Evan and Pierce

Sat, Oct 5

On the way back from the mountains, we stopped by Cary and picked up Evan and his friend, Pierce.  They'll be staying with us this week.  Should be a fun week.

Sun, Oct 6

We start the day with what is becoming a tradition whenever we have someone visiting - a bike ride downtown and breakfast at the Boardwalk Cafe.  The boys do what 10 year olds do best - eat.

The boys get the bikes out and take rides downtown.  It's great to live where we feel comfortable letting them take off on their own to ride around.

Mon, Oct 7

We had planned to take the motorhome and head up to Cape Hatteras today, but the weather was great, so we took the power boat and went over to Shackleford Banks.

It was interesting on the banks - we were the only ones over there. which is very unusual.  After we got home, we realized that the National Parks are closed because of the budget impasse in Washington.  Supposedly, Shackleford Banks is off limits, which is ridiculous!

Evan and Pierce

They get a good workout drying to dunk each other in the waves

And they were worn out when we got back to the boat to head back to Beaufort

Tues, Oct 8

We've made reservations for the Cedar Island - Ocracoke Ferry and at a campground on Cape Hatteras.  Unfortunately, the weather forecast is completely messed up.  Yesterday it was supposed to rain - it was beautiful.  Today is supposed to be nice - and we are in the remnants of a tropical storm.  It rained all day.

The motorhome is ready to roll

But we went ahead with our plans to take the ferry to Ocracoke and then from Ocracoke to Hatteras.  It made for a long, VERY wet drive in driving wind approaching 40 mph.  Sitting in the motorhome on the ferry felt like we were in the cabin of our sailboat, Eureka.

Wed, Oct 9

I can't recall when it has rained as much as we've seen since yesterday.  It rained hard all night with winds gusting to 40 mph.  It continued raining on and off all day.

We did get a few minutes clear this morning so we walked down to the beach. The RV Park is right on the ocean.  The guys enjoyed the brief break.  The ocean is really rough and they could not get in the water.

Then we headed to the Aquarium on Roanoke Island.  We made the drive at high tide, and there were parts of the road that were flooded by the ocean breaking through the dunes and the wind was blowing the sand across the road.  The Department of Transportation was hard at work trying to keep the road from getting washed away.

The ocean is overtaking the dunes.  It seems that the DOT is constantly at work keeping the road open.

We enjoyed a nice lunch at Big Al's, a restaurant that is filled with Coca Cola memorobilia and then a pleasant afternoon at the aquarium.

The dudes wearing their new aviators at the aquarium.  They eventually figured out that you don't wear sunglasses in the aquarium, even though it does look cool.

By the time we got back to the motorhome, the rain had stopped long enough for the guys to go back down to the beach.

I took this picture off the internet.  It was taken only a short ways from where we are parked tonight.  It shows how severe this storm has been here at Cape Hatteras

Thurs, Oct 10

The skies have cleared and the wind died down overnight.  As soon as we got up, the boys were ready to head to the beach.  The surf was still very rough, but Evan and Pierce made the most of it.

Today is a travel day back to Beaufort.  The tide is extremely high and as we drive down the island to catch the ferry, we encounter several places where the ocean has washed over the dune line and covers the road.  The first thing we'll be doing when we get back to Beaufort is washing the salt off the car and motorhome.

The ocean waves are breaking through to carports of these condominium and crossing the road

The motorhome is NOT a boat

Mimi and the boys

The birds are enjoying the water is this yard on Ocracoke

Fri - Sun, Oct 11 -13

Slade and Anna drove down on Friday evening.  We've enjoyed a nice weekend, although the weather still remains cloudy.

Anna and Maddy enjoy the swinging chairs

Slade's birthday is this week.  He is forth something.  Nice to have him down here.

A quiet week in the mountains

Sept 29 - Oct 5

Before we got the the mountains, I had the opportunity to spend some time with Dad in Nashville. I got a lot done around the house cutting back overgrown trees and bushes.

We arrived at the Mountain House for a few days of absolutely great weather, beautiful sunsets, late morning wake ups, and generally just chillin'.

I never tire of looking at the view, enjoying the changes in the skies and clouds, the always changing sunsets, the quiet dark nights, and waking up in the mornings to clouds in the valley.

We did get a "little" work done, primarily painting the outside steps off the back porch.  They get a lot of exposure and needed some beautifying.  We also planted a couple of rhododendron on the North side of the house.

