Internet Connection At Last

May 26. Off I Go at Last

Left the dock at 8 am, found the wind just starting to blow as we motored out into the Neuse. It blew from right in front of us all way to the Bay River, and it was cloudy. Very annoying. Where was the sunny day they predicted? After 2 hours we got sheltered in the Bay River and from then on the water was calm and the wind light. The sun came out and as we approached Belhaven it was hot and the sky was blue.  We had 2 unpleasant surprises- The plywood support for the steering geer had developed a crack, there was a rotten bit if wood, so we had to steer by hand and Bruce started thinking up ways to repair it. By mid afternoon he had cut some pieces of aluminum and drilled holes and we have a sort of repair in place, but dont know if it will work.  Also there is water in the fuel, a problem he had discovered weeks ago and thought he had fixed. But the engine ran fine all day because the fuel filter catches all the water--something I just learned about engines.  Anchored at 4 pm just before the Pungo Alligator canal. 6 other boats anchored here also.  Saw very few boats all day.

May 27. Fog and Sun

Left the anchorage at 5:45 with everything shrouded in fog. Into the 3 hour canal where all the fog was concentrated. It lifted slowly, but at one point it looked like we were driving into a snowstorm.  After that it was 8 more hours of motoring in sunshine until we anchored behind Buck Island with 3 other boats at 4pm

May 28. Norfolk VA.  Motored from 5:20 to 2:30. Good thing we left early because we got through Currituck Sound with no wind, that is a long open field of water,very shallow with a narrow marked channel where you have to steer very carefully at best. A power boat guy got on the radio and reported only 1 foot in the channel at the marker just ahead of us.  He was too close to the marker, the correct distance away there was 13 feet.  After that, miles of windy rivers 18 feet deep, a pretty totally wild area until you come to the first of 5 bridges several miles apart.  These open on various schedules and you have go as fast as possible to make some of openings and really slow to avoid getting to others too soon.  It's hard to wait around in a sailboat, backing and circling without hitting anything. After the bridges, another hour to Norfolk and it's hot, but luckily a nice breeze is blowing and we anchor across the river from Nauticus so actually we're in Portsmouth rather than Norfolk.  Everything is working except the steering geer connection, one prong broke off the plug, but Bruce has spare ones, not to worry.

May 29 & 30 Resting, fixing things and taking walks

May 30.  Sarah Creek

Got here about 2 pm and immediately jumped into the water. Hot day breezy at first. Lured us to sail up into the York River. Then calm until we were almost here and then as frequently happens a nice afternoon breeze came up.