Monday, December 2
It seems forever ago that Walkabout left Annapolis – the first time. And it has been over two weeks. The scribe wasn’t up to documenting some of our mis-adventures at the time, so here is our tale – with a happy ending, as of now.
My friend Dave came up from Panama to help me move Walkabout far enough south that she wouldn’t have to be winterized. The plan is to put her in Wilmington NC until after Christmas and then venture south for parts unknown. Two years ago I took her to the Bahamas, actually getting to the Exumas in time for Thanksgiving. After that experience, which was a great time, I realized that I really didn’t want to be away for the holidays, nor to leave the boat somewhere that far away. Thus this year’s plan.
We actually left Annapolis on Friday (hmm), November 15, with a brand new prop. Getting to Solomons that day was an ordeal, as the boat couldn’t make over 6 knots. So, rather than going farther, we opted to head back to Annapolis, where it would be easier to haul the boat and adjust the settings..
A couple of haul-outs later, and with the boat not fast enough to suit me, but keeping the engine gods happy, we left again on Wed, Nov 20. And the storms arrived and the cold set in.
Based on the weather, there was no consideration of going off-shore, so we hunkered down in Portsmouth for three days while the winds howled and the Great Bridge lock was broken.
Finally, on Monday the 25th, we headed out at 0530. To say it was dark and cold is an understatement. The dark finally let up. I’m still cold. We spent Monday night in the thriving metropolis of Coinjock. A storm was threatening for Tuesday and I wanted to get across the Albemarle before it arrived. I had a vision of being stuck in Coinjock for Thanksgiving.
A boat tied up in front of us, upcurrent. We told them we wanted to leave at 0530, and they were planning to leave early also. Well, somehow, they left their stern line for last and the current took their bow straight into the channel. Now the boat was pinned perpendicular to the dock, with their dinghy between two pilings. I moved Walkabout as far back as I could, but my anchor still caught their dink with a loud poof as the stern swung away from the dock. Fortunately, no one was hurt and there was no other damage, but it wasn’t a good way to start the day.
We managed to cross the sound before the wind picked up, but by the south end of the Alligator River, it was blowing more than 20 knots. The plan to anchor just south of the canal didn’t sound so comfortable now that the weather was calling for 35 – 40 knot gusts.
We did manage to make it to Dowry Creek Marina just at dark, and were securely tied up before the storms really got bad. We were under a tornado watch until 0800 the next morning.. We spent a fair amount of the night adjusting lines in howling wind and rain – not to mention it was COLD. Sailing was never supposed to be a cold weather sport. But being as there were tornados in Morehead City, we considered ourselves lucky.
Wednesday was cold and miserable. We tried to rent a car to join family for Thanksgiving, and Enterprise kept us waiting until after 6pm before telling us they had no cars So, it seems we were going to make do for Thanksgiving on our own. While waiting I mixed the ingredients for a pumpkin pie. In pre-heating the oven, the circuit breaker for the LPG kept switching off. Bad solenoid – no baking or cooking of any kind until we can get a replacement. I gave the pie makings to the marina owner and we borrowed the marina car and went into Belhaven for some microwave meals. Belhaven at least does have a grocery store. And a brand new restaurant, which we tried and was not bad. Jack’s Tavern on the Neck, or something like that. It had been open for three weeks, but was trying entrees (rather than just pizza and salad) for the first time. The food was good; the organization will improve.
So on Thanksgiving morning, 29 degrees out at 0800, we started the process of leaving. All the dock lines were frozen solid on the cleats and it took over an hour to extricate ourselves. Luckily, the sun was shining and it was comfortable in the enclosed cockpit.
We made it to Oriental in time for the Thanksgiving buffet at the Toucan. I didn’t have to microwave a Lean Cuisine for dinner after all.
Finally, on Friday, we had a chance to play sailboat as we motor sailed past Morehead City and down Bogue Sound. We made it to Swannsboro in time for the Parade of Lights to go right past our boat.
Now we are in Wilmington. We spent a night at the City Docks and tried one of the restaurants and then moved the boat to Bennett Brothers, where it will stay until after the holidays.
Monday, December 9
It’s hard to believe that we have been here for a week already. Well, we actually have not been here, but the boat has. On Tuesday we rented a car and drove to Annapolis to come back in mine. The marina we are in is not within walking distance of anything, although it is just two miles outside of town. Golf clubs in the trunk, and solenoid in hand, we drove back on Thursday and played on Friday with friends from Annapolis (the Rocks) in 80 degree weather. It was a great day, my down jacket had a reprieve, and we had a wonderful dinner at Caprice Bistro.
We woke Saturday to rain, blowing north winds and a high for the day of 45. Back to winter and the down jacket.
Yesterday was another miserable day but watching the Eagles, the Ravens and the Redskins, it was a lot worse in the north. And today it is 75 and sunny again. There is a lot to be said for North Carolina weather – although I’m sure it is even better farther south.
We were planning to head north tomorrow but the winter storm warnings will postpone our trip for at least a day. Right now, we plan to stay in the Annapolis area until after New Years and then move Walkabout somewhere farther south.
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. And I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and happy holiday season.
