Adams Creek Anchorage (Day 019)

Adams Creek (6 miles south of Oriental), NC MM 187.5
Distance Traveled = 55.8 Hours Underway = 8:40 Average Speed = 6.4 mph

Sunrise over Dowery Creek

Weather: Mostly sunny although we spent about one hour in overcast conditions; winds were about 15 knots true out of the east; temperature range was mid 60’s to mid 70’s

Comment: SUNSHINE spent a good portion of the day motor-sailing at 8+ mph. We made quick work of the Pungo and Pamlico Rivers before entering Goose Creek and the canal that carried us to the Bay and Neuse Rivers. The Neuse was lively and we sped along at over 8 mph motor-sailing on a beam reach. We slowed a bit when we rounded the corner, putting the wind on our stern. Eventually we rolled in the jib and motored the final 10 miles to the Adams Creek Anchorage.

A Hitchhiker!

While outside of Oriental, Anna Marie answered a call over the VHF radio. Canvasback Too was hailing SUNSHINE. He and Anna Marie spoke for a few minutes. Dave is going to try to time his arrival at Osprey Marina with our return to to SUNSHINE on October 21. Recall that we hope to be in Myrtle Beach by October 14 as we must return to NJ for a week. Sadly, for that to happen, we couldn’t pull in to Oriental to see Captain Dave and his crew (Chucky, Elvis, and Tipsey).

Sunset over Adams Creek

At 1535 we had the anchor down. We are anchored with a new group of six different vessels (save for Solace) as we have left our Elizabeth City cohort behind.

Dowery Creek, Marina (Day 018)

Dowery Creek Marina, Belhaven, NC MM 132.0
Distance Traveled = 30.5 Hours Underway = 5:25 Average Speed = 5.75mph

Weather: Morning fog burned off by 0830 hours; light wind out of the SW; temperature range 61 to 79 degrees; calm seas

The fog is lifting at the Tuckahoe Anchorage

Comment: We raised the anchor in bright morning sunshine at 0725 after waiting forty minutes for the fog to burn off. While underway, we saw fog hanging over the Alligator-Pungo Canal. We figured the canal fog would be the last to burn off so we motored at a slow 5 mph pace. Talk on the marine radio suggested that it might be 0900 before the canal was passable.

SUNSHINE traveled a mile or two to the beginning of the canal where, at 0805, we dropped the hook to wait for the fog to lift. Four other boats were at this anchorage, and they were waiting on the fog too. At 0830, the fog was lifting and motors were started. We were in a parade of five sail boats being led by two shrimp boats.

Shrimp Boat leads the way into the canal and the fog

It was a most pleasant trip. SUNSHINE was tied up in Dowery Creek Marina at 1250 hours. This is the first marina for which we have paid a slip fee since we departed Cape May. Given the weather forecast for 20 – 25 knots NE wind tomorrow, we decided to attend to chores today. The port and starboard engines received oil changes and oil filters, Anna Marie did the laundry. We also fueled up and pumped out the holding tank, after which, we borrowed the loaner can to get some staples from the grocery store. We splurged for a pizza and enjoyed it while watching a baseball game in the boaters lounge at the marina.

Back on the boat, we attended to the logs. Once again, we didn’t have an internet connection so postings and blog maintenance will have to wait for another day.

Deep Point Anchorage (Day 017)

Deep Point Anchorage, NC MM 102.2
Distance Traveled = 51.2 Hours Underway = 8:12 Average Speed = 6.2 mph

Weather: Bright sun all day; temp range 57 – 86 degrees; wind light and variable; calm seas

Comment: Even with light wind, we bounced around last night while tied to the sea wall at Elizabeth City. We needed a slight breeze out of the north or west to blow us away from the wall. This place would be horrendous with strong winds out of the south!

We motored all day, although we did get a few hours with the jib unfurled and the motors running. The Pasquotank River, Albemarle Sound and Alligator River offered seas that were less than one foot. In the Alligator River, we found a couple of stumps in mid channel. It was easy to see them today, but in different conditions, it might be another story.

Sunset at the Deep Point Anchorage

After 8:12 hours, we dropped the hook in the Deep Point Anchorage at AIW MM 102.2. Tonight, we were going to enjoy a special dinner, grilled steaks smothered in a hickory and molasses rub, scalloped potatoes and cucumber salad. For desert, it was coffee, tea and biscotti’s in the cockpit while we watched a magnificent sunset. It was a most peaceful setting. SUNSHINE and crew were alone in a quiet anchorage at peace with the world.

Elizabeth City, NC (Day 016)

Elizabeth City, NC MM 51.0 Day 016

Distance = 23.4 Hours = 4:40 Average Speed = 5.36 mph

Boats tied to the NC Visitors Center Bulkhead

Weather: Bright sun all day! Light winds out of the South; Calm water in the Canal and Pasquotank River; The temperature range was 50 to 79 degrees.

