Trip Diary for October, 2009

Oct. 1; Cordova, TN: Thursday was devoted to nail repair and shopping in Memphis.  The highlight for Larry was a visit to Bruster's for ice cream.  Glen grilled steaks for a delicious evening meal before we packed for departure.

Oct. 2-3; Knoxville, TN: We departed Friday at 8:20 AM for the Knoxville.  Goals were to visit granddaughter Samantha, a senior nursing student at UT, and to experience our first UT football game.  On the way we stopped in Nashville to enjoy a delightful barbeque lunch at Jim N Nicks with good boating friends Robert and Ann Levine, Sandpiper.  Weather was perfect all day.  The 3 hr. drive from Nashville to Knoxville through Tennessee's mountain with trees showing a hint of color was especially pleasant. Even with a brief shopping excursion at Turkey Creek in Knoxville, we arrived in plenty of time for outstanding burger platter dinners with Sam at Litton's.  Saturday's game against Auburn didn't start until 7:45 PM; thus, Lola and Sam could still shop and enjoy a late lunch/dinner before catching the 5 PM shuttle from our motel. It was hard to tell whether UT or Auburn fans were the more rabid, but both are definitely more energetic than Purdue fans.  While TN fans certainly outnumbered Auburn, Auburn took the prize for the gaudiest vehicle. The game did not go well for Tennessee (final was 26-22, but they were never really in a position to win).  It was 11:15 as we left only to find our bus was not where the driver had left us.  It took 35 minutes of walking/running before we finally found a different bus/driver who returned three unhappy people to the motel at 12:45 AM.

Sunday, Oct. 4:  We left Knoxville at 8:45 AM for Raleigh, NC to spend a night with colleagues/friends Wayne and Judy Skaggs.  We arrived in time to hear about their 2 1/2 week trip to China from which they had returned at 12:30 AM.  This allowed us to share excellent dinners at Edwards Mill Bar & Grill before retiring early as everyone was tired from travel and late hours.

Oct. 5-19; Deltaville, VA: We left Raleigh at 9:30 Monday for our 6 hr. return to the boat.  To our delight, everything was just as we had left it 4 weeks ago; during that vacancy we traveled 3,600 mi. by car.  Of course, there was the usual unpleasant task of unpacking and getting everything organized onto the boat; it started immediately but also required much of the next two days. Needing to return an iPhone accessory at an Apple Store, Tuesday afternoon we drove to Richmond for re-supply shopping.  Wednesday completed our return tasks and culminated with the weekly marina carry-in; only two boats of the group typically participating in these events were still at the marina.  Winds pick up during the morning to a rocking 20-25 with gusts above 30!  Thursday dawned a crisp 58 with winds below 10.  It was a day for laundry/ironing and on-line finances.  We enjoyed dinner at Cocomo's.  Friday was Lola's Dr. Hooker appointment in Hampton (50 mi.), so the day was spent in that vicinity.  Returning by 4 PM allowed us to dog-sit the neighbor's Havanese, Emma, while she, Gaye Currier, Mad Dash 9, attended the Annapolis Boat Show. We enjoyed the Deltaville Arts & Craft Festival Saturday afternoon.  Gaye invited us to join her daughter and boyfriend for an incredible German dinner and evening's conversation at Eckhard's in Topping.  Sunday began as usual with worship at Clarksbury UMC.  Monday was devoted to moving the boat for a pump-out and otherwise preparing everything for Wednesday's anticipated departure to our winter destination of St. Simons, GA.  Tuesday's boating conditions were ideal for an earlier embarkation, but one of Lola's Longaberger customers had previously scheduled a delivery for 11 AM; thus, it was not prudent to leave late for a 60 mi. cruise.  We proceeded to Gloucester and parts south to re-provision as originally planned.  A highlight was the delightfully decorated business where Lola sometimes had her nails done. Unfortunately, Wednesday's weather window closed earlier than forecast the previous weekend when we made plans; high winds caused us to abort.  If the forecast is accurate it will be early next week before the Chesapeake is again adequately calm.  The weather turned cold (high 58) and wet.  The usual evening's carry-in was cancelled due to lack of participants.  Thursday's weather was as bad as forecast with 24 hrs. of wind and light rain all day.  For a diversion we drove to Kilmarnock for a delightful lunch at the Car Wash Cafe.  Friday we selected 8 years of archive photos of ASABE Past President Wives Breakfast for preparing participant albums before driving to Gloucester for printing at Wal-Mart.  Wind and rain continued.  Saturday sustained the week's lousy weather pattern: light rain, 50 degree high and 20 mph winds with gusts to 30.  Because Wal-Mart had failed to print some photos in the set we again drove to Gloucester.  Returning, Larry watched Purdue upset 7th ranked Ohio State football team while Lola worked up a mail package Sharon Hawks had sent us.  After dinner at Cocomo's we worked on creating tracking systems for our post-retirement medical insurance program.  Sunday offered no respite from the weather, but one of the rewards of being blown-in this week was the opportunity to attend the joyous Clarksbury UMC 170th Anniversary service with its delicious carry-in banquet. The SIM card in Lola's new iPhone died Sunday evening, so Monday we drove to Richmond to the Apple Store.  Unfortunately, after waiting 30 min. past our appointment time (so much for on-line advance appointments!) they couldn't do anything about SIM cards; they advised us to go to a nearby AT&T Store.  They were wonderful and replaced the card is less than 3 minutes!

