BAR-B-Q Adventures

   Leaving all the hustle and bustle of the Norfolk area, I needed some peaceful surroundings.  The boat pictured above is Jackalope. We first met mid November on the Tenn-Tom. We again saw them in Beaufort, SC and now in this anchorage near New Point Lighthouse VA. The sailboat travels slow but steady. Dense fog greeted us in the morning so another 1100am departure. My next stop was Hughlett Point in the Dividing Creek. This anchorage I had to myself. There was a nice beach a short dingy ride away.

  The huge dredger DELAWARE  After leaving the "ditch", I turned south to get fuel. $5.00 a gallon, the best price in the area. I loaded 132 gallons, had a pumpout and decided to stay for the night. Other boats were here a week because of the high winds, waiting for the Chesapeake to calm down. This should be my last fillup until I return to Riverside. Not bad considering I last filled up at Carolina Beach NC. The next day the winds were calm but with it, dense fog. I waited until 1100 to move. The dredge across from the marina was visible and the Elizabeth River through Norfolk should be clear. The Navy is well recognized in this area. Enjoy the pics.

 I left Elizabeth City early and had the bridge opened at 630am. It was still windy but soon the protective waters would be flat and smooth. I had two hours to travel 18 miles to make the 8:30 lock opening. This wasn't going to happen. I slowed down and arrived around 10. I had a hour to wait. Two other boats timed it correctly and we all locked through together at 11. We all were stopping at the Visitor's Center free docks. Two sailboats were already tied up. There was room for one boat so the 59ft "Go GO" tied up. "NAUTONTIME" rafted to GOGO and I rafted to my  new Canadian friends who I enjoyed Sunday dinner in Elizabeth with. The Three Amigo's  We had a great time that night at "docktails" aboard GOGO. We shared drinks, food and stories about our trip and our lives. Such great people you meet on the water. The Chesapeake Bay is still angry and I stayed another night. GOGO left in the morning along with the two sailboats so we got their plac...

  It was about 46 miles from Manteo to Elizabeth City crossing the Albemarle Sound. This shallow sound can get nasty but this day rollie but doable. The city docks are free for 3 day stay although not in the best shape. No water or electric and very short piers make deboarding very difficult. The town has breweries, nice restaurants and a great free museum. I stayed the three nights because of the strong storm off the coast. Sunday was a cold, windy, rainy day and I spent most of my time catching up on the blog. Later my boat neighbors and I went out for dinner. The winds were still strong Monday but little rain. It was a good day to tour the Museum of the Albemarle.

Bodie Light I left Ocracoke and headed north to Manteo. So as not to temp fate, I traveled up the Pamlico Sound. About halfway through, I started to have engine problems. The engine started to sputter and then stopped. The Sound was a bit angry and the boat was rocking and rolling. I checked the primary fuel filter and saw that very little fuel was in the canister. I later found out a ball could be stuck and this was the case. I rerouted the fuel line directly to the secondary filter and the engine fired. This is not ideal but this solution got me to Manteo, some 30 miles away. Safely secured to the docks, I removed the primary, took it apart, and found the  bottom portion full of muck. After speaking with the pros at Outstanding Marine, my goto engine people, I ordered a complete new fuel filter canister. Now I'm dependent on shipping so Manteo was my stay for a few days. Everything to reprovision was in walking distance and the town had history so not a bad place to break down. W...

Cape Lookout Guard   I decided to an off shore run up Core Banks to Ocracoke Inlet. First I had to go east about seven miles out into the sea before I could head North. The Lighthouse is a warning for treacherous waters. I could see waves breaking offshore when the waters hit the shoals, something to defiantly to avoid. Safely pass the shoals I turned North, set the autopilot, and watched TV. There were no other vessels anywhere in sight. '  The black line is the 3 nautical line Tried some fishing no catching  The quiet run up the coast quickly turn to a white knuckle experience.  The Ocracoke Inlet is shoaled, the ATONS (aids to navigation) are out of place. Without local knowledge,  the inlet is treacherous. Poseidon, Neptune or just  luck was looking out for me this day.  I met a charter fishing vessel who guided me into Silver Lake, Ocracoke's harbor. Without his assistance I could have been that guy grounded. Lesson learned. I anchored two ni...

   1 I headed out the Beaufort Inlet into the Atlantic Ocean, pass Shackleford Banks, and entered what is known as Cape Lookout Bight. There were about a dozen vessels anchored in this section so I continued a mile and half towards the Lighthouse. It was a more peaceful setting and a shorter dingy ride to shore. I spent two nights on the hook. SUNSET SUNRISE  I experienced so many sunrise and sunsets over the water, and never grow tired of seeing them, all unique.  Wild horses of Shackleford Banks Staredown