Saturday, November 30th
Yikes, November is on its way out and its cold and we still need to go further South.  Cruisers are starting to decorate their boats for the holiday.  We pulled into Bucksport Marina yesterday in the early afternoon for fuel.  We knew we couldn't make Georgetown SC so we decided to tie up there.  April was in her glory as they had three fields and she worked the doves and some other gamey bird.  She ran and ran and pointed and pointed.  We all had showers, April included, at the end of the hunt. 

We had another short run today to Georgetown to provision.  We are in the marina closest to the downtown.  We walked to the Food Lion and called a taxi to get back to the boat with our food.  The dock master has a yellow lab that April befriended and they ran and played around the marina.  We will haul out early tomorrow to get beyond Charleston.  We have decided not to stop there as we saw Charleston with Connie and Joe last trip and it is still very cold and we feel the need to travel.

 

This is typical of an abandoned boat and a problem for the waterway.

 

Typical along the waterway - lots of marshland that the waterway cuts through

 

Thanksgiving Day, 2013
The rain and the wind came and we hunkered down in Southport.  The laundry was free and good thing because by the time we followed April around for two days most everything needed at least drying.  We left Southport this morning in 21 degrees - took a too sharp starboard turn and bumped - backed up and headed out.  Knowing it was going to be cold and a holiday, we had called ahead to Myrtle Beach Marina for dockage.  So we pull into the channel where there are three big marinas and start looking for the fuel dock where we are supposed to dock.  Can't find it  We pull into the Thead in B dock where we had directions, tie up and walk until we find a local.  He tells us where the fuel dock to Myrtle Beach Marina is.  We start up WishBone again and head in the direction given only to find the fuel dock with two sizable trawlers tied up to the docks.  One of the boaters on the trawler yells to us that we can take whatever slip we like.  Since we are now at a dead end channel, we pull into the slip with a port side tie up - I have now run around the boat a couple of times with lines and fenders for tie ups.  It seems that one of these big trawlers decided not to leave today and took up our dock space.  Power boats!  The other trawler was a beautiful 36' Grand Banks with cruisers we have met before.  Tomorrow it will be cold again but we want to get some miles in and hope for Georgetown, SC.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Gathering the oysters for the stuffing

Waterway pictures

Tuesday, November 26th

We woke up to 23 degrees in Wrightsville Beach yesterday.  The furnace had run all night.  We took our time for breakfast and a dog walk and left the dock about 10:30 AM at 40 degrees.  It was not predicted to get any warmer.  We were on our way to Southport NC, a 37 mile hop.  The waterway was open to the ocean so it remained cold.  This is the Cape Fear region.  We were changing shifts at the helm and missed our turn back into the ICW.  We had picked up the wrong channel.  Oopps, quick circle and back to the buoys.  We pulled into Indigo Plantation's transit dock around 2 p.m. and I headed for the laundry.  April headed for the wonderful area to run, Bill right behind her.  Ken and Francie suggested this marina, and it is perfect for April to get some free running time. 

It is warm and rainy today - 68 degrees!!  The wind will blow hard until Thursday with some severe thunderstorm warnings.  So looks like we check out the Southport sights, get clean again and give April some good walks.

Sunday, November 24th

We had a good trip yesterday despite all the bridges and the difficulties they cause the boat traffic.  I do believe every bridge along the East Coast is being rebuilt.  This causes trouble with openings for the boat traffic as well as the vehicular traffic.  Vehicular traffic complaint cause bridges to open less frequently for boat traffic.  If you are not up to the bridge at the opening time, you wait another hour - not so good for planning for your next destination before sunset.  Our savior yesterday was a commercial barge at one bridge and TowBoat US at another.  Bridges open on demand for commercial traffic. 

Anyway, we arrived in good time and pulled up at Bridge Tender's Marina in Wrightsville Beach, NC.  We woke up this morning to 30 mph winds out of the North and a high temperature today of 43 degrees.  We had a cold walk along the waterway to the beach this morning hoping to let April get a run only to be told on leash only.  Then we walked to Harris Teeters and West Marine in the afternoon followed by a lunch at the Fish Pier to warm up.  Tonight is expect to go down into the 20's however the winds are supposed to lessen to, so we'll see tomorrow morning what the game plan will be.  Southport, NH is our next destination.  Blue Indigo Marina has a laundry - a must - and a good place for a dog to run - another must.  It has been a long couple of weeks for April only being on leash.

