Leaving Beautiful Beaufort

Leaving Beaufort

We woke to our first morning of dense fog as we prepared to depart Beaufort. Our kindly neighbors on the sailing ship Ozymandias, comforted us by saying this was nothing like the pea soup they sail through in Maine. Maureen and Tom left shortly before us but took the route via the Beaufort inlet while we pumped out and took the “short cut” via the Gallent Channel which required waiting for a bridge.  However, just as we merged with the ICW – there coming out of the fog was Ozymandias. We followed them to a scenic local on Broad Creek where they had anchored on their trip south.  So, after annoying these fine neighbors at the Beaufort Docks marina with our power tools, we followed them to the creek where we felt it only right to invite them for dinner potluck style on Erben Renewal.  We soon discovered that we had planned the next several stops in the exact same places – I think this helped build Steve’s confidence in my planning.  So far we have never traveled in sync with another boat for more than one day, but since we find them compatible, with keen intelligence and droll wit, we are enjoying our serendipitous travelling partners. After Broad Creek’s dinner out we stopped in Belhaven, NC. We all took a dinghy ride into the town from our anchorages in the harbor only to find a town sadly empty. There were lovely white houses along the harbor, but the main street was depopulated with empty store fronts outnumbering those with businesses.  We did enjoy another unique hardware store – this is officially an ACE hardware, but clearly not your typical one. The front of the store was more a jewelry, home accents place with some clothing thrown in - not to mention the full aisle of wine and beer. Finally someone who gets marketing to females trapped with men shopping for boat stuff. After chatting with a local tooling around in his Mercedes Benz built electric “golf” cart, we decided to pass on the local museum. His exact description was (and I quote) “a load of eclectic shit”. I was sad to miss the collection of 30,000 buttons – but maybe next time. No one wanted to see the snake skins he promised were there. We have now moved on to the mouth of the Alligator River and will cross the Albemarle Sound to Elizabeth City tomorrow – weather permitting.  In the meantime Steve continues to add coats of varnish to his bright work, I try to keep the pine pollen under control both in and outside of the boat. Annie shows no ill effects from her trim and is basically the same unpleasant critter only skinnier looking. Frank, has decided he prefers my end seat in the pilot house to his in the middle.  All day, every time, I got up, he moved in.  I hope it is a temporary game. I will post this with a few photos of the Pungo and the Alligator Rivers which are connected by an 18 mile canal – just as soon as we reach a place which is connected to the rest of the world. Cheers

 

 

 

 

 Broad Creek - ok not a pretty picture, but it doesn't capture the place.