UNCLE!

From: Tuckahoe Point Anchorage, NC MM 104.4

To: Dowery Creek Marina, Belhaven, NC MM 131.7

L/L: 35 31 97N 76 32 15

Hours Motoring: 5.0

Distance: 28.5

Weather: COLD! 46 degrees at 0700, high temp 55 degrees; NW wind 20 knots; flat water in the canal and one to two foot chop on the Pungo River

Comment: The Crew Cries UNCLE!!

Cozy in our bunk, it was tough getting up this morning. In fact, we over slept, comparatively. We fired up the engines at 0715 in 46 degrees.

As we navigated the Alligator - Pungo Canal, we light our little propane heater to try to get some warmth in the bubble. It helped a bit as the temperature rose to 57 degrees. Rather than push on and complete a fifty mile run to another anchorage, we decided to pull into Dowery Creek Marina where we’ll plug in the heater, listen to the Eagles football game and watch the Phillies in the clubhouse TV. UNCLE!!!

Once secure to the face dock, we borrowed the loaner car, drove to town and bought a few necessities, When we started this cruise, we found that our fresh water hose burst and the wash down pump hose developed several leaks. We were able to replace both with a purchase at the local hardware store.

On the Move!

From: Mariners’ Wharf, ELizabeth City, NC MM 51.0

To: Tuckahoe Point Anchorage, NC MM 104.4

L/L: 36 40 31N 76 05 49W

Distance Traveled: 53.1

Hours Motoring: 8.0

Weather: Cold! Temp range 50 to 61 degrees; 15 knots of wind out of the north backing to the northwest; overcast (again) all day

Comment: The north and northwest wind at 15 knots (gusts to 20) gave us a pretty fast ride to the anchorage. On the day, we did 53.1 miles in eight hours. SUNSHINE arrived in the anchorage at 1500 hours. THe captain had thoughts of running the Aligator-Pungo Canal, but the ETA for the other side was 1900 hours. Rather than chance anchoring in the cold and dark, we decided to hold tight at the Tuckahoe Point anchorage and do the canal tomorrow.

Tonight, we’ll fire up the heater, have dinner and bake bread pudding to keep the cabin warn!

Lay Day in Elizabeth City, NC

Lay Day in ELizabeth City, NC - The Harbor of Hospitality

Weather: Overcast, low in the mid 60’s, high in the mid 60’s; rain

Comment: Anna Marie did laundry. We had dinner and watched the Phillies loose game 2 of the NCLS to the Dodgers over dinner at Thumpers.

Elizabeth City is home to the Moth Sailboat.

Elizabeth City is home to the Museum of the Albemarle. It's a nice facility with some very interesting displays. One of our favorites was the extensive Coast Guard display.

This Moth Sailboat is on display in the Museum of the Albemarle

Elizabeth City, NC Day 013

From: NC Visitors’ Center, Great Dismal Swamp, NC MM 28.0

To: Mariners’ Wharf, ELizabeth City, NC MM 51.0

L/L: 36 17 95N 76 13 09W

Distance Traveled: 24.2

Hours Motoring: 5.1

S/V Ming underway on the Pasquotank River

Weather:Overcast, periods of rain and showers through midday; temp range low 50’w to low 60’s; wind generally less than 10 knots variable (predicted 15 - 20 knot wind did not materialize)

Comment: Left the visitor’s center at 0730 and made the Bascule Bridge before the South Mills Lock at 0830 (one half hour before schedule as there were no north bound vessels.

The beauty of the swamp and Pasquotank River was shrouded in grey a combination of light fog and condensation on the windows. We eventually had to open the center window in the dodger for visibility.

This vessel is slipped at Lamb's Marina, Elizabeth City, NC

Stopped at Lamb’s Marina for fuel. Last week, they caved to Sunoco’s demand that they use gas with ethanol. We treat it both in the jerry jugs and in the gas tank.

Sam still greets cruiser's to the docks. As usual, he directed us to the main bulkhead at Mariner’s Wharf.

Anna Marie and three other cruisers were picked up by the manager of the Farm Fresh store. After she returned, we went to the Verizon store to replace my phone and then went to the theater for dinner and a movie, “The Informant,” starring Matt Damon, was very good. Included in the cast were Scott Bakula and the Smothers Brothers!

Following the movie, we checked out the Phillies game on Postseason.tv. We signed up over a week ago but could never log in. Earlier today, I received an e-mail stating that the problems had been resolved. Okay, I signed in. The coverage was terrible. The streaming video lock up repeatedly, almost on every play, and the audio was intermittent. Still, we got the gist of the game and the Phillies beat the LA Dodgers in the first game of the NLCS.