We have no plans for the holiday as we don't know when or where we will be.  We need to get South to warmer weather.  However, we want to wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and a special thank you for keeping in touch with us.

Yes, it was cold and I needed all of my toys to snuggle with - plus my blanket.

 

This is pretty Oriental from the boat - Bill has been playing with his iPad which takes beautiful pics

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

We pushed off the dock against a 24 knot wind and motored out the channel.  We were leaving, wind or not, we hoped.  Yes, the bridge did open for us.  The winds picked up. We were tossed around for the first hour or so and then things calmed down.  WishBone handled it just fine.  We had a good day traveling the waterway with a couple other sailboats.  We made good time with all that North wind pushing us in the butt and were in Belhaven, NC by 3 pm.  We were in Belhaven once before and recognized the nice little town and the great hardware store – a cruiser’s favorite place.  April chased the squirrels around, we had dinner aboard, a game of cribbage and crashed for the night.

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Again up at the crack of dawn, April is good at that, and off and running to Oriental.  We are in WishBone’s previous home.  There were some rain showers in the morning but it wasn’t as cold – 55 degrees – and we had a good run with two other sailboats were have met along the way.  We walked to a small grocery store and picked up essentials – I was careful to keep it to essentials because we were carrying it back to the boat.  Then we walked to a small family run restaurant Bill had discovered when he purchased WishBone.  We had delicious shrimp and tuna and homemade coconut cream pie!  April was welcomed with great enthusiasm.  The fog rolling in tonight.  I hope that it has lifted in the morning.

Friday, November 22, 2013

We backed out of the slip – Bill is really getting good at that (yes, I need to learn too), and started out the channel – oopps, that’s bottom!  Not wide enough around that green buoy.  Bill did some maneuvering and we were off and running again.  We had dressed in our traditional long underwear, fleece, down, bibs and jackets for the trip.  By 7 a.m. we were starting to remove layers.  The day turned out to be beautiful, 66 degrees and sunny.  We had a great run and are now in Swansboro, NC.  April got to play with her favorite blue ball, running and leaping through the air.  Then she and I did some obedience training/play – her favorite kind, with treats. We walked all over the village area.  They have all the lights and decorations up for the holidays.  They have a boat parade the day after Thanksgiving.  It is amazing what a nice warm sunny day does for the attitude.  Next up, Wrightsville Beach, NC.

 

November 19th - Yikes!

The month is flying by and we have a long way to go.  We are still in Alligator River Marina.  Yesterday was another foggy day and we couldn't get out by the bridge, and today the wind is blowing 30 mph.  Actually we are told the bridge will not open if it blows much harder.  Too rough to play in this wide, swallow area.  We walked April this morning and put up a bunch of ducks.  She was on a lead much to her dismay.  This is duck hunting country.  A number of hunters went out this morning and are coming back in now.

There is a little lunch place here where we had burgers and chatted with the locals.  We asked about all the bear signs we saw on our walk.  Yes, they have an over abundance of black bears here.  That ends my walking April in the evening.  The locals were telling us about one of their residence, a lady in her 70's who lives alone back in the woods with no power or running water.  She gets a ride with a neighbor a couple of times a week into town.  She is a friend of the bears.  She sprays a scent all over her (secret formula) and wraps her legs in plastic bags to keep the ticks out and goes out into the woods and call the bears and they come to see her.  She has 6 or 7 bears that will come to her house to visit her.  I wonder how long they stay, and if they know enough to go home after a visit.

Bill has been glad to have some down time to learn how to use his new iPad and find some new navigation and weather apps - and of course some games.  We also caught up with Balmar, the alternator manufacturer, and requested restitution for the second alternator we purchased.  We will see how that comes out.

With luck, and no fog and high winds, we will be on our way again tomorrow AM headed for Belhaven, North Carolina.

