Let the Adventure Continue!

We spent a lazy day in and about River Dunes, doing a few things getting ready for tomorrow's departure...........and as we say good bye to all the nice people here, we tell them we will return on our way back north in the spring.
We had a quick dinner of left overs and salad and listened to Van Morrison as the sun set over Grace Harbor,  we are excited to be heading to Morehead City at first light. Hoping that everyone is safe up home and power is restored soon!

Rock and Roll

 

Looking a little bit hopeful that Hurricane Sandy has moved on!

                       
Monday, Oct 29, third day at River Dunes Marina.  The winds just do not stop! for the most part, it has been wind and rain 24/7.  Joe has spent alot of time charting, while I read and crochet.  We are cozy, safe and warm.
Fantabulous has been rockin and rolling, creekin but not leakin!!!!! she is fairin very well in the storm.  Lines are secure and we are havin a ball!
Today we did see blue sky and some sun! hooray! So we got our dirty clothes together and went up for showers and laundry. I herard that I have been using the wrong shower. there is a steam shower in the other stall, so tomorrow I will check it out!  doing laundry was fun..........5 of us juggling 2 washers and dryers. but we chatted between loads and had a good time.  Met a couple on the Moondance,  they named their boat after the song by Van Morrison, as we did!
Went into Oriental with the loaner car to pick up a few things, then up to the clubhouse for a steak dinner.  Last night was Alligator Chili and the best clam chowder I ever had!
All in all, this has been a fantabulous place to be waiting out Hurricane Sandy.  But worried about family and friends up north as it hits up there!

 

 Joe got to visit his favorite store. He picked up a new waterway book and anchorage book.

You know you are bored when a trip to the hardware store is exciting!

In and around River Dunes Clubhouse

                                         Seasons greetings!

A little note............I added some more pictures this morning and text and don;t forget to go all the way to the bottom for pictures on Photo bucket. they are not going in a video fashion, I will have to ask Zach why.

Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of ........Sandy

Saturday, Oct 27........a lazy Saturday morning! it is raining and winds are moderate. Made a yummy breakfast of bacon and eggs. No bread, so I toasted the last flour tortilla.......mother of invention and all that! you know.......Plato?............aye! I am getting to be an "old Salt" as Denise pointed out! I amaze even myself from time to time. Now if only I could find a  way to get my cell phone service! I may have been pre-cell phone child but I like the modern technology, I know I would not have made a good prairie girl!
At some point I am going out side to experience Hurricane Sandy. but for now, guess I'll work on my baby blanket.

Friday, Oct 26. We wake to a covering of pea soup on the Slade creek. No stars this morning, just a thick mist. So, at first light, we sail "into the misty"............
brings to mind the song by Van Morrison, but LOL, it's not misty, it is mystic but......oh well!  We love Van Morrison, his song Moondance is why the boat is called Fantabulous!

We were born before the wind
Also younger than the sun
Ere the bonnie boat was won as we sailed into the mystic
Hark, now hear the sailors cry
Smell the sea and feel the sky
Let your soul and spirit fly into the mystic

And when that fog horn blows I will be coming home
And when that fog horn blows I want to hear it
I don't have to fear it
I want to rock your gypsy soul
Just like way back in the days of old
Then magnificently we will float into the mystic
And when that fog horn blows you know I will be coming home
And when thst fog horn whistle blows I got to hear it
I don't have to fear it
I want to rock your gypsy soul
Just like way back in the days of old
And together we will float into the mystic
Come on girl...

and so we did..............

But, as we sail on, just shows to go ya, the sun is still shinning, even though you can't see it.
We passed alot of fishing boats along the way today. crossed the Neuse river and pulled into River Dunes Marina. Still no cell phone coverage! that's a bit frustrating, to say the least! (,we do, however, have TV and internet........ah my creature comforts!) but they have a phone that they let the boaters use, so I called mom and dad who were glad to hear from me. We are safe and listen to news of Hurricane Sandy and how it will affect us.

Thursday morning, woke up around 6am. Joe calls to me to come top-side........I look up to a glorious sky filled with STARS! STARS! AND MORE STARS!  so beautiful! and then a sunrise that was awesome!
while getting dressed, we turned on the VHF........an announcement came over......
SECURI-TAY, SECURI-TAY SECURI-TAY............this is warship 72,(he then gave his Latitude, and Longitude........they were preforming live fire tests........we were not close by, but it was an interesting announcement)
after our coffee, we pulled out of Little Alligator river, the water was like a rainbow, we wait for the swing bridge to open at East Lake. then proceed down thru the Alligator River-Pungo Canal.  all in all, a pretty boring ride.

