Dennis New Jersey



Spring in Chesapeake City Maryland

We had a nice day in Chesapeake City yesterday. We walked around the historic district and visited the cute little curio shops. We didn't buy anything but it was enjoyable.

Historic B&B in Chesapeake City

More my size

Sunrise on the D& C Canal

We left Chesapeake City at 4:45 this morning in the dark. We had a good crossing of Delaware Bay. The last 3 hours were a little choppy but all in all we are happy to have crossed this hurtle. The bay is 25 miles wide at parts and can really kick up some waves.
I am using a free online program called "marinetraffic.com". It lets me know where the tugs, cargo ships and even my fellow cruisers are. I am able to get a description of the boat, the speed at which it is travelling and even a picture.  I used it in the C&D canal as well as Delaware Bay.  I will use it when we get out on the Atlantic and on the ST.Lawrence Seaway.  I like my new toys, it keeps me busy and out of trouble. The water is 59 degrees, a bad time to get thrown overboard.

I can't get over these beautiful navigational lights and horns-Ship John Shoal Horn

We are anchored in mud flats and salt marshes again except now it is cooler than the Georgia marshes. It is only supposed to go down in the upper 50s tonight so all should be fine. We are in Townsend Channel (N39 08.2887 and W74 43.5974) on the New Jersey Intracoastal Waterway (NJ-ICW). There is a lot of shoaling so we have to really pay attention.



Entering Cape May New Jersey, the end of Delaware Bay!!

We will be in protected waters for tomorrow, on the NJ-ICW

Chesapeake City Maryland



Crab pots on the wharf in Rock Hall

We are at the Delaware border on the Chesapeake-Delaware Canal. We are tied up to a free town dock in Chesapeake City.  We have concluded the Chesapeake Bay crossing. We are now waiting for the right weather to cross the Delaware Bay. 
We went out for dinner last night at the Chesapeake Inn. There was a live bad and a lot of noise from the crowd. I had blackened sword fish and Jerry had Cod. Good meal but the noise was deafening. These free docks are getting expensive.

A pellet bar-b-que

There are nice little shops in large historic type homes near the dock so we will have a look at these today.  We did go into an antique store yesterday before the rain started. There is also a marine museum within walking distance.
The temperature is cool, they had frost during the week. It was 40 degrees overnight so it was nice to be plugged in.  Better weather is forecasted for this coming week.

Oyster catcher in Rock Hall

Leaving Chesapeake Bay

Chesapeake Inn in Chesapeake City

North Star in Chesapeake City

We should be in Cape May New Jersey tomorrow.

Rock Hall Maryland



Chesapeake Bay Bridge 3.7 miles long

We travelled 92 miles on Chesapeake Bay yesterday. It was a little choppy at first but it settled down nicely in the afternoon. We had 3-5 foot waves on the stern. We surfed at 11 miles an hour at times, what a joy ride. It was raining in the morning with some fog afgterwards so I don't have very many pictures.
We saw interesting navigational lights, ships, fishing boats and one bridge.
We arrived in Rock Hall at a free town dock at 5:00 so we did not get to visit the town yet. We are staying today because the bay is stirred up by a 15-20 knot north wind.  We will tackle the bay tomorrow.

Little Wicomico River off Chesapeake Bay

Entering Chesapeake

Portsmouth Virginia

We only went 10 miles further today. I is too windy to attempt the Chesapeake Bay so we are tied to a free dock in Portsmouth.

A very old cemetery in a church yard in Portsmouth

We had breakfast with Robert the Deep Creek Lock master again today and locked through on the first lock at 8:30.  We then had to hurry to make the 9:30 Gilmerton Highway Bridge that only opens every hour. There were 6 of us in the lock and our buddy Gary delayed everyone with his sailboat with a rough running outboard.  He is single handing so it was difficult for him to get into the lock.
We are stocked up to the nines since we made several runs a half mile into town yesterday.  The lock master even took all the boys to the liquor store for a run after his shift. What a nice guy.

Order dinner by phone while you watch a surround sound movie

Quite the historical district here in Portsmouth with old cemeteries, churches and homes.  There is a 1940s theatre with state of the art surround sound that offers dining while you watch a movie. We will go and have dinner there tonight.
The harbour is busy, there are many navy ships and boatyard for large ships. Barges and tugs are going by as well as a paddle boat ferry.

No wonder it takes many newfies to change a light bulb

Our trip meter, 5000 statute miles behind us

We fueled up and got some water so we are ready to go early tomorrow although it looks like we should leave around 10:00 to get the best weather possible.  Thursday looks like a lay day because the winds will come up again. Friday and Saturday look good though, we shall see.



free dock in Portsmouth Virginia

Deep Creek Virginia

It rained most of the day yesterday so we stayed at the lock dock.  Today is cloudy and the rain and wind is predicted for this afternoon so we are not moving again today.

