Well all is well. The windlass was completed by Monday morning and we left at 10:30 hoping to make Norfolk. We entered Hampton Roads in the dark and made for an anchorage at Hospital Point which is named for the Veterans Hospital there. As we motored past the navy yard with all the ships in port we were shadowed by a patrol boat with flashing lights. The anchorage when we arrived had about 6 boats but we found a spot and dropped anchor for the night. It is always a relief to find an anchorage where there is room for us.
We were up at 5:30 a.m. when it was still dark in order to travel the distance to the Gilmerton Bridge before 6:30 at which time it closes to passing vessels until 9:30 a.m. We needed to get through so we could get through the Deep Creek Lock on the Dismal Swamp by 8:30 so we could make it all the way through the swamp in one day and end up in Elizabeth City at night fall. We are still hopeful that we can make Hilton Head in time to meet our friends. While pulling up the anchor for the first time we discovered that the windlass would not set the anchor. So John used the winch to set it and we were off and running to the bridge.
The dock master at the Deep Creek Lock where vessels are raised to canal level, invited the crews on the 3 boats in to his house for breakfast and a short history lesson on the canal. It was wonderful to be inside as it was raining hard and very cold standing on Spunky's deck with our ropes tied to the lock wall as the water rose to canal height.
We left there and headed for the South Mills lock and made it through in great time but alas were held up for the scheduled opening at the Elizabeth City Bridge resulting in our trying to find our slip at Pelican Marina in the dark and cold. Neither of us see too well after dark. While we were waiting for the bridge, I called the bridge tender and passed along a hello from friends Chris and Sheila on the catamaran Never Bored who we met in St. Mary's, GA last year. They had met and enjoyed a friendship with Jack the bridge tender the previous year on their way south. He said it made his day to have a message from Chris and Sheila and offered us the use of his truck while we were in town.
We stayed 2 nights at Pelican Marina and our friends Don and Jean came over from Southern Shores, NC to pick us up and take us to their home for a great dinner, a shower and laundry. They drove us down the outer banks to see the damage inflicted by Sandy. What a mess. There were piles of furniture on the roadside awaiting pickup. On Thursday morning we were back on our way south.
Due to the Northeast winds we were able to put our genoa out and make great time. The first night we anchored outside the entrance to the Alligator River-Pungo River canal. The winds were hight but we were fine. We were on the way by 6:30 the next morning but just as we entered the canal the engine overheated and John discovered a leak in a coolant hose. We dropped anchor in the canal and in 20 min. John did a quick repair with Rescue Tape and we were on our way. We could not believe how many boats were passing us going south. Must be the late start for everyone due to Sandy.
We spent Friday night just north of Oriental, NC at River Dunes marina and left at the crack Sat. morning heading for Beaufort, NC in the hopes we could go off shore but no such luck the waves outside were 10-14 ft. and the winds were high so we committed to the ICW and put out our genoa. With a good NNE wind we made great time and pulled into Hammock Bay to anchor along with about 10 other vessels. Hammock Bay is at the south end of Camp Lejune and is the only anchorage available in that stretch. The winds were high throughout the night and a small sailboat pulled in over our anchor chain late in the evening. We were concerned about leaving in the a.m. (neither of us got much sleep) as we are usually the first ones out at daybreak and we knew it would be difficult to pull anchor with the other boat sitting over our chain. It was a problem but fortunately the captain heard us start our engine and came up to move his boat.
The weather was pretty crumby during the day. Lots of heavy rain and wind. It was cold as well. We put out our genoa and made it to Carolina Beach where we anchored in 25-30 mph winds for the night. Our anchor held tight and the next morning on the Cape Fear River the winds continued high but we kept going and made it to Barefoot Marina inside South Caroling for the night. John took a taxi (no curtesy car) to West Marine to get the required hose to repair the leak and then changed the oil. The long days are beginning to catch up to us.
This morning we left at daybreak and there was no wind so here we are motoring along hoping to pass Georgetown, SC today and get to Charleston on Wed. Nov. 21. The sun is out and the Wacamaw River is beautiful.
Wishing you all a happy Thanksgiving.
Elyse and John
