The Dash for Warmer Weather

We had a great time hanging out with our new friends from mv Northstar, and sv Anthyllide, and if it were warmer, we may still be following them around enjoying their company, but we're freezing!

We left Little Washington, NC late, as it had been raining all morning, we needed a pump out, diesel, and wanted to take advantage of that free shower just one more time. We decided in the morning that we were only going to go as far as Bath, stay at their free dock one night, and make the trip to Oriental the following day. We had used up our 48 hrs in Washington, but we were still aloud another night in Bath. That would also put us 3 hours closer to Oriental, so that we could actually make it there before sun down. It was a nice quiet night, and we never even left the boat. Dinner, dishes, and bed, up at 05:45,,,,

Our intention was to meet up with our friend Fred, and Wally in Oriental, but Serena was feeling under the weather, and I was freezing under my several layers of cloths, so we made the executive decision to make some miles south, as quick as we can. We'll stop and smell the roses when we can wear shorts.

Does this look like a guy who is enjoying the balmy weather?

Shirt, fleece sweater, foul weather gear(top and bottom), toque, gloves, socks and shoes, and I still couldn't get warm.

Anthyllide had hung behind a day trying to get their heater hooked up. (smart people), but we were making tracks hoping to meet up again in Beaufort NC. But with the weather threatening to turn us into popsicles, we sailed right on by Oriental, dropping our hook further down the ICW in Cedar Creek. Theory being that we would be that much further along the next day. And now with our renewed desire to move south, we would only see Beaufort in the distance as we rounded the corner at Morehead City and kept on going.

We woke to nasty cold temperatures, and a thick fog. Back below, and give the sun a half hour to burn off the fog a little. Using our chart plotter and depth sounder we managed to stay in the channel until the rest of the fog lifted, and we were only about 30 minutes behind schedule. That just meant 30 more minutes we had to fight the current when we got close to the coast. It was an uneventful day, filled with fishermen wizzing by, dolphins, and trying to keep Vita in the narrow channel across the Bogue Sound. We looked at all the anchorages suggested by the various guides, and after trying our choice spot, only to find out that we were too deep to get in, we settled into the old Hateras plant just before the Camp LeJeune firing range. Even in here I am not sure we will be able to get out at low tide tomorrow morning. After leaving the bays and sounds north of here, where finding an anchorage was as easy as dropping your hook, this area is looking less appealing. Tomorrow we will make tracks again, trying for Wrightsville Beach. I am not sure if we are going to stay there for a day or two, or not. Most of our friends are south of there already. Anthyllide will go out into the Atlantic for a bit, and our friend Fred is taking his time waiting for parts, but he has a heater, in fact two of them, if I recall.

Where's the channel?

The pictures are horrible, stolen from a video, but we are now in dophin territory. We first got a glimpse as we entered into the Neuse river yesterday, but it was quick, and then we didn't see them again, the rest of the day. Today they showed up all over the place. Serena was watching them play in the bow wake for awhile, but the camera wouldn't play nice with her, so she didn't manage to get any video of it. Something tells me there will be many more chances.

That's it, on the run. Mile 235 of the ICW, just another 853 miles to Miami. When we find that spot, the one we just can't bare to leave, we'll stop awhile, until then, "There's a voice that keeps on callin' me.........