We are off to town

We put on our rain gear and walked into town to get provisions. We stopped at a Mexican restaurant for lunch. Other than the low cost of the meal, we were not impressed.
We did some indoor chores and read for most of the day.  I cooked a nice hot pot of soup to warm us up.

Aye Aye Captain!!

The garden in front of the lock master's house

The lock master invited everyone for breakfast this morning.  Coffee, muffins and fruit.  He is a wealth of information about the area.  There were 10 of us crowded in his little house but it was really nice.  Jerry is still over there chatting away.  I will put on warmer clothes and go back to town to get more provisions but other than that, we are just reading and waiting out the weather.



Deep Creek Lock in the Dismal Swamp

Pasquotank River in the fog

The Dismal Swamp is anything but dismal. We travelled this narrow portion of the ICW with 10 other boats yesterday.  The first part out of Elizabeth City is the Pasquotank River which meanders through a forested area.  At least that is what it looked like after the black fog lifted. We then turned into this straight ditch that is the Dismal Swamp Canal and crossed into Virginia.  There is little room for passing so fortunately, all the traffic is heading north. There are two locks that open at restricted hours with the first lock opening at 8:30 and the last at 3:30. The lock master was able to pile us all in. We chose to stop at a free dock south of the last lock which is Deep Creek Lock.  There is a little park with washrooms but no water or power at the dock. It is a good spot for provisioning with a Food Lion store just a short walk away.

Entering the dismal

All lined up waiting for the lock to open

Mark and Michele on Mark's Ark

Gary resting before happy hour

We are here with 3 other boats. The folks from the largest boat, graciously invited everyone for happy hour last night.  We had some good snacks, good conversation and a few too many drinks. Happy hour is a bit of a miss nomer when it lasts until sundown. Gary, a chap in a sailboat that we keep meeting at the free docks in various states, had some cinnamon liqueur that he shared with all. He is an interesting character to say the least.
Today it is raining so we will stay put and tackle the last lock tomorrow.  We are keeping an eye on the weather so we can start our 3 day crossing of Chesapeake Bay. It is a large body of water that needs to be respected but there are many harbours where we can seek refuge. The winds are supposed to subside on Wednesday so we will move into position tomorrow and Tuesday in order to start up the Chesapeake at first light on Wednesday.

Elizabeth City North Carolina

Long Shoal point anchorage

We had a peaceful night at anchorage on the Little Alligator River at Long Shoal Point (35 56.8 and W76 02.5) last night after a rough day on the Alligator River. We got up at first light to cross Abermarle Sound, the biggest sound yet on this trip. It turned out to be a calm and pleasant steam on the 20 mile wide body of water.  It was like a sheet of glass.
We are at Elizabeth City where all the docks are free.  We were at a rocky dock earlier but with south winds, we decided to move and are now at a much better spot beyond the 4 foot bridge.  There is a lock up the way that has restricted hours so we are at a better vantage point to get through it.

Albermarle Sound looks like a great lake

They have the Rose buddies here who are a group of volunteers who help boats dock during the day and then put on a wine and cheese party in the evening.  They give the ladies a rose, I did not take one since I don't have a vase.  Very accommodating place. It was nice chatting with our fellow boaters.
We went to the Abermarle Museum this afternoon to get a sense of the history of the place and to see the civil war and coast guard exhibits. Very well done.
We found a nice pub and restaurant for dinner, a Key West Grill with a Margueritaville theme and had some nice food.
The weather is supposed to deteriorate tomorrow evening so we will most likely stay put until this weather system passes.

Elizabeth City free dock was rockyer than the sound

A shad boat at the Abermarle Museum

The way home tomorrow

Belhaven North Carolina

Uneventful day on the water today, not much to see in big waters of the Neuse River and Pemlico Sound.
We left late after waiting for a Marine Consignment store to open.  We chatted with some new acquaintances and had a nice breakfast at the little restaurant across from the dock while we waited.  It was all in vain because the store never opened, we left at around 11:00.

Pantego Creek anchorage off the Pungo River

We had a nice pizza dinner at Silos's restaurant last night. You literally are up in a silo. The food was good.  They make all kinds of pastas and organic type noodles as well that you can purchase for home use.
We are now anchored in the Pantego Creek (N35 32 and W76 37) near Belhaven North Carolina with 3 other boats, there is room for 50 boats.  It rained most of the night. Internet access was intermittent.
We should make it close to the Virginia border today on this overcast rainy day. We have the Pungo River that is as big as a lake as well as the Alligator River other than that the rest is narrow and well protected.

