June 9-12, 2014 Shackleford Banks and Beaufort, NC

June 9 2-014

Heading out to sea

We left the anchorage at Wrightsville Beach at 6:09am.  Headed out to the inlet battling the incoming tidal current and finally turned on our initial course.  I had laid out 2 route options.  One to avoid the live fire zone the marines use for practice which extends out about 10 miles from shore and the other, a significantly shorter route running right through the zone.  Shortly before we approached the boundary of the zone I called the range operations office and asked if there were any exercises scheduled.  He checked and said there was nothing scheduled so we could breeze right through. 

Chaos in the salon

Sundeck didn't escape

Liquor bottles all rolled off (but didn't break!)

The forecast had called for 2-3 foot waves.  Normally that is about the maximum we want to endure if the swells are on the beam like they were today.  I didn't see the update forecast until we began bouncing around in some heavier than expected swells.  Turns out NOAA altered the forecast to 2-4 foot swells and then 3 -5 foot swells.  So we ended up enduring 45 miles of beam seas in the 3-5 foot category which would roll us anywhere from 10-30 degrees every few minutes.  It was tiring to be sure just trying to hang on.  And it also moved everything in the cabins around.  The big heavy salon couch actually fell into the stateroom stairs, the table flipped completely over, the grill propane tank had popped out of its holder and the sun deck table was tipped up on its side.  Even the liquor bottles were flying around until we encased them in a plastic basket. 

The first wave of Sport fisherman returning

Pretty miserable.  But at last we turned into the inlet only to miss the turn into the anchorage because of the plethora of sport fisherman charter boats flying back to port in mass.  So after swinging 180 degrees to back track we ended up enduring at least another 20 big sport fisherman coming at us at high rates of speed.  And of course they throw huge wakes when running at those speeds so it was like being back out in the ocean again with those 5 foot swells.

Finally in calm waters!

We finally turn into the anchorage at Shackleford Banks.  The entry is a little tricky because you have to wind your way through the shallows.  But we made it fine and once in the lee of the island it was relatively calm.  We took a few minuets to find a decent place to anchor since the charts would indicate 14 feet of depth when our sounder was showing 6.  No matter.  We found a nice deep area and set out our anchor and chain and are firmly ensconced  about 150yds off the beach.  No other cursing boats around. 

So after spending a few hours cleaning up everything and making a few minor repairs we sat out on the bow and watched the sunset with a drink.    Then Mary fired up the satellite TV and I hit the internet.  Fine evening!

We went to bed around 10:30 just as the stateroom was cooling off.  It gets rather warm back there after several hours of running and I haven’t discovered a decent solution for added ventilation yet.

Tomorrow we take the dinghy down and run into Beaufort where we had mail sent to the Post Office as general delivery.  Its about 5 miles from the dinghy dock.  Could be a nice walk. 

June 10, 2014

Woke up around 6am when the boat movement changed.  Sheez, am I getting that sensitized to this old tub?  The breeze coming through all the open windows was noticeably cooler and since there was rain in the forecast I rolled myself out of bed and looked out towards the southwest.  Sure enough rumbling thunder, lightening and low dark clouds heralding rain.  And lots of it.  I quickly started shutting all the windows and hatches but had to jump out on the fore deck to retrieve one of our deck chairs just as the downpour hit. 

Couldn't see a thing at first, the rain was so intense with the wind.  But, it looked like we were dragging so I checked all three depth sounders and they confirmed my suspicion since the readings were zero!   I stared up the engines and Mary staggered up to the bridge while I ran out and brought up the anchor and removed the snubber.  The wind though was twirling us around like a ballerina making it impossible to point so Mary would know which way to move the boat.  We just kept the engines running and tried to take as much strain off the anchor as we could.  I stayed out on the bow watching the anchor chain and when it let up for a brief moment would point so Mary could try and see which way to steer.  After about 10 minutes the wind finally settled down and the driving rain let up into just a moderate downpour.  We learned later that storm was packing 33 knot winds which is around 40+ mph. 

