The trees trying to change into their fall colors.
The flying dink back where it belongs.
Our new 60lb Manson Supreme gracing the bow. Gracing?? How can an ugly anchor... oh well.
Back to the water. It was a special day, so Lisa let me wear my "big boy" jacket.
A few days earlier, I had repositioned the jack stands so that I could paint under their original position. Those spots are often painted while the vessel is in the sling headed back to the water. This doesn't give the paint much time to dry, but the method supposedly works. The only spots I had to paint while in the sling were where the bottom of the keel was resting on blocks.
Fortunately, our Friday splash was uneventful. After a short motor around the small bay to make sure all systems were working properly, we dropped anchor right in front of the boatyard for the night.
Early the following morning we headed for ICW mile Zero in the city of Portsmouth. It was a good feeling to be back on the water. We left Portsmouth in the dark the next morning with the hope of arriving at the lock before it got too crowded.
But...the previous afternoon a barge damaged the lock, so it was closed until divers could make repairs. Even though you can't see through the water there, the divers had to wait for the sun to come up before they went to work. So much for beating the crowd. Fortunately they had it fixed within an hour of getting wet, but then we had to wait another 1/2 hour for the northbound traffic (1 boat) to be locked through.
Our lock through was very crowded with both sides full of boats including a raft up, and a few had to wait for the next go around. There is a bridge just south of the lock that is supposed to be synchronized with the lock, but the tender wouldn't open it for another 22 minutes after our exit from the lock--was he trained in New Orleans? There is very little room there for that many boats to hold position with the current and wind, but we survived. When an upscale 40 foot sailboat nudged between us and the trawler next to us (with one foot to spare on either side and with the anchor on his bow roller one foot from the trawler in front of him), Lisa did her teacher act--went forward with boat hook in hand. After a short conversation with the man on the foredeck of the sailboat, she learned he was upset because the trawler had passed him exiting the lock. I won't say the teacher shook the boat hook at him, but she did have a very firm grip on it, and informed him he better not hit our boat. I was more worried about him forcing us onto the rocks, but he finally backed off.
Eight or so miles down the way a large go-fast boat got too far to one side and went aground (presumably on a tree stump) at high speed. Another large go-fast boat pulled him off. I'm not sure why he didn't sink.
Our anchorage for the night was at the dreaded mile 61 on the ICW. That's where the midges basically ruined our lives this spring. We took all our enclosure down this time with the hope that the wind would keep them out of the cockpit and thus not mess up our canvas. All was good the following morning. I think the cool weather helped.
After raising anchor we had a fantastic broad reach sail to the Albermarle Sound where we turned more to starboard putting the wind on our stern. We sailed a bit off course with the main and genoa about half way across the Albermarle, then dropped the main so we could go directly downwind with just the genoa. It was a wonderful sail. We kept sailing about half way up the Alligator river before we had to turn the engine on. We made it to Belhaven late in the afternoon. Another long day, but it was beautiful.
We were disappointed to find the Laundromat closed. Irene sent 3+ feet of water into the building which seems to have ruined their machines.
This is our third day in Belhaven. The strong southerlies have subsided and it will turn cold tonight. We plan on leaving in the morning for either Broad Creek or South River. Then we hope to head to Cape Lookout Bight, before leaving for Wrightsville Beach.
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