#25 June 3 - June 16

 June 3rd 4th and 5th we traveled through beautiful marshlands, with some villages scattered in between. Encountered shrimpers, crab boats, local folks enjoying the water. On the 3rd we grounded (didn't stay between the bouys) but two passing sport boats set us to rocking and we managed to get afloat again; about 20 minutes.  It does happen!
 Had a squall tonight. the 4th.
I have been taking pics of the skies. Ever changing.

At Calabash Creek anchorage a Shrimper came in and ran his boat ashore. We couldn't figure out what he was doing.  He proceeded to stow all his outlying gear.

Tucked it all in backed off the shore and proceeded up the little side creek to his berth.

Another beautiful sky.  Got to thinking that we just do not take time to look up sometimes and see the beautiful artistry that Mother Nature provides.

We were traveling along and came upon another Nordic Tug 32.  1984 hull number 1. Nice folks, Tonia and John Britian. We were both heading for Wilmington but there were NO slips available; so we stopped in Carolina Beach and picked up moorings.  We all went ashore for supper at a local diner and got back just in time to enjoy a raucous Thunderstorm that lasted all of 45 minustes.

 June 7 we arrived in Wilmington at Seapath Marina for fuel, pumpout and hopefully a slip for 2 days. I had called a few days ahead and there was no "room at the inn". Fortunately, a boat had just left and the young dock attendant was very helpful as we maneuvered into the slip. Our main reason for stopping in Wilmington was to catch up with friends Bob and Nancy Rudary. Old sailing friends from our time at Bridgeview many years ago when our kids were young.

They have changed little and we had a great time reliving the best of the past. They are well and enjoying there home and life in Wilmington NC.

On up the waterway on the 10th of June.  Did someone say PINK?

We passed through Camp Lajune. Anchored with in the camp at Hammock Bay but was not allowed to go ashore. We observed some drills of all sorts. This one was hoisting BIG outboards onto their inflatable craft. Wonder if they had to blow those things up also. 

We passed a big sign stating if the "yellow lights are flashing - - do not enter!" It was a live firing area and there were various burned, shelled, skeletons of  equipment strewn about.

 June 10th we arrived Beaufort NC. Searched for an anchorage among all the boats on private mooring balls. found a perfect 8  ft spot and told Bill to drop the anchor and in a flash it went to 3 ft and I screamed NO! STOP! we were aground. Everything was calm, Bill hollered "Are we aground?"
"Yes" --  "Are we AGROUND?"  --  "YES, we are!!!"  Fortunately tide was o n the rise and we wiggled and backed off promptly. But evidently we jammed mud into our little speed paddle indicator and we haven't had speed readouts since.

We anchored next to this little beauty! Wondered if you think we should trade up?

Talk about trading up!!  There were no slips available in Beaufort as the Blue Rock Marlin Tournament was in town.  Magnificent Sport Fishing Vessels were everywhere. This particular one is brand new, finished just two weeks before. 62 foot. She and her crew were the leaders in the tournament with a fine catch, a 680 lb Blue Marlin.  Check out Blue Rock Marlin Tournament online - - - there are pictures!  By the way this boat is for sale - - Are you ready?
$5.2 million

 June 11, 12, 13 We traeled the ICW twisting and turning in the creeks to breakout into the open waters of the Sounds - - Alligator River, Pungo Sound and Albamarle Sound and finally arriving in Elizabeth City. Free dock! For all the hype about "Hospitality Harbor" this was a classic example of 'you get what you pay for'. The visitor center, closed; museum, closed; no water, no electricity, no showers or bathrooms. It is a very quiet little town and seems somewhat depressed. Half the store fronts were vacant and for sale. The biggest industry is the Blimp manufacturing facility we saw as we traveled toward the town.  There were two blimps, tethered outside their great GREAT BBIIGG hangar.  Nope, I didn't get a picture.  They were the type of blimps that are tethered over the Keys, "watching". And various other locations around the country.  Would have taken a tour but -- not allowed!

Albamarle Sound. We were getting a little spoiled with the protection of the creeks and canals.

Here we are in Pungo Canal. 22 miles, mostly straight as an arrow. Here we met a tow. and this canal is narrower than anything we encountered on the big rivers last year. A little communication with the Tug and all went well.

This is approx 5 miles from Elizabeth city at the top of Albermarle  Sound. Obiously a prediction of what was to come. We made it in time to be secure when the storm hit. Our experience has been the storms are wild, high winds, hard rains that last for not more than 45 minutes. The white line in the picture is actually the tide line rising.

Leaving Elizabeth City behind we enter the Dismal Swamp.

There are two locks at either end to control a depth 8 ft higher than surrounding creeks and rivers.  The canal is fed by Drummond Lake. in the center of the swamp.  In the 1700's George Washington had shares in a consortium that intended to build this canal, drain the swamp  and clear it for farming.  He became disenchanted with the idea and sold out when the farming issue was not possible.  But, others pushed on, and made their fortunes in harvesting the cedar and juniper timber for its resistance to rot.  The canal was initially dug by hand by thousands of slaves. There are 38 miles of  arrow straight canal and you can see how narrow it is.

Halfway through there was a very nice dock. Actually a rest stop for boats built at the Highway 17 (runs along side the canal for several miles) Visitors Center Rest Stop. A truck driver came down to take a picture of the "Boat Rest Stop" thought it was a unique idea. The sailboat we met with Tony and Ann, and their guests (from London, England) William and Francis planned on spending the night here and invited us to share a bbq and Sundowners with them. We had a great time sharing stories and we gleaning information from them about things to see on the Chesapeake. We will meet up with them again at their home port of Herrington Harbor in a few days time.

Leaving North Carolina

Little did we know at the time, but this barge was let past all the other boats waiting for the North Lock to enter first to tie up securely before we all entered.  A sailboat we hooked up with at the Visitor Center gave us a tip that there was a dock (room for one boat) just before the Lock. It was very close to a grocery right across the street. We rafted off them and we all did our provisioning. What a great tip, as when  we exit the swamp it is difficult to get to groceries at any of the ports without a courtesy car or taxi.

What a culture shock when we exited the Dismal Swamp. Immediately thrown into a different world of Big industry, shipping docks, dry docks for refits, and almost every one of those was occupied by some form of Navy warship.I got myself in trouble -- as we passed the grand old aircraft carrier Eisenhower, I took pictures. About 5 minutes later a Navy Security boat came along side and said, "We were called and told you were taking pictures". Whoa! He asked that we take NO MORE pictures of Military Assets! For that reason I am not posting any pictures of our great Navy.  By the way, I think the entire fleet is in port getting some sort of work done.

from swamp to

one of the largest Industrial and ship dock yards in the country.

 June 16th As we left Norfolk (Mile 0 of the ICW) up the Elizabeth River to the opening of the Chesapeake Bay we had the strangest sensation - - we were back home cruising our Great Lakes. We traveled up about 50 miles to an anchorage on the West shore of the Bay just south of Deltaville.

So far this month we have had quite a few milestones accomplished.  We traversed the entire ICW, We traversed the Dismal Swamp with it's unique kind of beauty and The tenth of June  marked one year that our daughter Wendi dropped us off in Sturgeon Bay, WI where we moved aboard this boat. and we are not tired of it yet. Doesn't seem possible!