The Dismal Swamp Canal (Day 012)

From: Elizabeth Dock, Deep Creek Lock on the Great Dismal Swamp Canal, Deep Creek, VA MM 10.7

To: NC Visitors’ Center, Great Dismal Swamp, NC MM 28.0

L/L: 36 30 40N 76 21 35W

Distance Traveled: 17.2

We're in a parade of six boats on Great Dismal Swamp Canal

Weather: Overcast; cool temp range low 50’s to low 60’s; windy above but light and variable in the

protected canal

Comment: Perfect! A dismal day for the Dismal Swamp Canal. Motoring was easy as the engines loafed for three and one-half hours. The scenery is pretty; the leaves have begun to change colors. Don’t misunderstand. It’s not spectacular like New England fall colors, but it is nice just the same.

We traveled the canal in the company of five other boats. Two of us joined two boats already tied up at the visitors’ center while the other four kept going.

We’re in for some cool and snotty weather for the next several days, so we are slowing our pace. We have covered 178 miles since leaving the Solomons four days ago. Aside from our rather short 17 mile day today, the others have been over fifty mile days.

Flotsam in the canal. Surprisingly, with only four miles of canal left for tomorrow, we have yet to hit any submerged objects. If we don't bump into anything tomorrow, it will be the first time we made it through the canal without any bumps at all!

To Norfolk Harbor and Beyond! (Day 011)

From: East River Anchorage, Mobjack Bay, VA MM 172.0

To: Elizabeth Dock, Deep Creek Lock on the Great Dismal Swamp Canal, Deep Creek, VA MM 10.7

L/L: 36 44 75N 76 20 47W

Distance Traveled: 53.1 miles

The Harry Truman and nine other warships were dressed

Weather: Mostly sunny and warm; temp range 60 - 84 degrees; wind generally west 10 knots or less (the predicted blow never materialized)

The Coast Guard was on station while the security fences were opened to permit entry of the returning warships

The harbor was busy with shipping, tug & barge, work and pleasure boat traffic. The container ship “Washington Express” pulled away from its dock as we were passing by. The captain sounded a warning and we did an immediate 180. The captain called on the VHF to ask us to hug the green side of the channel and he would swing by. No problems, mate!

We tied up to Elizabeth Dock immediately after exiting the lock. We joined the crew of C:\[esc] aka Sea Escape and another catamaran. We were joined by a northbound sailboat that passed through the Deep Point Bascule Bridge. We’ll do that bridge tomorrow morning at 0830.

Yehah! (Day 010)

From: Indian Creek Anchorage, VA MM 146.0

To: East River Anchorage, Mobjack Bay, VA MM 172.0 via Norview Marina and Zimmerman Marine on Broad Creek in Deltaville, VA. MM 152.6

L/L: 37 24 20N 76 21 05W

Distance Traveled: 50.6

Weather: Temp range 55 - 66; east wind 10 - 15 gusts to 20 (diminishing to 10 knots in the late afternoon); 2 - 3 foot seas made for a lumpy ride; late afternoon showers

Comment: Hold on to your hats, cowpokes. We're riding a bronco today. Picture this; feet wrapped around the seat pedestals, Left arms in the air and right hands holding on to the reins! The bay presented east winds of 15+ knots and three foot seas. We bounced around for an hour or so before a course change allowed for an easier motion.

Before hauling the anchor, Anna Marie made arrangements for a short haul by Zimmerman Marine at Norview Marina on Broad Creek in Deltaville (off the Rappohanock River). The mud hook was up at 0815 and we were underway. Once out of the protection of the land, the east wind made for very lumpy seas. Unlike yesterday, there were few sailboats and no trawlers on the bay today. It’s a tad rough!

We rounded the shoal on the north side of the Rappohanock and set a course for Broad Creek. After navigating the channel into the harbor, Anna Marie called Norview and was told the travel lift crew was standing by. We motored around the red roofed sheds to the waiting travel lift. SUNSHINE was high and dry by 1030 hours.

After a few misadventures, we got the gear oil changed in both engines. SUNSHINE was splashed at 1230 hours and we were immediately underway.

By now it was to late to consider Norfolk as our destination so we opted for Mobjack Bay. The sea state improved as the afternoon wore on and the wind calmed to 10 knots. We had a “level” ride up Mobjack Bay to the East River. We had the anchor down just after sunset near channel mark 13.

It’ll be up early tomorrow with Norfolk as our destination. We hope to beat the 15 - 20 knot wind predicted for the afternoon.