5/28/16 and 5/29/16

The Dismal Swamp

South Mills Lock 

South Mills Bridge

Dismal Swamp Visitor Center

Dismal Swamp State Park

Left Elizabeth City heading to "The Dismal Swamp". Before we left, we went to a farmers market right by the marina. Got some great veggies. Couldn't buy a lot because we only have 5 days till we leave to drive home for Nicole's graduation.                                                                                        We started on the Pasquotank River, which was a gorgeous ride. We went through a lock, the first one in a long, long time.......I haven't missed them either. They are a pain in the butt.
We have two locks that each have a lift bridge either right before the lock, or right after. One takes you up, the next takes you down.  The first one at South Mills was lock first, then half mile away is the bridge. The same person tends both. The second is at Deep Creek; bridge first then lock next. The tender here is very good at blowing a "conch shell". He even played a tune on it for us! He is also full of historical information. Very interesting man...........
Now; between these locks is The Dismal Swamp Visitor Center and State Park. This is where we will spend the night tonight then leave early, early in the morning heading for The Chesapeake Bay.
The Dismal Swamp was between 7 and 10 feet deep; which means below our keel, we showed 3 and 6 foot of water. Just a little shallow, huh? It was dug, by hand, by slaves, between 1793 and 1805. It is 22 miles long. It is the oldest hand dug canal in the US. There is another route to the Chesapeake, but we chose the "adventurous" route!
When we got through the swamp. we entered the Elizabeth River taking us through Portsmouth and Norfolk, Va. on the way to The Chesapeake Bay, where we will spend the summer.
We arrived in Hampton, Va. at noon, where we will leave the boat till we get back from Kentucky!!!!!

ANNOUNCEMENT........................

As you have probably noticed by now, several of my May posts are not in order by date as they should be. Other than deleting them and re-posting in order; I don't know what to do. And right now, that is not an option.
So................just pretend you are back in third grade again; and "skip" around.  lol
I promise to try and do better in June

Isn't she precious?

5/26/16

Today is a shorter day, only 53 miles. Part of this trip (25 miles) was a straight shot through the Alligator River Canal. Right after we exited the canal is when we heard the May-Day call from the pilots on two aircraft that collided over the Atlantic. There were 4 pilots in the water, 3 uninjured, 1 with small injuries. Thank you Lord!!!
We are headed to our anchorage @ Sandy Point, off the Alligator River. It was a quiet night. We sure do love anchoring out!!!

5/19/16

We returned from Nashville on the 17th, then left on the 19th.................traveling 64 miles to Southport Marina. There were lots of "no wake zones", so it was slow moving a good bit of the time. We left @ 7:15 and arrived at 3:00. We were only going to stay 2 nights and leave on Saturday, but it rained most of the day on Friday, so we stayed another night; toured their downtown on Saturday, then left on Sunday. On Saturday night we walked back to town and ate @ Oliver's for my birthday. I am now 66 and will receive my first SS check..............yippee! Enough about that................
Saw my first alligator too.............

Gondola cars over the water; hope they were empty!!!

Swinging bridge

Salt Marsh without alligator

Salt Marsh with eyes of alligator

Salt Marsh with more alligator

Cutest house ever!

Huge ship right outside of marina

Another one....................

My b'day...........

B'day dinner

Also; at this marina. there is a retired navy meteorologist who boats there and holds daily meetings for travelers. He goes very in-depth on information to help guide you through the ICW. We are using the copies he gave us as we travel north.

5/27/16

Today is even shorter! We traveled only 31 miles to Elizabeth City, NC. We crossed the Albemarle Sound (big body of water) for 15 miles of the trip. There are boaters who dread this part because it can get rough. But we had a very smooth crossing. We are at a free city dock which is right downtown. The wind has picked up this afternoon, and the boat is rocking around a good bit. There is no power or water hook-up. Did I say it was free??? Anyhow; going to dinner @ The Cypress Creek Grille. Yippee!!!

Slip where we docked

Apts. on the water @ Elizabeth City

Elizabeth City is home to the worlds largest Coast Guard Station! Why didn't I get a pic? Went right by it; I think I was getting out the lines and fenders then; that's my story.............

Hope you can read this; so interesting!

Side shot for rose............

Blimp "House"..............I'm serious!

5/25/16

Here we go again; leaving at 6:20. Are we in a race?? Regardless; I have been surprising myself somewhat. Or maybe I just subconsciously know that if the Captain has to come back to our stateroom the second time; then I'm in BIG trouble............lol lol lol...............
We have 74 miles today to get to Dowry Creek. There is a small marina here in the creek, but we like to anchor out; AND we don't get to very often. No other boats were with us, and it was a quiet night. But those 1 1/4" pork chops were delish..............not to mention the zucchini chips I made! YUM.

