4 days on the water

Four full days ont he water and a short break this afternoon. We left our marina just north of Elizabeth City, NC on Thur after waiting out the weather for 2 days. It was the day to cross the Abermarle Sound, the wind was still up around 10 or so, but we decided to poke our nose out there and would turn around if it was too much. It is a 2 hr ride down the river to the Sound and the last hour or so it is nothing but crab pots. We had left at 8, so the sun was right on our nose and those pots were all but impossible to see! It took the two of us straining our eye balls for probably 1.5 hours min.The reflectio of the sun and the wave actions can really play tricks on your eyes. You honestly start to see things that aren't there - I thought I saw Brad Pitt's head rolling around out there a couple of times! It did make the time fly by!! By then we were in the sound and it was blowing pretty good but just off our nose so not too rocky and we decided to go for it. It was a long ride but we made it and stopped at a marina just at the other side for the night. We were now in now man's land, but the marina had all the services and we were pooped after a stresssful day. Walk the dogs. fix dinner, take a shower and hit the rack. Up and leaving at daylight the next day -another long one to a marina near Belhaven, NC. We had a couple hours to get down the Alligator river, then thru the Alligator-Pungo canal for 22 mi. This area is full of stumps along side the channel as well as debris/logs floating. Again, it takes two sets of eyes on the water constantly. It was a pretty ride and we were in line with 6 sailboats. At one point, ahead of us, one of the snagged on a stump and had to be towed into Belhaven. It appeared he had been towards the side of the channel - big mistake! Boaters are always very helpful and he had several stop to help him by the time we got there. The marina we stayed was very nice - we had stayed there last spring. They always have a HH in the club house so we met the few that had spent the night there (we are a little ahead of the snow bird rush which is a good thing!) We met a very nice fellow who had done the Loop a year ago ( a Gold Looper) who was so nice, offered any info he could and give us his card telling us to call him anytime for help/info. That's the way boaters are. Another couple, both who are 75 and have been boating for 40 yrs!!! Maybe that could be Alan and I in another 10 yrears?? I know - scary thought!!! They were heading back to Ft Lauderdale. Up again the next am at daylight and planned to head to Oriental, but decided to push on to Morehead City and the wind appeared to be cooperating. We had to cross the Pamlico River in the am and it can be a doozy, but there again it seemed manageable. Our comforft zone is definitely widening. Again, we were in a group of 6 sailboats ahead of us, and 6 behind. They werel loving all the wind!! After we crosed the river we were in a small river and protected. For once we didn't have to worry about pots or floating debris!! I studied my Spanish and Alan quizzed me. When it is smooth boating he hass the boat on auto pilot and he does knee bends and push ups. I should be doing the same, but am thinking about it!! Ted eats and sleeps, Sam moves around a little and tries to steal Ted's bed. If we wants it bad enought he will just ssit on Ted until Ted moves!! Tpical big brother!! Don - did Alan ever sit on you??? Very windy coming into Morehead City, and the water is starting to shallow up but Alan is getting very good at maneuvering the boat. We were tired so decided to eat out. It was walking distance to a very nice restaurant and no dishes to do on the boat. After studying the weather, which said is was going to continue to be very windy the next day (today) we went to bed not knowing for sure what we were going to do. In the am it looked like the land would protecti us from the direction of the wind so we casted off. We were hoping to be able to move today as it is Sun and the day we would be going thru Camp LeJuene. There are no live fire exercises on Sun which can delay a transit by up to 2 hrs. It was very quiet today!! Pulled into a marina at Sneads Ferry, NC around 3 - our shortest day for awhile. Some time for a nap!! Winds look good tomorrow so planning to head for Southport, NCTR - more to come!!

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