Comment: We departed the NC Visitors Center at 0750 in order to make the South Mills Bascule Bridge by 0900. The bridge is two-tenths of a mile before the South Mills Lock. It was a cool morning, 50o at wake up time. There was a light mist over the water; it made for an idyllic scene. We slowly motored toward the bridge, trying to time our arrival with the bridge opening. All six boats docked at the visitor center were locking through this morning.

SUNSHINE tied to Southern Cross - NC Visitors Center

Thankfully, we only saw a few particles of duck weed. Last year, the canal was covered with the weed and it caused havoc with every boat’s cooling system. Not so this year! We were locked down about eight feet, an easy elevator ride down.

Morning on the Great Dismal Canal

The canal and the Pasquotank are very scenic and we enjoyed the trip very much. We always look forward to our stop in Elizabeth City, especially the dinner and a movie at the Carolina Theater and Grill. Tonight’s feature was “Nights in Rodanthe,” starring Richard Gere and Diane Lane. The actors did a fine job on this sad love story. We liked the movie, several of the other boaters did not because of the ending.

SUNSHINE tied the the Elizabeth City Sea Wall

Mayor Steve greeted us at the dock and invited us to stay for several days. He was so persuasive, we didn’t have the heart to tell him we were leaving tomorrow. We’d like to stay, but we have places to go and people to meet.

We bought a few things from the new farmer’s market, held right on the wharf, visited the Museum of the Albemarle (a must see and it’s free!), walked the dock, talked to a gentleman who was taking his parrots for a bicycle ride, and walked to the movie mentioned above. “Nights’ in Rodanthe,” shot locally on the outer banks, is sure to be a hit in this area as it was filmed on location. Mayor Steve advised is to get to the theater at least an hour before it opens so we could get a table for dinner. We took his advice and were third and fourth in line, behind two ladies in beach chairs (their husbands were to join them a bit before the theater opened. Next time, we’ll bring chairs too!

After the movie, we boarded SUNSHINE as she bounced against the sea wall to which we were docked. The very light 5 knot south wind has a 15 mile fetch from the Albemarle sound so the motion was lively. After completing the logs, we let it rock us to sleep!

Monument to the Rose Buddies

NOTE: The port hull has been riding low in the water. We checked the sealed compartment to find a substantial amount of water. We used the back up bilge pump to remove what I estimated to be about 35 gallons of water. Iit tasted like fresh water and was very clean, making me think that it was rain water. We have no idea how it could have gotten there. We’re going to have to keep an eye on this development.

NC Visitors Center (Day 015)

North Carolina Visitors Center, NC MM 28.0

Distance Traveled = 39.8 Hours Underway = 9:15 Average Speed = 5.7

Weather: Bright sun all day! The wind was out of the SW @ 5 to 10 knots. The temperature ranged form 70 to 81 degrees.

Comment: Sadly, SUNSHINE left this year’s flock to strike out on her own. Tally Ho and Reflection are spending the day in Hampton Roads. SUNSHINE thought of joining them, but her crew has a commitment in NJ in mid October. The crew will be gone for a week. We hope the rejoin the Flock when we return to SUNSHINE on October 21 in Osprey Marina near Myrtle Beach, SC.

We navigated the Elizabeth River without problem on this sunny day. It is day fifteen of our trip, and we requested the first of what will be many bridge openings as we journey south again.

Once again, SUNSHINE and her intrepid crew are taking the Great Dismal Swamp Route. The crew enjoys the change of pace offered by the swamp and the Admiral especially likes Elizabeth City’s dinner and a movie. We’re up for that tomorrow.

We locked through the Deep Creek lock with six other boats. One single handed captain was totally unprepared for the lock. He had no fenders to keep him off the wall and no dock lines. He handed the lock master two scraps of rope. Neither was long enough. His dinghy was on the bow of his boat, a Bristol 27, blocking any access to the bow. He couldn’t tie a bow line on so he affixed it to the line he used to strap the dinghy to the deck.

As the lock doors opened to let in water from the canal, 8 feet above us, the crew of SUNSHINE had a difficult time holding the boat in position. We were, for the first time, in the front of the lock. The force of water rushing in creates a white water effect in the lock and the boats in the front want to turn their bows to the force of the water.

That’s exactly what happened to the Bristol behind us. His bow turned away from the wall due to the force of the on-rushing water. The captain’s meager attempt at tying bow line didn’t hold, and the Bristol swung around with amazing speed, ready to bang into the vessel tied behind him. Luckily, the crew of that vessel saw what was happening, and fended the Bristol off with a boat hook until a fender could be placed into position.