Oct. 20-21; Norfolk, VA: Finally, we're boating again!  We finished our 4+ mo. Regatta Point stay Tuesday at 7:20 AM, heading into 1-2 ft. seas.  The clear, sunny day with 5-10 mph SW winds made for near perfect boating.  The 10 mi. crossing of Mobjack Bay provided 2-3 footers, but being on the nose quarter they produced only moderate roughness.  We arrived at Portsmouth Boating Center to fuel at 2:50 PM.  Despite having called ahead to request fuel, their pumps were not working when we arrived.  We proceeded to Tidewater for fuel ($.45 per gal. higher) before docking across the Elizabeth River at Waterside Marina. After washing down the boat, refilling water tanks and showering, we enjoyed a relaxed dinner at the adjacent Outback.

Thursday, Oct.22: We cast-off at 8:25; earlier would have been futile since all bridges are closed from 6:30-8:30 AM.  The 11 AM Deep Creek lockage involved 11 boats (9 sail, 2 rafted).  Immediately thereafter we rafted to one of the sail boats, Octavia, at the small Chesapeake, VA dock to have a delightful, incredibly inexpensive Mexican lunch at La Familia.  The Dismal was its usual serene, beautiful waterway with trees just beginning to show fall colors.  Twelve boats rafted at the Welcome Center.

