mile 202-mile 136
We had a plan for leaving the dock. I would hold the bow in while David backed out, then we would turn and go out forward. We backed out fairly straight, then the bow swung in and the stern out. David changed the plan to back out into the channel and point the bow out. Josie decided to back out the other way. We turned around in the channel and were finally headed in the right direction. We passed the beautiful Miss Emily on our way out.
Our goal was to get to Belhaven, N.C. We would venture up Adam’s Creek and into the Neuse River. Then we would enter Goose Creek, cross the Pamlico River and end up in the Pungo River. The Neuse, Pamlico and Pungo were wide enough for sailing.
Adam’s Creek is beautiful with homes lining the waterway heading inland. We sailed on a broad reach in the Neuse River. We took our genoa down when it shifted downwind. There was too much wind for the spinnaker.
Goose Creek is home to Hobucken and the R. E. Mayo shrimp operation. We were very sad to see that the property was for sale. Three shrimp boats were parked outside but there was none of the usual action there. They have been in operation for over 80. years. It seems there is a lot of conflicting interests amongst developers, environmentalists, recreational fishermen and the commercial fishing industry. I do not know if that was the source of the closure. I could not find any information about the reasons for the sale.
We sailed downwind in the Pamlico and then on a beam reach in the Pungo. The wind was very gusty and sometimes would change direction suddenly. Flies, biting black flies and the occasional green head joined us in the Pamlico. David went to work with the swatter.
As the river narrowed, we took down the sails and headed to the anchorage at Belhaven. We anchored inside the breakwater. We considered going to the Belhaven marina but could not get in touch with them. We did not want to stay at River Forrest because we wanted to leave early and it is more difficult to leave there. Dowry Creek, our usual marina in the area is sadly filing for bankruptcy.
We anchored inside the Belhaven breakwater. There was a little chop in the anchorage as the winds picked up from the southwest.
After taking care of the fly population down below, we cooked spaghetti. I made the sauce and started the pasta, cooking half a box of shells. We made a salad. After plates were served, I noticed little black bugs on the counter. We thought they were a new variety from outside but noted that they were just around the pasta box. Sure enough, there were more inside the box. Weevils.
Nothing else seemed to be affected. We contained that box and ate our bug spaghetti. Delicious!
Later in the evening, the dockmaster at the Belhaven marina called us. He apologized for not getting back to us. He had fallen in the water trying to help a boat dock. The line he was pulling on slipped off the boat’s cleat and he went flying off the dock with his phone and the marina phone. He then had to leave the marina to go get a replacement. He had had a bad day but luckily was not injured. It was very nice of him to check in with us.