 

We have been following sailing vessel BANYAN.  Was nice to know someone was near by when we dropped the hook last night.This was my first anchorage and it was very cool!   We continued to sail with them down the Pungo river and  pull into the Slade Creek, where we again drop the hook. because a hurricane is expected with the next few days, we will get up early again and head towards Oriental, NC where we will have plenty of shelter from the storm. We called ahead for dockage at River Dunes Marina.  Lucky we had cell phone coverage for a short time  to make that call. other wise, no cell phone coverage all day!
We were sitting top side before dinner wondering what a Pungo is......we escaped the alligators in the alligator river, but are there Pungos? do they hide in the trees around Slade Creek? 
We had a dinner of baked chicken, a mixture of carrots, potatoes and parsnip with a sprinkle of peas, we were again treated to another awesome sunset that added to the ambiance for our top side dinning.
it got a little buggy and we then had to go below.

sample of the many interesting tree stumps along the way

It's a party on the marker!!!!

 

This is so cool, would love to paint it

Wed, Oct 24, pulled out of Atlantic Marina to wait for the North Landing bridge opening at 8:30. there were about 7 of us in line. from there we went down the North Landing River , through the Ablemarle sound, and into the Alligator River (did not see any Alligators........LOL) 
(just a little side note.........a butterfly almost flew into my face today........they are finding me even on the boat)
Turned into the Little Alligator River and around 4:30 found a quiet spot to drop the hook. After a relaxing drink we dined on a gourmet dinner of Dinty Moore Beef stew.........yummy!  after dinner we were treated to a beautiful sunset.!

 This is our view from where we are tied up right on the Intercoastal at Alantic Marina. The most beautiful day today! going up to 83 tomorrow. Met a nice couple from Halifax, Nova Scotia. they sold everything..........left July 29,  no particular destination...........just livin the dream.........

 Bridge opening at Gilmerton


Sunday night, pulled into Deltaville Marina and ran aground! missed the red/green markers and oops!
then a motor boat freed us (thanks "LEMON DROP) and we were on our way and then did it again!
Joe says if you never run around, your aren't sailing!
Deltaville a nice place. we were in the office and the couple next to us were taking the bicycles out and asked for a bike lock.........man says no lock needed, this is Deltaville.........LOL. the water basin in front of marina is line of houses in a circle, so serine!     Off to Portsmouth today. Mom grew up there, nice town!
Monday, Oct 22, we continue down the Chesapeake towards Portsmouth.  We were expecting alot of "traffic" but the ride was relatively quiet. As we approached Portsmouth, we saw alot of Navy ships along the side of the waterway.

 we pulled in to Tidewater around 4pm. there was a Celebrity GLORY cruise ship docked in Norfolk. it left around 5, did a complete turn around on river, right in front of us. Music was loud we could hear the sail-away party going on dancing to Cupid Shuffle!

 above is Deltaville

Tuesday Morning, we take our time getting up and out of our slip in Portsmouth. We are at Mile Marker One on the inter coastal. We are heading towards Gilmerton Bridge. The bridge opens ever hour on the half hour.  We crawl down the water-way, and get in line for the 12:30 opening. There are about 7 or 8 of us. Monkey girl was constantly on the radio announcing that he will be going first and various other things..........was a bit annoying, guess there is one in every bunch.......LOL get it........monkey/bunch!!! a little attempt an humor.......so the bridge opens and we all one at a time pass thru, thanking the bridge keeper as we pass by.
There are several other bridges along the way and finally we get to the Great bridge Lock.  We hand the attendant our lines and he ties us to the dock. The lock then closes and fills with water.  It then reopens and we untie and move forward. So cool!

We left Rock Hall this morning around 8am. motored under the Bay bridge and put the sail up! picked up red and green markers along the way. (my job with binoculars) A perfectly beautiful day! pulled into Solomons Island around 5. We had a great day today!

Well........checking the weather forecast for the next few days, weather looks sunny and if all goes well, we will pull out of our slip in Rock Hall and head south! We are deliriously happy  and I know Joe is SO glad to get going and not have to be going to work anymore!!!! Putting all that behind him and not having to deal with that any more makes the trip that much more exciting for both of us............SO...........
 Let the Adventure begin!

Oct 4th 2012 Annapolis boat show.  New dingy!

September 30, 2012..............we said goodbye to Summit Marina and headed south to Rock Hall, MD
picked up red and green markers and before we knew it............6/1/2-7 hrs later, we pulled into Rock Hall. Osprey Point. Nice marina...........! Dock B slip number 31
Lots of blue Herons here.  First night here one came walking right past the boat.........as if to say, welcome! 
One night going out to the car, a white duck came waddling down the dock. quack quack quack! 2 other ducks were in the water. Joe thinks the two ducks in the water were the parents, and this time of year is when they make their offspring go off on their own, and this little duck was sad and confused!