As things settled down further we played out some more chain and the anchor seemed to catch again so the heart stopping experience was over this time.

We were fortunate.  But there is some humor to it … 2 old naked people running around the decks of a boat in a torrential rainstorm while its anchor is dragging.  Luckily I doubt anyone was on shore at the time.

Mary went to bed again (remember it was only about 7am).  And after a few hours we decided to take the dinghy down since the sun had come out and the solar panels were charging the batteries.  The dinghy davit (crane) takes about 20 amps when lifting the dinghy and it all comes through the inverter which is supplied by the house bank of 12 volt batteries.  So we try and use the crane during high sun (around noon) which lets the solar panels keep up the batteries.  Marvelous things, solar panels.  

Low tide!

Once the dinghy was down we took a short ride and headed to the beach for a little walk.  We were both to exhausted to do much else so we headed back to the boat for dinner and TV.

June 11, 2014

Loaded for the beach including the ill-fated beach umbrella

Again we slept until almost 9;30!!  After breakfast and rummaging around we finally decided to take the dinghy the 4 miles into Beaufort to buy a beach umbrella.  Our beloved Canadian beach umbrella, purchased with Kathy at Severn in Canada, pretty much blew away.  Mary and I left to take a walk and I just happen to turn back and noticed a gaily colored red and white object sailing towards the sand bar behind our boat.  We got back to the dinghy but lost sight of it. A futile search ensued.  Hence the decision to buy another (non-Canadian beach umbrella with air vent holes at the top and sturdy aluminum pole with tilt!  The Cadillac of beach umbrellas. 

We returned to the boat and promptly packed up for a beach day again.  Got to the beach at low tide and I got the beach umbrella stuck in the sand and the canopy part deployed.  Took a few steps back to gaze at our newest purchase and Wham!  The damn thing took off over my head into the water.

The new Beach umbrella.  

Ok, flawed set up I’m thinking.  So we moved up around the high water line (it was low tide) and deployed the umbrella again with great success.  Wonderful shade!

Walked along the beach again but before we did that we had to sit there as the horses paraded right in front of us.  I swear they snorted when I got up but didn’t offer anything like an apple.  Ingrates!

We took a walk out to the point and since it was low tide we could walk on the sand bars.  I almost stepped on a ray .. two steps in front of me and the sand exploded and out shot this annoyed ray.  Cool!  And we saw many, many crabs which are surprisingly swift little swimmers.

They just walk where they please

Eventually we returned to our chairs and the fabulous beach umbrella, read a while and then headed back to the boat for drinks on the bow and dinner.  Yum!!  Thank goodness for the grill.  And my superb grilling abilities (the unfortunate Turkey incident not-with-standing) which have laid dormant for the last 10 years. 

We have taken to showering on the swim platform the last few nights since it doesn't lend additional soapy crud to the shower in our stateroom.  Besides its warm and after a quick dunk in the 80 degree salt water we use the transom shower to rinse off, soap up and rinse off again. 

Wonderful.

Ran the generator for several hours to cool the boat off with the A/C units and charge up the batteries and heat up water. 

Tomorrow we get mail!

June 12, 2014

There were rain showers and thunderstorms passing through the area during the night so I was up on and off most of the night.  Finally, around 5:30am things settles down or I juts fell asleep and didn't notice.  But in any event I woke up at 9:18am.  Yikes!\

Mad Mary a full pot of coffee since the started the generator to top up the batteries it being a cloudy day which nullifies the solar panel effectiveness.  We made reservations at Waterside Marina in Norfolk and at the Capital Yacht Club in DC for august.  We called the Post Office here in Beaufort and they confirmed our Mail from St. Brenden Isle, our mail forwarding service, had arrived. So since there was still rain in the forecast, I left Mary on board and took the dinghy into Beaufort.