Once the water levels of the lock and canal were at equilibrium, the Bristol was able to turn back into position and exit the lock. The gentleman’s skills at boat handling were seriously questioned by the crew of the other vessels in the lock. Several boats were going to tie up to a bulkhead after the bridge, but when the Bristol tied up first, everyone kept going to the visitor’s center. No one wanted to be tied up to that boat!

SUNSHINE arrived at the North Carolina Visitor Center to find the bulkhead full. We tied to a sailboat captained by Greg. He has been living aboard for ten years. There were three other sailboats and one trawler tied up for the night. Tomorrow, we’ll all be headed for the South Mills lock and Elizabeth City.

Mill Creek, Hampton Roads, VA (day 014)

Thursday, October 02, 2008 Day 014
Mill Creek Anchorage, Hampton Roads, VA MM 196.2

Distance = 46.3 miles Elapsed Time = 8.0 hours Average Speed = 5.8

PDQ 36 "Pretty Penny"

Weather: Mostly Sunny all day! Temp range 59 – 72; Winds 10-15 NW; 1’ seas

Comment: SUNSHINE went sailing today! After clearing the Fishing Bay Harbor Fuel Dock, we raised the reefed main (we were expecting 20 knots wind gusting the 25 out of the northwest) and motor-sailed down Fishing Bay to the Chesapeake. Small craft warnings were posted but Reflection and Tally Ho, who had departed the anchorage before us, reported that the conditions were moderate compared to the forecast.

S/V Tally Ho under sail

Once out in the Bay, we unrolled the jib and started motor-sailing. We were unable to see Reflection, but Andrew was sailing sans engine at a reported 4 knots. As the wind picked up, we were able to shut down the engines and raise them out of the water. We took off like a shot! It took about two hours to finally overtake Tally Ho but when we had to fire back up, Tally Ho pulled ahead again.

Old Point Comfort Light

The sail itself was sometimes frustrating. The wind was fluky all day. At times we’d be sailing along at eight or nine knots and suddenly be at four knots, sometimes slower.

Fort Monroe

At one point, it appeared that the wind was finished for the day. The Bay became almost glassy. We fired up the motors and as we proceeded with sails and motors, we passed a PDQ 36 “Pretty Penny” headed north. We spoke on the radio with the owner who was single handed. No sooner than saying goodbye, the wind picked up and we were off under sail again.

This time, we were able to sail along generally between 5 and 9 mph. It was during this stretch that we caught up with Tally Ho. After our two and one-half sail, it was motors on as we motor-sailed the final two miles to Mill Creek in Hampton Roads, VA.

Reflection was already berthed in the Hampton Town Docks when Tally Ho and SUNSHINE anchored behind Fort Monroe in Mill Creek.

After the anchor was set, we launched the dinghy for the first time since last spring. The engine fired up on the first pull. We visited with Andrew and Vanessa aboard Tally Ho and talked of each crews’ thoughts and expectations for this trip (their second and our third).

We shared our decision split with the flock with Andrew and Vanessa. Tomorrow, we will begin a push to get to Myrtle Beach, SC by October 14 because we have a flight home from there. We have some commitments the need our attention. We’ll be back aboard SUNSHINE on October 21, 2008 and hope that Reflection and Tally Ho will be passing through around that tie.

Back aboard SUNSHINE, we tended to the logs and hit the sack.

Fishing Bay, Deltaville, VA (Day 013)

The Goodspeed at dock - Fishing Bay Harbor Marina, Deltaville, VA

Weather: The temperature ranged from 66 to 77 degrees; Winds were out of the SW backing to the S @ < 8 knots; 1’ seas; we had a few brief periods of sun, but spent most of the day in partly cloudy to overcast skies.


Comment: We’re trucking today. We left the Solomons at 0700 on our way to Jackson Creek, Deltaville, VA. We had a boost from the current for most of the day. We’re traveling with Reflection and Tally Ho, who are both much faster under power than is SUNSHINE. Andrew has been catching fish. On our futile effort yesterday, we reeled in to find our lure and ½ of our steel leader gone! Go Figure!!

Early in the day, we were able to motor sail with the jib, but the sailing winds never materialized and we never shut down the engines.

As we were approaching Jackson Creek, after more than ten hours of motoring, Reflection contacted us on the radio to say that the Jackson Creek Anchorage was, “Filled Up!” We adjusted our plans to anchor around the bend, a very long bend (check the charts) in Fishing Bay. We traveled miles to end up only ½ mile from the Jackson Creek Anchorage, but on the other side of the peninsula.

Shortly after setting the anchor, it started raining. We stayed aboard our respective vessels to enjoy our victuals and get some down time before sack time.

Weather permitting (the forecast is iffy) we’ll be back at it tomorrow. If we do get underway, we’ll probably make Norfolk and Mile Marker 0 of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway.

I must report that the port motor ran great all day and idled at the proper rpms before we shut it down. We trust that we have addressed the problem.