Voyage 2011-2012: Chapter 5

11 May 2012, On to Hobucken, 35 14.658 N/ 076 35.478 W

We left New Bern at 0840. We intended to back out to port and then go forward through the fairway. Jule III had a different tactic in mind. (Jule III will always back out with the stern eventually in the wind. No exceptions). As we entered the fairway, the wind (all 5kts of it) was channeled down the fairway. So, Jule backed to starboard and we slowly backed out of the fairway. Not the plan but we didn't hit anything. Next time we will warp our way out. It was a 8 hour motor and then sail down the Neuse and up the Bay River. As we approached R.E Mayo, we were stopped again by the Coast Guard for a safety inspection. We showed them our Wrightsville papers, and they let us pass without a boarding. We tied up on the Mayo dock at 1700. We plugged into their power hoping it would work and it did! First time in 10 years we had working power at RE Mayo. We had to retreat to the cabin before the bugs came which is usually an hour before sunset. Just made it in time.

There were many new and updated features at R.E. mayo. The outhouses were painted with cool designs. The boy's room had dolphins while the girl's had flowers. The insides were mostly the same as before. Sigh. The docks were repaired, the power worked, the signs were renovated, a new ice maker building was added, and the new owner will bring his fishing boat fleet to the Mayo docks. They also added Adirondack chairs to the docks. We liked the chairs. Bob watched the Coast Guard approach as many as a dozen boats yesterday morning for their 'safety inspection'. They were pretty unobtrusive so folks were not delayed very long. It was fun watching.

23 May 2012, Two days to Elizabeth City, 36 18.012 N/ 076 12.69 W

We left the dock at 0645 with light winds out of the North. We are glad we did not leave yesterday as the winds were N@15-20 kts. For the next two days, we headed for Elizabeth City. The first day was routine as we went up the Pungo River and the Pungo Canal to the anchorage at Deep Point in the Alligator River. The second day saw us transiting the Alligator River through the Albermarle Sound with good winds out of the SW (the Alligator River bridge tender was a butt [first bad experience we had there]). The crab pots were not too bad in the Albermarle and we found a path in the Pasquotank. We arrived at the Pelican Marina today and handed the line to Mike for a flawless tie up. We have known Mike and his family for 6 years now. He was most generous with his cars. We even got to drive the Cadillac; but not the Mustang.

We got the monthly rate as we were going to stay for a week or more. Lots to do here. We visited Billy at the Arts of the Albermarle (AoA) and he in turn invited us to a tour of his new house. Billy was the harbor manager at the Pelican for the first couple of years. He is also a sailor. We reminisced about the old days at the Pelican and discussed the potential of his new house. Great seeing him again.

Jim and Karen (SV Wander II) drove up to see us and participate in the great NC Potato Festival. Jim and Bob were accosted by two potatos after we all watched the judging and crowning of Miss Tater Tot. The festival is a big deal here where they close many of the roads in the historic district. Of course Bob went scouting for tee shirts. He should have done that before Miss Tater Tot as the tees were mostly sold out. Fortunately he found two.

We walked the streets for several hours. We knew we had been there too long when a really big chick (as in chicken) tried to pick up Ann and Karen. Jim and Karen had a long drive back so we had to say goodbye to them around 1530. WE then headed back to the boat to recoup from the potato and chick experiences. It was a great festival. We will try and attend another one soon. The next day we continued our exploration. We were saddened by the growing number of empty store fronts. This town is an accurate mirror of the health of the country.

We have been here for around 9 days. We would like to stay longer but the weather will slowly sour so we want to be in Norfolk before it does. We talked to Josh, the marina manager almost every day during our stay. It is a hard place to run with the depressed economy. But he is doing a good job. Keep it up! Today we said goodby to him and Mike and his family.