They have a public free dock for dinghies which isn't much more than a planked walkway adjoining a pretty white gate on shore.  But there was room for me so I tied up and walked the 2 blocks to the city marina inquiring about cab service.  The Post Office is about 3 miles away and I was planning on walking up there but wanted to have a cab service available in case I did some grocery shopping at the Food Lion which is right next door to the post office.  The marina guy asked what slip I was in and I replied we were anchored out at Shackleford Banks.  He mumbled something and tossed me some car keys saying take the car but put in $10 worth of gas.  Who am I to refuse such an offer!

The car was a classic, Buick Roadmaster clunker.  Only 2 windows worked and the A/C didn’t but the fan blasted air without let up even after I turned it off.  But it ran fine.  My kinda of car.

I stopped at the post office and got the mail then headed over to the Food Lion and bought club soda, Pepsi and a few other things.  Then stopped at ABC Liquor store down the road for rum.  And then, a final stop at the Piggly Wiggly for .. well I forget what I bought there but it wasn't much. 

Headed back to the city after filling the car with $10.07 worth of gas.  I had to sort of illegally park in front of the pretty white gate fronting the public dinghy dock to off load all the stuff I bought.  The dinghy was piled high!

Took the car back but couldn't find any place to park except 3 blocks up on Front street. Returned the keys and walked back to the dinghy.  And it was still there, the large stack of groceries undisturbed.  Started up the dinghy and headed back out to the island again.  In total the excursion only took two hours which is how long I envisioned the walk to the Post Office would have been.

The only down side was the lack of Mary’s prescriptions which didn't arrive yet.  So tomorrow I may very well be walking to the Post Office!

They just wander where they want

After putting everything away we loitered around a bit and then headed back to the beach.  Talked with a nice couple there who have a condo in Morehead City.  They live in the Chesapeake but keep there boat here and make periodic visits to go boating.  They told us where to find a beach umbrella stake sheath, basically a PVC pole with a pointed tip in which you insert the beach umbrella pole so it doesn't fall over.  And of course I immediately forgot the store they mentioned but at least I know there is such a thing.

We walked up the beach and back but as we were returning I noticed our little beach spot was nearly under water.  The tide had risen far faster than I thought.  So we had a soaked book and damp carry bag.  Came back to the boat, had a few drinks on the bow, ate dinner and I showered on the swim platform while Mary did laundry and dishes.  We had to forgo the Boston Legal episodes cause it got too late.  Maybe tomorrow. 

We’re really rocking tonight from the wind and current.  No thunderstorms just rain in the vicinity.  We will have to leave here by Saturday though since the winds are forecast to move out of the northwest and this wont be a very comfy spot to stay.  If Mary’s prescriptions aren't at the Post Office tomorrow we’ll have to stay somewhere and rent a car to drive back here to fetch them. 

June 13, 2014

Anchored in a calm period before the winds picked up

Overnight we really bounced around until the tide started going out and things calmed down although the wind was blowing very hard.  But our venerable old 66 lb.  Bruce and chain stuck fast and we didn't drift at all.

The forecast though is calling for northwest winds tonight so we have to leave.  I investigated a number of marinas here and ended up choosing the Morehead City Yacht Basin which is cheap, close and relatively easy to to access.  The currents around here can run as fast as 4 knots which makes docking a boat almost impossible without banging into something.  But in the basin there is only about 1 knot at its peak.

Only problem with though is they cant take us until late afternoon when they have completed fueling and shuffling boats here for the big  Rockfish tournament.  But that's still ok.  Its sunny and aside from the constant rocking we’re snug as a bug.  Probably take the dinghy out to refuel and see the sights if its not too rough in the inlet.

Found a passable open WiFi internet connection this morning here in the anchorage.  It's probably at least 2 miles away.  But with the WiFi booster cranked up all the way we’re getting decent access.  Must be new since it didn't show up the first day we arrived here when I scanned for WiFi.  So I’m uploading several hundred pictures.

In the afternoon we decided to take the dinghy over to the Yacht Basin and check it out.  The dock guy on the phone was rather vague about putting us on a side deck since I was intending on towing the dinghy.  And I wanted to see what they had available.  Lucky we paid a visit.  All they could do for was put us in a slip, C26 among large sport fisherman.  The slip, as usual, has only a 15 foot stub finger pier which means we'll need to back in.  The maneuvering area is a little tight especially with all these big sport fisherman in slips.  But we had little choice since I found out there is a Rockfish Blue Marlin fishing tournament going on right here.  Timing is everything!