Sunday, November 17th

So we were up at the crack of dawn - April get up time - and ready to haul out.  It was bigga the mist, but we thought doable.  We motored out of the marine and called the bridge only to be told that it was too dangerous to open the bridge - the fog was too heavy.  Okay.  Back to the marina  We tied up and the fog actually got worse as the day went on so I guess we were saved a lot of stressful navigation. Unfortunately, there is a blow building tomorrow so now it looks like we have to sit tight for a couple of days in a place where nothing is going on - and I mean nothing.  Lots of boats are in here with us though so we will have lots of company and will make new friends - April's favorite thing to do.  The marina told us today that she is welcome anywhere so we had lunch in their restaurant/pickup store - soft shell crab rolls and they were GOOD!  There is always boat work to do and dog walks, so we will keep busy.  Bill has a new ipad that he is having fun learning how to operate (once the setup stress was over, thank you Harrie and Pati).  It has been warm for the past couple of days.  Hopefully, that continues until the front passes.  We are with other late boats going South - so not alone.  Thanks for reaching out to us as we travel along.  We love getting the texts and emails and pictures.

Saturday, November 16th

Harrie and Pati delivered us to the dock at Hampton Roads around 11 a.m.  We fired up WishBone and crossed Hampton Roads bay and headed up the Elizabeth River.  A destroyer came along past us headed for the Norfolk shipyard, joining the many other destroyers there.  We arrived at the Gilmanton bridge at 4:00 p.m. and found they were under security restrictions to open.  We were told they were scheduled to open at 6:30 p.m.  We dropped anchor along with three other boats and waited.  Around 5 p.m. the bridge radioed it was our lucky day, pull anchor and he would open.  Okay, anchors pulled and a train comes along under the bridge and we get the call from the bridge to forget it.  Anchors are dropped again.  What fun!  We finally did get under the bridge around 6:15 p.m. and made our way to the abandoned pier at the beginning of the Dismal Swamp where we tied up and stayed the night.

We were up and going Friday morning to get to the 8:30 a.m. lock opening into the Swamp.  The Swamp was interesting this time, but not as pretty as it was in the spring when we last traveled it.  April, on the other hand, was up and alert the whole way.  We and two other sailboats arrived at the Elizabeth City bascule bridge for the 4:30 p.m. opening five minutes too late and all the talking was not going to get the tender to open the bridge for us.  We decided to anchor for the night and searched around the area for a good place to anchor and get April off the boat.  We had a quiet night but not in Elizabeth City, N.C.

This morning the bridge tender was in a more generous mood and opened the bridge for us so we could get underway.  Our journey was smooth across the Albermarle and down the Alligator River.  We stopped for fuel and tied up in Columbia, NC just off the Alligator River.  Bill changed the oil in the engine, we filled up with water,  had showers and April had a good walk..

 

April bird watching from her boat along the Dismal Swamp

Boats following WishBone in the Swamp

 



 

Tied up at the locks

 

 

Playing with the big boys in Norfolk

 

 

We girls were cold too!

Sunday, November 10^th

 

Going South??

 

 

 

 

 

Never too many sunsets

 

 

We left Solomons Island on Saturday from Calverts Marina after spending two days provisioning and touring in Ken and Francie’s car that they leave at Francie’s sister home in Mill Creek.  It was cold and windy, so it was nice to be in a warm car, warm stores and warm restaurants.  Bill said it was fun to drive again.  It was wonderful to meet Susie and Frank, Francie’s sister and brother-in-law, whom we had heard so much about. 

While we were in Solomons Island, we met another boat from Ohio that was headed south.  They followed us out of the dock Saturday AM and into Reedville, Virginia.  We are in Fairport Marina in Reedsville.  What a wonderful place for us to be.  When I called for dockage, they said just pull up anywhere you want.  Once docked, Bill and April were greeted at the marina office by the friendliest residents who run the marina and a restaurant and who love animals.  April was invited to run free around the marina and was welcome into the restaurant.  She also was welcomed by a male puppy Golden Retriever.  They ran and played and just had the best time, something April really needed.  We ate dinner at the restaurant along with April and her new puppy friend Peanut.  I thought of Ken – we had steamed shrimp to die for, fresh, fresh.  This is a fishing village.  We met a couple of sailors from Annapolis headed to Marathon, FL who had been to Maine and on to Nova Scotia in the ‘70’s.  They had some wonderful stories to tell about sailing with their dog.  Of  course, April befriended them and their guests.  What a people dog she has turned out to be!

