June 19-23 2014 Ocracoke to Manteo

June 19 2014

I woke up at 5:30am and was startled to read the forecast had changed with prediction of 15-20 knot SW winds and 2-3 foot seas.  Pamlico is shallow sound and 2-3 foot seas can be vary rough.  But the forecast was for the wind to switch to the Northwest which usually heralds thunderstorms.  And we really didn't want to be at anchor in the close confines of Silver Lake when that happens because there would be a good chance of someone's anchor breaking out and dragging across the lake possibly knocking into another boat.   And of course that dragging anchor could be ours!

Securing the wine glasses

So we decided to leave regardless of the change in forecast.  We had everything set when the ferry blew its horn announcing their imminent departure.  So we leaped (staggered?) into action.  I started the engines and came down to take the snubber off.  Then Mary washed down the chain as we hauled it aboard (Hauled might be too strong a term.  Its more like I push a button and the windlass hauls the chain aboard.)  It took a little push by the boat to break the anchor loose it had dug in so deep, but it came up and we followed the ferry out of the lake and into the long channel to Pamlico Sound.

He was running about 2 knots faster then we were but it was high tide and I had the route through the channel pretty much down pat.  Once we entered Pamlico the ferry turned left and we turned right.

Entering Roanoke Sound

It was a rather roller coaster ride since we had following seas.  But they are far more comfortable then beam seas.  There was a military ordnance exclusion zone along our route which means you can't enter the area but I skirted through it on the edge.   A small sailboat went right right through it.

  We finally gained the entrance to Old House Channel which is where the Oregon Inlet joins the channel leading to Roanoke Sound.  After weaving our way through a myriad number of channel markers we entered Roanoke Sound which parallels the barrier island and Roanoke Island.  Very scenic.

We have make a 90 degree turn into the Bay on the left

We came to marker 30A which marks the turn into Shallowbag Bay.  And its aptly named.  The Marina had suggested we call them at this marker.  George, from the Manteo Marina, gave us instructions on how to get in.  Basically follow the channel markers .  The depths ranged from 6-15 feet, mostly in the 6-7 range.  We had no problems but stayed away from the red side per instructions.  And actually there was a large 119 foot yacht on the t-head in front of the marina docks which means his 7 foot draft certainly would have grounded out if the water was as shallow as many have written.

Our large yacht neighbor

We were directed to tie up behind this 119' yacht.  Easy since the wind gently pushed us in towards the dock.  Once were situated we took a quick stroll around.  What a great little town this is.  A hidden gem!

Best ice cream ever

We even found an ice cream store which serves the best I've ever eaten.

Full Moon Cafe with umbrellas 

We ate the The Full Moon Cafe which is a brew pup and cafe located in an old gas station building directly across from the marina.  Neat ambiance.  Food was ok.  No rum though.

After waddling back to the boat and chatting briefly with a few of the locals along the way, we went to bed.  There were thunderstorms all around us but we only got sprinkles.  It was in the 90’s as we were traveling here today and our rear stateroom was still in the high 80’s when we returned from dinner.   The A/C is not working back there yet, so we run the forward A/C hoping to cool the whole boat off.  It struggles with only mild success.  The rear is especially warm because of the residual engine heat.  Slipping up forward where we do have A/C I think is a good choice tonight!

June 20, 2014

Today Ken fixes our fried circuit breaker… I hope.  And we discovered 2 grocery stores about ½ mile up the road. 

One of these wires is bad!

Ken, who runs Yachtdoc_NC came aboard around 10:30 and let me watch as he pulled apart the circuit board and repaired the bridge feed wire.  Easy job.  I was concerned the breaker had fried but he said he’s seen this issue with a bad wire many times before hand wasn't worried.  When we switched over to shore power again everything worked just fine.  Yeah!  Cool air!

It really is clean.  

We washed the boat and most of the Stratglass but we’ll have to re-do a few panels especially up on the fly bridge.   Difficult to see where your going with smudgy and spotted windows up there.

Mary did laundry and after I changed the water maker oil and primary intake filters, went for a walk to the Piggly Wiggly.  But first, I stumbled upon the Food-a-Rama.  Good store.  Pricey but more selection than the Pig which was a block back down the main road.  

When I returned Mary was talking to a small boy who seemed enthralled with out boat so she offered me to take him on a tour.  He showed up with his father and 5 other family members.  So I took them all on a tour.  It was  short since there isn't much to see on our relatively small boat.  But it was fun.  And I had the honor of being in several of their family group photo shots.  They politely excused themselves and than sprinted over to the 119 foot yacht to stand and gawk for half an hour.

Avenue restaurant in the building on the left

After laundry, tours and shopping we, being old and easily tired, went to the Avenue for dinner.  It was actually really good!  And we could look out over the marina and the bay.