Still in Oriental

Today is really hot so we are thankful for the wind. A nice couple came over to chat this morning and offered to take us to the laundromat so we are greateful for that.

It was crowded last night at the dock

We had a Canadian neighbour who is doing the loop with his friend yesterday and an American sailor who just came in from the Bahamas. Today we have a couple from Holland who crossed the ocean and wintered in Venezuela.  He is on his way back home. It is nice to meet folks from various walks of life.

We borrowed the bicycles again today to ride around town.  It is really nice and clean with lots of blooming flowers everywhere. There is no shortage of locals to talk to so Jerry is in his glory.

We are ready to start moving again so off we go in the morning...I think.

Oriental North Carolina

Sunrise in Black Creek

We had a very restful sleep at our Black Creek anchorage last night.  The wind finally calmed down and all was quiet and peaceful.
We were able to look at the free town dock on a live web cam so this morning when we saw that the dock was empty, we quickly headed into Oriental, North Carolina. You can see our boat and maybe Jerry and I on the dock if you go to:http://towndock.net/harborcam

I asked a lady where the post office was and that was fortunate, not only did she tell me where it was but she works at a marine store next to the dock and told me we could borrow their bicycles to get there.  We went to get groceries, went to the post office and to a hardware store.  We then rode around town exploring the water front and walking the docks looking at boats. We went out for lunch to a restaurant with a full parking lot.  Sure enough, the food was inexpensive and good.
We are back at the dock helping other Canadian loopers dock. A chap who met us in Ottawa Illinois came to chat for a while.  The loopers are congregating and making their way north.

Oriental free dock

Exploring the town

This anchor would not hold

We will stay one more day while Jerry continues some boat projects.  We have big sounds to cross and the best weather is on Wednesday.

Black Creek North carolina

Sunset last night at Sloop Creek

We travelled for 9 hours today and covered 80 miles on the ICW. We meant to stop at a tavern with a free dock in Morehead City but there was no room so we kept going.  The anchorages were too exposed for the windy day we are having so we came further up until we found a protected anchorage. We are in Black Creek, (N34 54.3656 and W76 39.004). We are 7 miles south of Orienal, North Carolina and about 100 miles south of the Virginia border.
Although the anchorage was exposed to wake and wind, once the sun went down, it got peaceful and quiet.  We had a good night's rest.

Kite sailing on Bogue Sound

We travelled through some big water today with lots of wind and currents and boat traffic but all in all, it was a good day. We went through long stretches where there was little habitation and we were skirting the ocean.

Passing the big boys at Morehead City

Black Creek anchorage

We will carry on tomorrow to we don't know where.

Sloop Creek Anchorage near Surf City, North Carolina

Provision Company Restaurant

We had a lovely dinner at the Provision Company Restaurant last night.  The portions were reasonable and the fare was not all fried.  We both had grilled yellow fin tuna sandwiches.  we did go back in the evening for chicken wings. It was not a very restful night as we bounced at the dock when boats went by.  It seemed to go on all night.

Alligators this far North

We did go walking around the waterfront board walks and after dinner we went to explore the town.  Lots of historic homes with nice verandas.  There were many antique and specialty shops but everything was closed at that hour. Not that we ever buy anything since we have no room. Southport is a very quaint little town.

Sunset in Southport

We are now anchored in Sloop Creek near surf city. We were going to go to an other restaurant dock in Surf City but they end up being more expensive than a marina. We have not anchored in a while and we don't need anything from the store so it is an ideal time to anchor.  The nights are only going down in the 60s so the weather is good.  We are between the main land and the barrier island that protects the ICW from the ocean.  There are huge homes built on the island.
We again travelled through populated areas with huge homes, long docks but not that many folks have boats.  We see gated communities with docks including lifts to keep the boat elevated out of the water but these are empty, no boats.

Boardwalk through the salt marsh at Southport

Barrier island dwellers

We are making good progress, we are 265 miles from Norfolk Virginia which is the end of the ICW. Hopefully this weather holds until we reach home. The days are in the upper 70s and the nights in the low 60s, perfect travelling weather.

Southport North Carolina

Nice mansions

We left Osprey Marina early this morning after spending 8 days there.  We got lots of boat chores completed so it was well worth it.
We travelled along a narrow part of the ICW today and saw large mansions with lots of new construction going on. We are skirting the ocean with only a small sand barrier separating us.
We crossed into North Carolina around noon and we are in Southport at the Provision Company Restaurant dock. We will be going in for dinner and some drinks to pay for the free dock.

Some are quite nicely landscaped

It is windy so it feels rocky but things should settle down later.  There are other restaurants around so we will go and explore a little later.

We like the narrow calm waters

Barrier islands separate us from the ocean

A fixer upper

The Provision Company Restaurant