ICW Part II Elizabeth City to Topsail NC



Anne & John aboard Luna

 We realize it's been a full week since our last post.  It's the end of our first day on eastern standard time.  We're in Topsail, NC.  We've been moving Dalliance everyday since Elizabeth City with the exception of a 2 day layover in Oriental, NC for routine maintenance.  We crossed the Abermarle Sound on Monday November 1st in conditions which caused NOAA to post a small craft advisory. This usually means winds in excess of 20 knots and waves 3-4ft.  The good news was the winds and general direction of the waves were on the stern of our boat.  Although challenging for the helmsperson it makes for a much smoother ride.  The other good news, we made the crossing in "warp speed".  The entrance to the Alligator River was very tricky and we had been warned not to follow the channel markers as indicated on the charts.  As we've mentioned previously shoaling occurs throughout the year on the inra-coastal and channel markers are moved on a regular basis.  Even with the excellent "scouting report " from our friends Jeff and Marjorie on Far Niente we almost missed one of the green bouys marking the entrance to the channel.  It turned out to be the exact bouy Jeff and Marjorie had told us to watch out for.  Had it not been for the kind radio communication from a trawler following us into the channel a grounding certainly could have occured. We've been travelling with another couple from Baltimore, MD.  John and Ann are sailing a 35' Pearson Yawl named LUNA.  John and Ann left Baltimore in mid- June and spent the summer exploring the coast of Maine as far north as Bar Harbor.  Returning to the Baltimore area at the end of August they took care of some landlubber stuff and refit to start LUNA on a journey south in early October.  We met them while rafted up in the Great Dismal Swamp.  Given our boat speeds are approximately the same we've stayed together for the past week.  We've enjoyed their company and consultation.  In Oriental, NC we went out to a restaurant together.  It was called Oriental Steamers and it had  a great menu.  Arriving at the restaurant via a car the restaurant had dispatched, Kris and I both had an Oh Shit! moment.  It was the very same restaurant we had dined at with our friends Sam and Barb in 2005 while transporting their new boat from Wilmington, NC to Little Sodus Bay, NY.



Our Friends Sam & Barb


 We both felt a very nostalgic moment.  We're trying to move Dalliance everyday at least 30 miles.  This totals 5-6 hrs. on the water each day.  If we find ourselves making exceptionally good time we'll adjust our plans and make as much as 45-50 miles.  We had this opportunity mid - week lifting anchor in Pungo Creek on 11/3 @0715 hrs and sailing to Oriental arriving at 1600 hrs.  Although it was a wet trip, winds and seas were favorable for Dalliance to comfortably make the passage.  We really like Oriental.  Although development is starting to affect real estate prices the town retains a small town friendly atmosphere.  It boasts itself as the Sailing Capitol of NC.  Given the number of sticks we saw in it's anchorages and marinas it gets our vote.  Across the Neuss River and down Adams Creek we found ourselves in Morehead City, NC on Thursday morning.

Gorgeous Morehead City Sunset

  We stayed the night at Sanitary Seafood for $10 with no electric or water.  It was a bargain and once again we ran into the Marrs the Canadian couple we first met in Amsterdam, NY.  They left Morehead City @ 0200 hrs for an outside passage to Wrightsville Beach.  They have a deep draft on Messenger and felt it prudent not to test the channels of the NC intra-coastal.  We also mention this meeting to underscore the fact that people you meet along the way become friends and you're sure to meet up somewhere down the line.  After Morehead City it was onto Swansboro and Surf City on
Topsail Island where we are at this posting.

Surfers

 We've been escorted a number of times by dolphin in the NC intra-coastal.  Beyond that excitement it's pretty much keep in the channel and stay off the shoals.  We expect to be in South Carolina by weeks end and we'll share our adventures from the next leg of our trip.
P.S. - I'd like to thank Knute and Mike at Whitaker Creek Yacht Marina for their staying with me until my engine once again purred like a kitten.     




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