Monday, October 29, 2012

Tropical Storm - Hurricane Sandy

After we provisioned at Chesapeake City, we proceeded past Coinjack and tried a new anchorage off Lutz Creek, as recommended by the new On The Water Guidebooks.  Very nice.  Crossed the Albemarle Sound next day, went down the Pungo Canal to another new anchorage. 

Contacted our friends at Pamlico Plantation, Joan & Jim Sweeney, but they were unable to connect with us.  Same story with Reta & Larry Foster at Chowinity (spelling?).  Better luck next time, guys.  Then we proceeded to the State Dock at Bath, NC, Hardings Landing, to hunker down for the "Tropical Storm Sandy".  Met some nice people there and explored town and museum. 


Moved a little faster past Oriental and Sanitary Market floating dock at Beufort, NC.  Tucked into Mile Hammock Bay anchorage overnight, followed by Carolina Beach mooring and then Barefoot Landing Dock at N. Myrtle Beach.  Moving fast to get to hurricane hole at Osprey Marina, Myrtle Beach, SC.  This is a very nice hurricane hole with good protection and the boats were just piling in to dodge now Hurricane Sandy.  Actually had slow steady rain all day Saturday with some gusts into Sunday.  All in all, it has been very good for us here, hiding from the "Frankinstorm" Sandy. 

Osprey Marina, Myrtle Beach, SC


We wish all fellow boaters safe passage during this time.  To family & friends up in NJ, be safe up there!


Tuesday, October 16, 2012

We pulled out of Weems Creek right after the Annapolis Boat Show on Monday,  
October 8, 2012, joining up with s/v Xtasea (friends Amy & Rex Noel)  for our  
start south down the Chesapeake Bay.  Headed first to Solomon, MD for stops at  
Roy Rogers, West Marine (where we got a present of a bright yellow boat cushion) 
and 7-11.  Then headed on to friends Mary & Walt Keith's dock in Reedville, VA  
for fun, conversation, food and drink and couple boat projects.  Rex helped  
Garry get the mainsail off for some more sewing repairs.  Thanks so much for  
all your help, friends!  We also had a diver clean Windkist4's bottom and put  
the second zinc on.

On the way again we saw several schooners in the Great Chesapeake Schooner Race  
and even heard a Mayday from one on way into Deltaville's Fishing Bay.  The boat had lost a crewman overboard, rescue was accomplished, but unfortunately the man did not survive.  Let's all be very careful out there!
After trying new anchorage at Phoebus Channel opposite entrance to Norfolk,  
we headed up the river to Mile Marker 0 and the official start of our trip south.
We saw many schooners coming out from Norfolk & Portsmouth, including Farewell, 
Sultana and Pride of Baltimore II.
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
Had to wait for a train on the first railroad bridge but nice lady at Gilmerton 
Bridge took pity on us and held her bridge opening for all four of us.  Garry 
said he would like to give her a big hug!  Made it through all the first group 
of bridges, thru the Great Bridge Loch with Halloween candy given, on to the 
Great Bridge Dock before the Great Bridge Bridge.  Spent one day there doing 
some little provisioning and having Dairy Queen cones.  On way again thru 
Virginia Cut, past Coinjack, to Lutz Creek anchorage, opposite Broad Creek. 
 
More later.