A Favorite Place and the Wind Returns

Wednesday May 13       Day 3

I woke up to a peaceful morning. Had slept well thanks to cool temps overnight and glassy water. With little to no wind for the day we shipped anchors, cleared the creek and motored SW to the entrance to Oriental. Reaching the inner harbor we tie our boats to the quay in front of the Bean Coffeehouse. They open soon after our landing and we grabbed a couple of breakfast bevs and muffins. Steve and I had sailed in several times separately in the past trips, but the "Sailing Center of North Carolina" is always a welcoming layover. We talk with many folks interested in our boats, walk the streets, have some nice take-out meals and get interviewed by TownDock.net. Overnight on the docks.

Steve shares more here, and an earlier visit here.



Thursday May 14       Day 4

Up at 0700, later than usual. Waited for coffee and finish of interview with Allison and Keith of TownDock.net   Windless motor SE to South River. Keith had mentioned the ghosttown of Lukins on the river's east shore. He also mentioned an interesting graveyard there. As we enter the river I continued alone, Steve opts to sort out Spartina. Reaching the Lukins area I spotted the graveyard on a knoll overlooking the river and decided to leave it be. On return I find Steve napping and spend a half and hour sculling along the shore.  

Opting for a Mouse Harbor anchorage, catch a nice F2 east wind and reach north somewhat retracing our run down, pass the Bay River and the bombing range. Anchor in Southward Bay of Mouse Harbor and have tuna mixed in with Tai Noodles for dinner and play guitar down below.   29.4 nautical miles

Tandem

Tuesday May 12

Woke to a cold 44 degree first light, sun still below the horizon. I grabbed a breakfast bar and an apple and started retracing my entry from the night before. Reaching the far east buoy I received a 6:19 message from Steve. He was headed south, down the Pungo and east toward my area, traveling along the south shore of the Pamlico River. Being about 12 nm away I tacked north into the river, scanning the horizon for his sails. After a couple hours and a number of up-close dolphin sightings we spotted each other and I fell off to broad reach for Pamlico Point and the vast Pamlico Sound.

I kept further offshore until we came in close to slip inside the bombing range. Running downwind we passed the Bay River and continued SW into the mouth of the Neuse River. The wind had clocked around to the SW funneling down the Neuse and making for numerous short-chop tacks. As the afternoon bore on Steve opted to turn in at Whittaker Creek, just shy of Oriental, to anchor in the light. I readily agreed having been out over 12 hours. Sweet potato Chicken Rice dinner, a bit of reading and lights out.    43.2 nautical miles

Skirting the bombing range

Steve in his Welsford Pathfinder Spartina

Annie running downwind (photo S. Earley)

A welcome anchorage

South to the Pamlico

I have been back from North Carolina for several days and have been busy throwing pots, working in the gardens, getting design quotes for the Deltaville Maritime Museum and modifying the rigging issues that came to light during a week long trip in the Pamlico River and Sound. I am getting ready to head east to sail the Mobjack Bay for a few days, but first I'll start log entries from the NC trip.

Monday May 11, 2020

I hooked up Annie, loaded, and headed south on I95 at 0900. With the Covid 19 virus in full force I took the old porta-pottie so as not to use the rest areas. Uneventful trip arriving at Potters Marine near Bath, NC at 1330. Steve had launched in Spartina a few hours earlier and headed down the Pamlico River. I messaged him for his plan and it was either the Pungo River or on to Caffee Bay further east with south to Oriental as a later destination. I set out as the afternoon wind picked up from the NW and the temperature started to dip. Getting late I opted to head south in the ditch toward Hobucken but had too much sail up to tack back to the entrance. I then chose to reach east along the south shore. Around 1700 I tacked west inside entrance buoy to beat back into the entrance to Clark Creek. I found while looking for anchorage that Steve had messaged earlier that he had worked north up the Pungo. Oh well... had my hands full and the anchorage was inviting.  15.3 nautical miles

Break from the trucks on I95

Quiet anchorage and beautiful sunset

Annie running with stiff breeze by S. Earley