We filled the dinghy with gas and heeding the dock masters suggestion about getting in sooner rather than later to avoid the rush, high-tailed it back to the anchorage.  And it was rough.  We both got soaked numerous times from the swells coming in from the inlet.  But we eventually made it back, hauled the dingy aboard and secured it.

Then we started bringing up the anchor.  It was really well set and seemed to balk at being hauled aboard.  But using the mass of the boat we broke it out finally and started heading back to the main shipping channel. 

  It was nearing low tide though so I had to go slow since it’s a little tricky going in and out of here due to the shallows.  We made though and headed into the yacht basin after a few miles.  Before we went through some bridges which lie adjacent to the yacht basin entrance, I saw a large motor yacht heading in to the narrow channel so I knowing they’d be tying them up for awhile I slowed to a crawl figuring they’s have the large yacht secured by the time we arrived.  And so they did. 

Basin is around to the left

We pulled into the basin, and I had to basically parallel park the boat into the slip.  Did fine. And luckily we got in when we did because the winds really began to pickup shortly after we were tied up

Winner is first sportfish 

BTW, the winner of the Rockfish Blue Marlin tournament turned out to be a boat in front of us.  They caught a 754 pound Marlin.  If I can get over to the award ceremony tomorrow I'll try and get  a picture.  Oh yeah.  The 1st place prize is almost $400,000.  Sheez ...

We went to eat at  a place called Floyds 1921 which is a really a good restaurant at 4^th and Bridge streets in an old house.  Mighty fine place if anyone is in the area.  Headed back to the boat stuffed, and went to bed.

I guess it stormed overnight but I never heard a thing!

June 14, 2014

We had reserved the courtesy car for 10am.  I woke up and 8:45.  Rousted Mary out of bed and I went up to sign the car out.  Uh Oh … I left the insurance line blank and the dock guy said sorry, without car insurance we cant let you have the car.  Since we have no car we have no insurance. Foiled again!  But Mary asked Brant to help us out ... we pay almost as much for insurance as for the car rental.

So we took a cab ($6) to the Lowes Food store (not the home improvement place).  Bought numerous things including this LaCroix  water in the pink box for which I've developed an affection when mixed with rum.  Yumm!  I bought the remaining 3 12-packs since its rarely available in out of the way places.

We called the cab again and Brandon, the original cabbie return to take us back to the marina,.  Nice fellow!  We loaded everything on the boat and then I chatted with another boat owner, an older couple who go up and down the east coast.  She was attempting to scrub off the water stains left by the tannin waters of most of the rivers here and I simply clued her in on using Lemon juice which just melts the brown stains away.    Just call me Heloise.

Sweet old boat

There is this 1948 restored 60 foot yacht in here which is just gorgeous. Goes out for cocktail cruises and has been re-powered with jet drives so the captain can park it in this incredibly tiny slip.

Mary was napping so I did some updating on all the navigation stuff, and then took a walk over by the Marlin Tournament party where I was hoping to get a picture of the fish, but alas, it began to rain and they must have postponed the event.

Rockfish Award stage

I did stop at the Ace marine hardware store on the way back and bought a few hitch pins and some other hardware to replace some of the more rusted pieces we have on the swim platform.

Planning on leaving the slip tomorrow around 8 and heading over to the fuel dock to top off the tanks at a money saving $3.59/gal.  Then we’ll head up the ICW and either anchor in Broad Creek on the Neuse River or, if we have enough time, West Bay in Pamlico Sound.  West Bay puts us closer to Ocracoke which is where we plan to anchor for a few days.

Oh, and I did reset the Link 20 so its giving much better info on the battery state now than before.  Annoying thing but simple fix.  Resetting it means taking the fuse out of the blue wire on the port side battery bank (fwd battery box) for a few seconds.

We're ready for a week on the hook now!