Oct. 23-26; Elizabeth City, VA: The boat to which we rafted was unduly anxious to depart, so everyone untied at 7:15 AM Friday for the 4 mi. no-wake trip to the South Mills lock's scheduled 8:30 opening.  Not only did we arrive 30 minutes early, the lock was 50 min. late opening due to a gate problem.  Once again, we had a very full lock with rafting.  We reached Elizabeth City Mariners' Wharf at 12:15 and obtained a good slip, except for its lack of facilities and very challenging boarding condition.  Unfortunately, the genny battery was dead-on-arrival.  At Lola's suggestion, Larry substituted the dinghy battery so we could fully charge the house battery for running fridges all night.  At the famous 4:30 complementary Boaters' Wine and Cheese Welcome hosted by the Visitors' Bureau, two sail boaters invited us to join them for good, inexpensive dinners at the Colonial Restaurant.  The Visitors' Bureau also has a harborcam with live views of the Wharf.  As forecast, Saturday's weather was not boater friendly: 15-25 mph winds on the Albemarle Sound are not nice.  After breakfast we visited the local arts and farmers market in the adjacent park.  It included a beautiful antique, 1890's, peanut roaster. before catching Farm Fresh's courtesy van to stock up on supplies.  After lunch aboard watching Purdue defeat Univ. of IL, Larry left to purchase a new battery.  A friendly local dock volunteer offered to drive him about 1.5 mi. to NAPA.  After installing the new battery and restoring order to the cockpit, we enjoyed sandwich dinners at Logan Rayes Keywest Grille.  Sunday began with the 11 AM service at the huge 1896 FUMC just 6 blocks from the boat.  It was a friendly congregation with a good message. We returned for lunch at Grouper's at the end of our dock before spending the remainder of the day aboard relaxing.  We had expected to leave Monday, but the forecast kept deteriorating.  At 6 AM Larry checked and we decided, wisely, to stay another day.  Winds started at 13 and picked up to 19 with rain by mid-afternoon.  We shared soup and a turkey wrap lunch at the City Wine Sellar and, of course, participated in the 4:30 Boaters' Wine and Cheese reception.

Tuesday, Oct. 27:  Winds died overnight, but that resulted in .2 mi. visibility fog at 6 AM!  Delaying for more light than the planned 7 AM departure offered, we left at 7:30 using radar.  SW winds quickly picked up well above the 5-7 forecast, dissipating the fog, but causing waves to build.  By the time we covered the 15 mi. of the Posquotank River into the Albemarle Sound we had 3-4 ft. beam waves.  A very uncomfortable hour's ride; quartering lengthened the trip, but made them tolerable.  With zero wait time for the Alligator River bridge we covered the 85 mi. to Dowry Creek Marina by 4:45.  This provided just enough time for rinsing the boat while Lola heated her previously prepared meal of meatballs and rice; we then showered and bedded down early for another long day.

Wednesday, Oct. 28:  We cast-off as soon as light on a very cloudy day permitted spotting crab pots, 7:20 AM.  SW winds were 10-14 all day, but the direction was good for traveling on the huge Pamlico and Nuse Rivers; waves did not exceed 1-2 for the entire 71 miles.  Our 3:30 arrival at Morehead City Yacht Basin permitted a relaxed time after docking before going to dinner at the Sanitary Fish Market and Restaurant.

Thursday, Oct. 29:  The day dawned clear and beautiful with 8-12 mph winds; however, today's narrow waters made that irrelevant.  We left at 7 AM.  Everything went well until the radio informed us the Navy had closed the ICW near Camp Lejeune for "weapons exercises", i.e. ship target practice.  We arrived at the closure and waited 1.5 hr. before it opened.  Despite moving faster than normal afterward, it was 5:40 before we had completed the 82 mile trip with two scheduled bridges to Seapath Yacht Club and Transient Dock in Wrightsville Beach, NC.  After a light dinner aboard and showers we turned in early to prepare for another 7 AM departure.

Oct. 30-31; Little River, SC: The morning's cloud cover delayed departure until 7:15 AM Friday.  That 15 min. was the difference between making the 1 PM opening of the Sunset Beach Swing Bridge which opens hourly.  However the 64 mi. trip was otherwise very pleasant with only 1 ft. waves on the wide Cape Fear River.  The only challenge was passing through the 50-80 fishing boats that jammed Lockwoods Folly Inlet. We reached our 1 week dockage at Myrtle Beach Yacht Club in Little River, SC at 3:05.  After fueling and showers, we shared a fabulous Grouper Oscar dinner at the on-site Officers' Club.  Tired from 4 long days with early departures, we went to bed early.  Saturday was a day of hard work on overdue tasks.  Lola washed 2 weeks laundry and ironed while Larry scrubbed the bridge and pilot house roof; both worked on vacuuming, cleaning and the mail packet Sharon Hawks had sent to the marina.  Pizza Hut delivered dinner.

Water miles traveled to date: 4,005; this month: 412

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