We have been working for many months in anticipation for
the 2013-2014 voyage. Boat and cat are ready. The rest of the crew
have lingering medical problems but they should not effect the outcome
of the trip. We are hoping that the Cetol that we spilled on the teak
deck will eventually go away. We are provisioning for a healthy diet
with little alcohol (sigh). Everything seems to work. Scary.
All of us, including the cat, have received physicals.
The paperwork for Sammy Jane for Customs is much more complicated than
for us humans. Rabies is the big issue. Ticks and other bugs can also
be a problem. We think she is OK.
We even have IV stuff for her in case she gets
incapacitated again. She even has her own seasick medicine. Sammy Jane
can share it with Ann if necessary. We got all of our emergency meds
(antibiotics, pain, anti-inflammabilities, etc.) from our doctors.
Sadly, we will use our alcohol for emergencies and sundowners only.
GRIBs are improving for our departure next week.
TS Gabrielle is fizzling and the African storms are not heading our
way. We are hoping for a smooth trip to the Chesapeake for the Seven
Seas Cruising Association and Salty Dawgs festivities.
We left ILM four days ago heading for the Chesapeake. Wind
were predicted to be on the nose all four days and the WX did not lie.
We were lucky as winds were always light. Our first night was the
Wrightsville Beach anchorage where SV Nightingale met us late in the
day. Calm night for all.
We left at first light and passed the Masonboro sea buoy
by 0730. Seas were light as were the winds on the nose. Nightingale soon
grew wary of our slow speed so decided to pass us. We are used to
that. Jule III entered the Beaufort channel around 1700 and anchored
North of Nightingale near the USCG station. The night was uneventful
except Nghtingale had a problem with their alternator. The next day,
they tucked into a marina for repairs.
We left Beaufort with light nose winds and a foul current
much of the day to Hobucken (R.E. Mayo) where we tied up with the
commercial fishing vessels. We love this place. We met up with
Sterling who we had not seen for several years. He is doing well with
gill net fishing. We finished the day by buying fresh shrimp and
scallops.
Before we left, we stopped by to fill some jerry jugs
and get more scallops. Fresh is good! We had an uneventful trip to the
headwaters of the Alligator River. Nice anchorage with good protection
from the seas. We stayed there two nights as the weather turned stormy.
Weather cleared today, we pulled anchor and are heading for
Elizabeth City.
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