Sunday is a big wind day once again, 28 knts.  We decided to sit tight once again as much as we just want to move.  Being safe is sometimes hard.  Anyway, we did all the boat chores in the morning and showers aboard.  There is no wifi, phone coverage.  April discovered goats in the marina owner’s yard that had somehow broken out of their fenced in yard.  Yeah, that was a circus.  We indulged in the shrimp again for lunch plus crab bisque that was so yummy we purchase some for tomorrow’s dinner.  Then we took up the offer of use of the truck from Peanut’s owner, a server at the restaurant and kindergarten teacher who was just the best young person, and drove to the Dollar stores to purchase a couple of books.  Bill’s Kindle quit yesterday.  We filled the water tanks and are ready to head out to Hampton Roads tomorrow, we hope.

November 11^th, Veterans Day

Thank you military personnel for serving our country!

6:30 a.m. we left Reedsville under a beautiful sunrise.   It was around 45 degrees all day.  The wind blew around 12 knots and the tide was giving us a push in the morning.  The wind was at our stern so we had following seas and had to work at the helm – no auto pilot in the morning.  However, by mid afternoon the wind came around and died down but we kept our tide almost all the way to Hampton Roads.  We were met at the dock by a fellow cruiser, one we met in Solomons Island.  We knew the day would come when we would have to back into a slip in order to get April on and off the boat.  Well, this was the day.  We made it with some maneuvering, but it wasn’t pretty.  It was kind of like a Chinese fire drill.  We pull bow in, note we can’t get April off the boat, pull out swing around, redress the boat for a back in, run around with lines for cleats, lines for poles and spring lines,  Whew!  Anyway, we are here for a couple of days to visit with Harrie and Pati in Williamsburg.  It likes like our window to move on is Thursday – here we come Dismal Swamp!

 

Thursday, November 7th

After sitting our the big blow in Galeville with that mooring ball banging against the hull, we left yesterday for Solomons Island, Maryland.  The weather was partly cloudy, 56 was the high, and the wind built up so it was 18 to 20 knots on our nose.  All in all a bumpy cool ride.  We donned our long underwear and new foul weather gear, and April her Filson wool lined coat to stay snug.  We have been to Solomons twice before and knew not to anchor - poor bottom.  We also remembered that the Calverts Marina is inexpensive, so here we are.  We have met an interesting couple, two women, in the tie-up next to us.  They are Canadians who started their cruise in Sweden, have been to the Carribean and are now headed for the Bahamas so we will see them again.  It is raining now, supposed to blow up tonight as the front comes through and then be good weather again on Saturday.

WishBone was heading out of the Cape May Canal and up the Delaware Bay when fellow cruisers took these pictures.

Sunday, November 3rd

70 years later for me - how did that happen?

We were up before the rabbits on Saturday morning, uncovered the sail, unwrapped all the lines from the poles, fired up the engine, turned on the running lights and motored out of Harve de Grace.  Yeah!  The weatherman was wrong again, and the waters and wind stayed calm with only a few sprinkles here and there.  We were cautiously watching our charging system which ran the way it should and has never run before.   The Susquahanna River is shallow and staying in the channel is a must which takes you across the Chesapeake Bay, making our trip a little longer.  However, we caught the tide and managed to keep it our whole trip down the Chesapeake taking us to the West River and Galesville.  April slept the whole way, exhausted from her rabbit hunting.  The Hartge Yacht Harbor dock master met us at a mooring to attach our bridle (all the painters have been removed for the season).  I've never had such assistance.  Small craft warnings are flying today, so we'll sit here.  Unlike previous trips on the Chesapeake, we didn't see all the commercial ships, but the waters were full of sailboats all day long.  Really beautiful.  When we went under the Chesapeake Bay bridge I was thinking how long it must have taken to build it and what would people do without it. 

 

East End

The approach

The departure

West End