Rain showers tomorrow which is perfect because we intend to yank the sun deck and fly bridge carpets out and wash them.  And in the afternoon we decided we'll take the dinghy down and run over to some of the closer barrier islands.  But we’ll see what the weather brings over the next 12 hours.

June 21, 2014

Longest day of the year already?

I removed most of the sundeck paraphernalia and washed out the sundeck, and cleaned the carpet as best I could without removing it.  Although we thought we'd take it out, it's a big job especially trying to move the freezer, which is full to the brim.  So I just vacuumed it off and used our little spot remover machine for the worst parts.  I had to carefully use the hose to wash the flooring down and clean out the accumulated debris.  Lots of parties, and dead bugs etc..

I cleaned out our shower master cabin shower stall too since we had dock water within easy reach.

We did some more window cleaning and I cleaned out the bow storage compartments and took the port side door off to repair the loose hinges.  Then I finally got around to lubing up the bikes again.  They are beginning suffer the consequence of being in salt air.  Rust.

Mary scrubbed down the boat after we took the bikes off.  We tend to get a good dose of grime in the bow from the anchor chain and after a while it takes some doing to remove it.

They really do look almost the same!

I was getting low on rum so decided to ride a bike to the ABC Liquor Store a short distance from the Food-a-Rama.  Connoisseur of Captain Morgan rum that I am, I went and bought the wrong kind!  Instead of the standard and benign version which is a mere 70 proof I went and unknowingly bought the high-test 100 proof.  I should mention I did not have my reading glasses.  Yes, a pitiful defense but the subtle differences in the bottle make it hard to discern which variety your selecting.  Especially without reading glasses.  After having a drink on the boat it took me several minutes to figure out why I was feeling so woozy.  Sheez.  And to make it worse I had to ride back there to buy another bottle of  the right stuff because they weren't open Sunday and we were leaving early Monday morning..  I took my glasses this time. 

Main street running along the bay

Later sitting on the bow we watched a Fleming 55 roll in here and head into a slip.  Impressive!  The couple looked like a couple you'd see in a yachting magazine advertisement complete with wine and cheese in the cockpit.  

June 22 2014

Seems the PDQ 34 that had come in and tied behind us yesterday and that Fleming all left early this morning.  Stiff east breeze was picking up when I got up around 8 so that could be the reason since its usually calmer in the early morning hours.

Small segment of the boardwalk around the bay

Did some reading this morning and then I went to the store while Mary did laundry.  Got the bikes on board and had a nice chat with a lady who was quite interested in the living aboard idea.  She thought it was divine!

Met another group of guys from Hawaii who brought their boat in here earlier and are heading to the Chesapeake to stage it for nest year when they attempt to do the Loop next year.

Looking back at the marina from the park

Mary pretty much slept all afternoon.  I putzed around the boat and walked over to the Roanoke Island Festival Park on a small island opposite from where we’re docked.  They have a replica of a wooden galleon there which I didn't pay to see but it looks impressive.  Guess they even take it our every few weeks.

Pirate ship complete with blaring pirate songs

There a re a few tourist boats that depart the docks here.  And on of them, this pirate ship, takes out groups of small children.  It's hilarious watching them leave the dock most every morning.  The clientele is pretty much all 3-6 year old kids.  They have a howling good time with music and everything.  Even a climatic encounter with another ship out in the bay. 

Another Manteo street 

I laid out the next few days courses and routes.  We are leaving tomorrow morning unless these easterly winds remain strong.  Not much available for anchoring or tying up at Elizabeth City in easterly winds, especially the free docks,  So we’ll see.

June 23, 2014

At 6am the winds were still blowing very strongly out of the east.  They are pinning us to the dock but that’s rather easy to overcome.  The crux of easterly winds this strong is crossing Albemarle Sound and trying to dock in Elizabeth City with that long easterly fetch making the docks very bouncy.  So I decided to just stay put another day.  Besides we like it here.

Replica of a 16th century ship in background

We took a stroll around the city and its very quaint. Shops, restaurants etc.  And I walked around their boardwalk which follows the Bay a short distance.  Turns out its really a short cut to the grocery stores. We'll be back here but mot likely not until next summer or spring.  The water levels drop off with northern winds to a degree that would make access a problem.

I did do a few boat chores too.  Fixed the bow storage cabinet doors with some epoxy putty (the hinges gad torn out).  Also did a temporary tape job on the dinghy back cushions until we can get Nyla in Stuart to make a more permanent repair.

Eagerly awaiting a fine meal

After all that labor we're too tired to cook so we went out to dinner at the Tranquil House Inn.  Very, very good food with  a nice view of the bay.

Going to bed early tonight because we are trying t leave around 7am,  Yeah ,,, J