What a difference 200+ miles makes! The weather has improved dramatically. We are now seeing palm trees – admittedly planted in the front lawns of homes but nonetheless, palm trees – and we’ve seen porpoises. So how exactly did we get from mile marker 50 in Elizabeth City to mile marker 261? Well let me tell you….
Wednesday evening the weather finally cleared. So we headed out early on Thursday morning from Elizabeth City across the Abermarle Sound and into the Alligator River. We were making great time as the winds had shifted and we were once again able to hoist the spinnaker for a nice downwind run. That was until the winds picked up and split the spinnaker in two. No more Nestles Crunch colored spinnaker – oh my! At least not until we get to a sailmaker. We finished crossing the Sound with the main and jib and made our way down the Alligator River. We were surprised by our progress ending the day at mile marker 127.
Friday and Saturday were more of the same. Motoring down the ICW and sailing when we could. In the evenings we’d drop the hook in a creek or basin somewhere along the route.
That brings us to today – Sunday. Unfortunately, no sailing today but we have found a nice little anchorage in Wrightsville Beach in Wilmington. We made the three mile walk to a quaint shopping area which includes a West Marine (Dave’s favorite store), a grocery, a café (with wireless) and more. After several days on the water it is nice to stretch the legs and be on land again.
It feels great to have made such progress. We are now about two days away from the South Carolina border…and then Georgia.
Stay tuned.
The Admiral
11/6-11/9/08
Wednesday evening the weather finally cleared. So we headed out early on Thursday morning from Elizabeth City across the Abermarle Sound and into the Alligator River. We were making great time as the winds had shifted and we were once again able to hoist the spinnaker for a nice downwind run. That was until the winds picked up and split the spinnaker in two. No more Nestles Crunch colored spinnaker – oh my! At least not until we get to a sailmaker. We finished crossing the Sound with the main and jib and made our way down the Alligator River. We were surprised by our progress ending the day at mile marker 127.
Friday and Saturday were more of the same. Motoring down the ICW and sailing when we could. In the evenings we’d drop the hook in a creek or basin somewhere along the route.
That brings us to today – Sunday. Unfortunately, no sailing today but we have found a nice little anchorage in Wrightsville Beach in Wilmington. We made the three mile walk to a quaint shopping area which includes a West Marine (Dave’s favorite store), a grocery, a café (with wireless) and more. After several days on the water it is nice to stretch the legs and be on land again.
It feels great to have made such progress. We are now about two days away from the South Carolina border…and then Georgia.
Stay tuned.
The Admiral
11/6-11/9/08
1 comment:
Oh you are in our old stooping grounds now, enjoy the beauty! Thanks for posting your trip! We get excited every time we open up our google reader and see a post from you guys. Have fun!
Chris
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