We planned to leave Havre de Grace at first light but it was raining and windy and we needed to thread our way between the rocks on the port side and a large 62 foot boat along our starboard side. With low tide we were concerned about depth along the rocks as well. So we waited for some tide, the wind went down as predicted and we left around 11 AM for our relatively short trip to Baltimore.
We arrived at Anchorage Marina and were hardly on the dock for 10 minutes and a couple walked up to say hello. It was Bill and Kellie Rae (Ocean Dancer) who we had met in Marsh Harbour the Bahamas almost three years ago. They had recognized Sum Escape and came down to say hello. They had spent the summer at this marina. Another small cruising world story!
This marina had a great location. We could walk to many restaurants and shopping locations and did so.
It was also a good spot for Tom to fly to Michigan to see Mom for three days while Julie stayed aboard. It was great to spend time Mom.
We were also able to have dinner with our nephew and his wife who are expecting their first baby in early 2020. It was great to catch up with them too. Best wishes Paul and Stephanie!
We took a nice walk in Patterson Park, the oldest park in Baltimore.
Next stop was to visit Looper friends Betsy and Dave (Frye Days). They summer in Solomons and then migrate south to Longboat Key for winters where we will see them again in December or so. We had a wonderful dinner and a great time catching up with them. We look forward to seeing them again at LBK. See you soon Betsy and Dave. We stayed at the very friendly Solomons Island Yacht Club.
After two nights at Solomons, MD, we departed for Deltaville,VA where we would see yet another Looper couple. Beautiful on the Chesapeake today.
We had a great cocktail hour aboard Sum Escape with Amy and AJ (Gimmie Time). It is such a great community of boaters we have met over our 4 years of cruising. Thanks for making time for us Amy and AJ.
We departed for Norfolk early on Sunday. Wind was pretty strong all night so we did expect some choppy seas on the Chesapeake. It did not disappoint. The wind was shifting so the seas were confused so we cranked up the speed for a good portion of the trip to smooth our all the rolling we were doing at hull speed. We don’t do this often but at times like theses we appreciate the ability to move out and smooth the seas a bit. Passing a sailboat at about 18 mph. The photo really does not show how confused the seas really were.
As we were approaching the Hampton Roads area, the Navy was announcing the arrival of a submarine from sea through the channel. It was interesting just how many boaters do not monitor their radios and the navy escorts vessels would “run them down” to get their attention to stay at least 500 yards away from the sub and not cross its bow under any circumstances. By the time we got there we could see the sub in the “explosives handling area” noted on the charts and then they announced it was returning to sea. We were actually pretty close as we passed it but the Navy did not have to contact us as we kept our distance as required.
On Monday morning I was able to have breakfast with a business associate from my SpartanNash days. Thanks for making time for me Kathy, it was great to catch up a bit!
After breakfast we departed for Coinjock
where we planned to have dinner at the famous Coinjock Restaurant, renowned for their prime rib. A bit of a traffic jam along the way at the Gilmerton Bridge.
12 boats in the Great Bridge lock....the Fall migration is in full swing!
We had arranged to have dinner with fellow Gold Loopers Steve and Debbie (Gypsies Palace). It was great to get to know them a bit and we look forward to perhaps meeting up along the way south over the next couple weeks. And the prime rib was very good with leftovers for one more meal.
Leaving Coinjock at first light.
Looking at the weather forecast for the next three days, only Tuesday appears to be a good travel day, then one needs to be in safe harbor for a pretty good two day blow. We love River Dunes near Oriental NC which is 127 miles from Coinjock. Remember, we normally travel at 10 MPH or so, plus get slowed by no wake zones, other small vessels we pass, etc. And days are not 12 hours of daylight long at this point in the year. But we do have the option of running at 18-19 MPH in some of the more open areas of this route (Pamlico, Nuese River, Alligator river) so that became our plan. We’ll rationalize burning a lot of diesel by combining the advice of mechanics to run the diesels at “maximum cruising RPM” (2100-2200) occasionally and wanting to be in a safe harbor for weather to spend the dollars of fuel. Who said a trawler can't move along!
Along the way we had to traverse the narrow Alligator/Pungo River Canal. And who did we meet but Island Girl, the tow who told us there was plenty of room last year when we tried to pass him in SC. The resultant delay and prop damage is still a fresh memory. I did not call him, we just moved ever so slightly off center and passed.
We left just after 7 AM arrived at the anchorage just outside River Dunes around 6 PM, so the plan worked. We anchored just outside of the marina basin in Broad Creek.
Wednesday is going to be rainy but there appears to be a window in the morning where we could enter the marina, get fuel and a pump out and perhaps get tied in a slip and a short walk in before the wind and rain come up and we get soaked doing all this. And that worked out too! Love it when a plan works out!
Our friend Ralph (Mazel Tug) and his friend Diane met us for dinner at River Dunes. Ralph lost his wife Linda to cancer a year ago, his home was severely damaged by Florence and we have kept in constant contact with him. We had previously stopped to see them in New Bern a couple times but Ralph said he would drive out to meet us this time. It was great to see him and meet Diane and we had a nice dinner at the restaurant here. We continue to pray that his home and boat are soon repaired and things start to return to some normalcy.
It was nice to be tied in a slip on Wednesday and Thursday as the wind blew hard and it would not have been pleasant out on the water. We had some good walks and caught up on things like chart updates, blog writing, travel logs, etc.
We had a nice transit to Beaufort NC, (BO FORT don’t call us BU FORT…that one is South Carolina) and the Homer Smith Marina. Along the way we were met by a number of schools of dolphins. It is amazing how they “hear” us coming and beeline for the bow wave to play in it. We counted 10 in one school.
After arrival here, it became apparent that we would be here three days due to the remnants of tropical storm Nestor passing through with lots of rain and wind until late Sunday. Fortunately they made room for us to stay three days, thanks so much dockmaster Clark and Homer Smith Marina. We were able to use the courtesy car to replenish supplies.
We also took nice walks and even checked out the so called farmers market. Unfortunately, it was 98% crafts, not produce….
The wind and rain really only kept us aboard on Saturday evening and Sunday morning so it was another nice stay in Beaufort. And it was no where near the intensity that they forecasted, the highest gust we recorded was 29 knots.
Next stop is Wrightsville Beach.
2 comments:
nNash. I also worked for them for 25 yrs. what did you do for them and where. Laurie
well the first part of my previous post did not take.
what a beutiful life you two have. I did not realize you worked for SpartanNash. I also worked for them for 25 yrs,
Laurie
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