Day 5, March 5, Friday

 Belhaven, NC

Well, the Nasty Neuse lived up to its reputation.  We started out the day with 1 ft seas and 12 kts which  gradually increased to 3-4 ft seas and 22-25 kts wind.  Those conditions are of no concern to Sea Turtle but with water coming over the bow and hitting the dodger it makes it difficult to see and uncomfortable for the crew.  We eventually turned the corner through a channel to the Pamlico and Pungo rivers where the conditions were more favorable.

We came into the town of Belhaven to dock at a marina so we would have heat for the night (getting down to  34 tonight) as well as water and trash disposal.  I don't think people think much about trash disposal but after less than a week on the boat we had two bags and no really good place to store them.   

We intended to stay at the Belhaven Town Dock but were misdirected by the contact on the town web page to the Belhaven Marina.  The Town Dock is $1.00 per foot while the Belhaven Marina is $1.87.  I think I need to talk to the town about that tomorrow.  The dock hand was very friendly and helpful.  He even took us to the grocery story so we could get milk, aluminum foil and snacks.  We stayed at this marina in 2013 when we brought the boat home.  It then claimed to be the greatest marina in NC.  We had a very negative experience with Les, the owner and I would not have intentionally stayed here nor would I have recommended it to anyone.  Fortunately, the ownership has changed and for the better.  So, good marina with amenities galore.  

Tomorrow night the temp is to be 30 degrees and we do not have a marina available so we will have to anchor out.  We will be thankful for the Little Buddy heater.  Instead of running it off the little 1 pound cans, we can connect it to a 20 pound tank like you would use with your BBQ.  The little tanks are good for about 4 hours so the big tank will be a blessing.

The furnace feels good.

Day 4, Mar 4, Thursday

 Just another day on the waterway.  We left Swansboro about 8:50.  Things gradually warmed up and it was a beautiful day.  We were able to open some of the canvas, which facilitated seeing.  We got to our planned anchorage at Cedar Creek, about 4 miles from the Neuse River at about 2.  Anchored and laid in the sun in the cockpit. Should be another nice day tomorrow

Day 3, Mar 3, Wednesday

Swansboro, NC 

We had planned for a layover day today.  Slept in and had an easy morning.  About 10 the rain had stopped so we decided to move on up the way some.  Tomorrow was scheduled to be a 57 mile day and that is really long.  We checked the charts and found that Swansboro NC was about 16 miles along the way and that would be easy even though we were starting about 11.  That will cut tomorrow down to something more reasonable.  The anchorage here drops off pretty fast and while I was trying to get located to anchor we bumped the bottom.  Luckily, we didn't go aground.  Guides say there is a fair amount of current here. We put out 100 ft of chain and will depend on our Rocna anchor and all chain rode.  Hope for a peaceful nights sleep.

We pretty much have the waterway to ourselves.  Met 2 boats today and was passed by one.  I also saw our first dolphin of the trip. The afternoon was sunny and our canvas enclosure kept us comfy and warm.

The forecast for the next few days looks favorable but the night time temps will be in the 30's. If your sleeping bag is warm enough, that is good sleeping temp.

Day 2, March 3, Tuesday

 Mile Hammock Bay, NC

Normal drudge day up the waterway.  Temp was in the 40's all day so it was bundle up and shiver.  We had two bridges to navigate, the Wrightsville Beach bridge and the Figure Eight Island bridge.  I had to circle a while at the first bridge but the second was opening for commercial traffic so we got through it quickly.

I heard on the VHF radio from the Coast Guard that the New River Inlet was shoaled and the markers couldn't be depended upon.  When we got to the inlet there was nothing else to depend on so I followed the markers. Sure enough, we bumped the bottom enough to need to change my pants.  Luckily we did not hit hard enough to stop the boat.  Shortly after that we arrived at Mile Hammock Bay and anchored.  

The weather for tomorrow looks like rain most of the day.  Not a fun time to be traveling so depending on what things look like in the morning, we may take a layover day and hover around Little Buddy heater, nap and read.  

Here is link to Three Words marking our current location. ///many.product.torrents

There is a link at the bottom of this log that will let you subscribe to the log if you are interested.

Day 1, Mar 1, Monday

Carolina Beach, SC 

We got started on our trip to the Chesapeake today after a minor health problem postponed our planned start Sunday.   

We made a run to Dunkin Donuts for breakfast and got underway at 9:20  We had good traveling until we got to the Cape Fear River.  We had been going about 6-7 mph when we suddenly slowed to 1.  Yes, thats right, 1 mph.  At that rate it would take all day to get to our anchorage.  I left the channel and moved to the side of the river where we were out of the main current.  That picked our speed up to about 5 mph.  That helped a lot.  We had estimated that we would make anchorage by about 5 but it was 5:55 when we were securely anchored.  Made for a long day.

Tomorrow we are headed to Mile Hammock Bay for our next anchorage.  There is a bridge that will have to open for us soon after we leave here so we will have to time our departure to his opening time.

If you would like to get this log by email there is a place at the bottom of the post to request that.  They will make you jump through a hoop or two but once that is done you will get an email each morning that we write a log.  I will also try to drop a not on Facebook about where we are.

Day 0, Feb. 26, Fri

 Well, after 2 years plus we have sold Sea Turtle.  Sunday we plan to start our last trip going to the Chesapeake to deliver the boat for the buyers visual inspection (he hasn't seen the boat), survey and sea trial. If that all goes well he will take possession of the boat there.  I have agreed to accompany him back to his home port in CONN.  The logistics of all that is still to be determined depending on how soon we close and how soon he is ready to leave.

We have had a good run with Sea Turtle.  We have been to FL and FL west coast, the Keys and over to the Bahamas.  The first trip was particularly special as we traveled in the company of our long time friends Mark and Judy Handley.  It was knowing they had the experience of a circumnavigation that we could fall back on that gave us the courage to undertake the voyage.  

Our second winter on the boat we traveled with our excellent friends Mitch and Martha Strickland in their trawler M&M's Journey.  We did FL and the Keys.  

Our third winter we did FL, the Keys and over to the Bahamas.  That was our first transit of the Gulf Stream unaccompanied.    Convinced us we could do it.  We cut that trip short when our no. 2 son called and said he had taken a job in Denver and wanted our help moving.  We took two of U-Haul's largest trucks with car haulers behind them and went west.

Now it is time go get in the travel trailer and see more of the US that is not accessible by boat.  We have been in all 50 states as well as eastern and western Canada. That just convinced us there is much more to see.  Time marches on and waits for no man.

On this, our last trip, we will try to post some comments here and probably on Facebook.  If you are still getting this we appreciate your interest. Keep us in mind and come see us.

Lee