Heading to sea

The last couple of days we've had some big runs in the ICW leaving Hampton, Virginia on Oct. 31 to Great Bridge, stayed two days there and then started down the ICW to anchor our first night just north of the Abermarle Sound, then we crossed the sound in building seas and rain to enter the Alligator River. We made safe passage there after some careful navigating. Two power boats were not so lucky and we passed them hard aground just outside the channel (they followed their charts instead of the markers).

Then we headed down the Albermarle-Pungo canal through some beautiful remote wilderness with changing trees and birds. We were definitely not at home anymore.

The rain picked up as we entered the wide Pamlico River and had some very unnerving bends and turns through some shoals, thanking our stars for the Garmin chartplotter we purchased in New York.

We anchored in pouring rain at a great anchorage with about 15 other boats tucked in for the night. We agonized over whether or not to stop. It was 5 p.m. and visibility was dwindling but our friends Art and Linda had called earlier and had said they wanted to meet us in Bellhaven that night. We had no cell phone signal nor Internet. But it was another 9 miles to Bellhaven and it just wasn't safe.

The next morning we headed out, and I finally got a signal on the phone from Arthur that they would meet us that night in Oriental. Relief.

We had yet another windy, rainy day but were fairly comfortable in our 'oxygen tent' - our enclosure around the cockpit. The wind piped up to over 20 knots and we managed to wind our way into a slip we reserved in Oriental.

We needed laundry, hot showers and some extra water and fuel would be good. But best of all, Art and Linda were there to meet us.

In Oriental we met another Canadian boat, Believe, with three crew on board. The skipper was a delivery captain at one time and more importantly, had done been aboard a few boats traversing the ICW. He said this next portion to Wrightsville Beach was dicey, especially for a boat with our deep 6' draft. We travelled behind him to Morehead City today - saw porposies!!! - and we ended up at a fantastic restaurant, the Sanitary Restaurant for local seafood. We are leaving early next morning at 2:30 a.m. to make a run to Marlboro Inlet, near Wrightsville Beach. From there we can either take the Cape Fear River to the inlet at Cape Fear or the ICW to Charleston.

The winds are forecasted to be out of the NW and about 10 to 15 knots, building to 15 to 20 knots. We are going to be about 8 or 10 miles offshore and then head south.

We are a bit nervous but we secured the boat down, the kids clothes are all laid out and Aidan is geared up to help us in the wee, dark hours. It's supposed to be cold so we've got our woolies and warmies.

We've studied the charts but are a bit concerned as our laptop chart plotter and the Garmin chartplotter at the wheel are taking turns at crapping out at the most inopportune moments.

We'll post again once we're safe in harbour with a good Internet signal.