today, but the seas are 2-3 which means 4, winds 10-20 MPH. Tomorrow
T-storms in the PM and we have a long day, Tuesday T-storms possible all day. Wednesday and Thursday
look like the best days at this point with open water areas to come 1 foot and no storms. It will be worth
the wait and a chance for us to rest up, wash and clean the boat and get ready for our last section home.
MAY 4 Belhaven, NC, Dowry Creek Marina
We left this morning around 9:00 along with Seamantha and Andiamo from Sarasota, FL who is doing the
loop. It was overcast, but no T-storms as predicted, and the Neuse River and Pamlico were less than 1
foot!! We were all happy and now tucked away at the end of a very long dock, easy to get Lily off, and a
great view of the salt marsh. We are leaving tomorrow for Coinjock.
MAY 5 Coinjock Marina, Coinjock, NC
We left Dowry Creek at 7:15 along with Seamantha and Andiamo. It was 30 miles along the Pongo River
and canal to the Alligator River. We were very happy to see our 15 mile run on that river to be flat calm!
To our surprise the Albermarle Sound had waves less than 1 foot all the way!! We arrived at Coinjock at
4:30, and our friends who we met in Ft. Pierce last December who live in VA Beach, drove to see us. We
had a great prime rib dinner at the restaurant here. Karen brought crackers, dip, a bottle of wine, and
strawberries! It was nice to see them after all this time. We are tied up at a very long dock with at
least 20 boats, all who are leaving tomorrow.
MAY 6 Tidewater Marina, Portsmouth, VA
It was a calm day on the water, but for the 42 miles, very tricky. We had to time several bridges as
some of them only opened on the hour or half hour, then we had to time a lock. We eventually wound up
traveling with several boats throughout the day. We arrived at Portsmouth around 3:30 and had a great
view of the cruise ship Enchantment of the Seas as it departed Norfolk across the way.
Scene as we entered Norfolk Harbor on the Elizabeth River Cruise ship turning in the harbor
Here is our route from Swansboro
to Coinjock. The Neuse, Pamlico,
and Alligator River Rivers are much
wider than the map shows. We
were lucky to have had only 1 foot
seas those days. The Albermarle
Sound is much wider and again,
only 1 foot seas!
to Coinjock. The Neuse, Pamlico,
and Alligator River Rivers are much
wider than the map shows. We
were lucky to have had only 1 foot
seas those days. The Albermarle
Sound is much wider and again,
only 1 foot seas!