Dowry Creek Marina

Our anchorage

Morehead City Yacht Basin Marina as we left

Army ship at Morehead City

We tied in front of sailboats

5/24/16

We got here @ Morehead City on the 23rd, Monday. Dawn Briley's Birthday......Happy B'day Dawn!! I got caught up on laundry (that always makes me happy, I HATE dirty laundry piling up). The next day we rented the courtesy car for 2 hours. That's their limit. 2 hours. Oh well; this is when you go fast and do as much as you can! We drove to Beaufort, NC, just a few miles away. We saw just enough to let us know that when we come back down the coast this fall; WE ARE STOPPING HERE FOR A FEW DAYS!!!!! This town is precious...............We went out to a great restaurant, RedFish Grille! There were some Navy vessels that came in and had work done and some other things too, we think. They were very secretive....................Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Redfish Grille

Sonny caught this fish............lol

Beaufort boat building facility (they still build wood boats)

My very own pirate!!!

Waiting for "my special coffee"

Navy boats

5/23/16

Left out early @ 6:15; this getting up early is killing me.....................We had to make an opening at the first bridge, 5 miles away. The military was closing the bridge from 8-5. They were firing live amo out over the Atlantic. Yikes!!!!!!  After passing through that area, we could hear the explosions. Several small Navy boats were policing this stretch of water to keep vessels out of harms way.(that sounded pretty official, didn't it)???? Sometimes my creative self takes charge!!!!!!!!!! lol               We are headed to Morehead City Yacht Basin.

Navy guard boat.....

That dreaded bridge that made me get up early...lol

5/22/16

We left on this morning, traveling 64 miles to our anchorage at Mile Hammock Bay in Camp Lejeune, NC. Before the night was through there were 13 other boats with us. It was a great place to anchor on our way to Morehead City. There was a boat there that we had not crossed paths with since the rendezvous @ Joe Wheeler State Park in Oct, 2015. Dave n Betsy Frye on "FryeDaze". Lots of days are uneventful; unless you call making the bed, preparing meals, cleaning, eventful! Oh yeah; I play with Marena a lot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mile Hammock Bay Anchorage

Ship passing us; you wouldn't believe the wake!!!

Metal "lady" ornament in yard

Giraffe in yard!

House, Lighthouse, and Boat; ALL PINK N BLUE!!!!!

Harbor Host @ Southport (Robert n Kay Creech)

5/1/16

Traveled 68 miles to our next anchorage to South Santee River. California Lady and Act III were here in this anchorage too. Supposed to have a big storm on this night; but it split and went around us. Very uneventful, easy night, will leave early tomorrow morning.

Act III

Barge that made me think of Alecia......

Rob drinking his Chai Tea Latte

Sandy with her morning coffee..........

4/30/16

Happy Birthday Savannah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Today she is "17"....................It's hard to believe that it has been 17 years since the day my daughter Courtney called me and asked if I would take her to her doctor. Something wasn't right. She was only 24 wks, barely had a baby bump.  Her doctor said "go straight to Vanderbilt; do not stop for anything". We did, and the next day they did a c-section. Courtney had extreme toxemia. She didn't have a name chosen yet; I had just read "the prince of tides" so I suggested Savannah. She liked it. Courtney stayed 3 days in Vanderbilt, Savannah 13, During that time Courtney stayed in the Ronald McDonald House. Then she was moved to Bowling Green where Savannah stayed another 6 days till she reached her 5 lb weight...............then home! My sweet angel baby...........she was a terrible toddler; BUT has grown to be the sweetest most precious young lady!!!!!

We traveled 48 miles from Beaufort to our anchorage @ Church Creek. On the way; we changed course for about 8 miles because of shoaling. It's a good thing there was another route! If not; we would have waited for high tide.  Very uneventful on this night, we will leave early headed to another anchorage.

5/2/16

Today we traveled 47 miles to Osprey Marina in Myrtle Beach, SC......................We will stay here a week then leave the boat here and go home for Kassandra's graduation from Mt. Juliet High School....
We had several dinners with our friends, also a couple of music nights, We have some a very talented musician in our group, plus he has an entourage that follows him...................
While there we experienced some awesome things; a double rainbow (complete from beginning to end on both!), a very friendly deer, and a buoy tender in this narrow channel.

Entrance to Osprey Marina

Osprey Marina Office

Marena and "the deer"

Marena not so sure about this......

Jeff (Act III) on right and the band members

Out to lunch; myself, Susan (Act III), Sandy  (Sandrobber), Nancy (California Lady)

The friendly deer