Journal Entries

sunrise Portsmouth It was hazy, a little fog on The Shore, as we set out for Cape Charles. We had an easy exit from Norfolk Harbor, past Fort Monroe and the Thimble Shoal lighthouse. It was a close reach, 40 degrees off the wind but there was enough wind to do it. We had a double reefed main and our genoa. We had some crab pots for awhile so David kept close watch. It was not long before...

h mile 50- mile 1.5 Our destination was Portsmouth. The wind would be favorable for a sail across the Chesapeake tomorrow morning. We got in touch with Bruce, who lives in Portsmouth and made a plan to go to dinner if we got there in time. It was a 50 mile trip and there were several obstacles along the way. There were four opening bridges and the Great Bridge Lock which was timed with the Battlefield...

mile 136-mile 50 86 miles was an ambitious undertaking. Features of this journey were the Pungo River-Alligator River Canal, fondly known as the “long straight,” the Alligator River and Bridge (old and new), the Albemarle Sound and The North River. The Alligator River and North Rivers had anchorages in case we did not feel like going the whole way. We left in the dark around 5. The channel out...

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....

To love and to cherish mile 244.5-202 We were the first boat out of the anchorage at first light. The Nordic tug Swell followed us. The mud on our anchor was impressive as we pulled it up. We headed out toward the Onslow Beach Bridge. This area, including our anchorage and the bridge is home to Camp Lejeune. The marines can close the waterway for exercises at any time. The Onslow Beach Bridge...

mile 311.4-244.5 Today, we were back to dealing with bridges. There were some tricky current areas as well. We left Southport before sunrise. Southport waterfront Sunrise on the Cape Fear River Our first challenge was Snow’s Cut, a narrow channel between Southport and the Cape Fear River, and Carolina Beach. The cut has a bridge at the north side which is fixed. but narrows the cut even...