On Thursday, we enjoyed having Kit, Bonnie and Will over for a late lucnh.  That evening we went to a book signing downtown.  We listened to a fascinating story of Edward Muesch, a sailor who with his wife were doing a circumnavigation of the world in their sailboat and happened to be in Thailand on December 26, 2004 when the Tsunami struck the area.  He has written a book, Rising above the Wave which I am now reading.

Otherwise - we're just looking at the mountains.

The afternoon sun soon makes for a beautiful evening at home

Early mornings provide an opportunity to see the valley below in a different perspective

Autumn approaches and the leaves are changing

An absolutely wonderful way to spend the afternoon

On the way back to Beaufort tomorrow (Oct 5), we'll pick up Evan and a friend.  They will spend the next few days with us on some new adventures.

On Eureka again

Sun, Sept 15

This morning, Clara got a call from Tucker, our shrimp man here in Beaufort. He works at Cherry Point, but on the weekends, he shrimps. He's the only commercial fisherman who still has a dock on Taylors Creek.  Last night he had been shrimping and had a great night. 

He always calls Clara to see if she wants some. We have already bought about 30 pounds.  But today, Clara said “Have you got 200 pounds?”. Of course he did and Clara said, “I'll take them!”. Now that's a lot of shrimp!!!!

She immediately got on the phone, and in a little while, she had all her friends over and they took 150 pounds – we ONLY ended up with 50. And they are big, nice shrimp.

And of course they have to be prepared (headed), and Clara set up the preparation area in the backyard, and within an hour or so, all 200 pounds were headed.

Shrimp are second only to lobster as my favorite seafood.

Mon, Sept 16

For the first time in quite a while, Clara and I are taking Eureka out by ourselves for a few days. This is a real treat for me to have her along.

The weather looks favorable, so we head up the Intracoastal Waterway to the Neuse River – with the hope of going over to Ocracoke tomorrow (about a 6 hour sail across the Pamlico Sound).

So much for a good weather forecast

On the ICW in the rain.

On the way, we put a fishing line behind the boat and before long, we had a nice bluefish on the line. A good supper.

Clara cleans the bluefish on the stern platform

We anchor in the South River, which isn't really a river, but that's what it's called. It's really just a big bay off the Neuse River. Literally hundreds of boats could anchor in here and they still wouldn't be in each others way. There's only one other boat tonight, and it is a mile or so from us.

It's great to be back out on the water again.

Tues, Sept 17

Well, last night turned out to be a little exciting.

We had anchored in the middle of this 2 mile wide bay to stay away from the mosquitoes and flies that are generally found close to shore.

The weather forecast sounded pretty good when we retired for the evening with wind shifting to the North (which is wide open from our anchorage for several miles) and increasing to 10 knots. Nothing to be concerned about.

About 10 pm, the winds did shift to the North – in a hurry. We had been pointed South and all of sudden we were whipped around and the winds rapidly increased to 30 mph. The waves quickly built up and the boat was bouncing around quite a bit.

I immediately went forward and let out more anchor and set the bridle, tied a few things down, and started checking the weather to see what had changed. There was a line of thunderstorms moving through, but the weather service was still calling for relatively light winds. Needless to say, that ain't what was happening.  We were seeing 30 mph winds and a line of thunderstorms.

We made sure everything was secure and went on to bed for a bouncy night.

We started slowly this morning after a rather uncomfortable night swinging in the wind and waves.

We decided (actually there wasn't much of a decision) that 1)  We are not going to Ocracoke  2) We are going to Oriental Marina, get a boat slip, hook up to shore power and sleep where the waves are 1 inch rather than 1 yard high.

The winds were running 25-30 knots as we crossed the Neuse River.  We rolled out a small portion of the geneo (head sail) and flew across the river.  

A vigorous sail across the Neuse River

We've stayed at Oriental Marina numerous times in the past.  It's nice, right in the middle of the business district, and quiet.

Wed, Sept 18

Wow!  A great nights sleep.  It was cool, in fact so cool that I had to use a sleeping bag.  

This morning we start slowly.  We walk across the street to Beans for a cup of coffee, do a few maintenance things, clean up and head out for some fishing (and some sailing)

 New Clarks spoon and ready to fish!

The ducks come-a-callin

It was an absolutely perfect day for sailing on the Neuse River.  Winds were 15 - 20 knots and Eureka was ready to show her stuff.  We raised all 3 sails and just enjoyed feeling her seemingly gallop through the water.

Unusual to have all three sails flying

Some King Mackerel for dinner

Eureka loved the wind today.

Tonight we are anchored in Adams Creek just off the ICW.  It's always a good anchorage.  And it's going to be another cool night under the stars and a nearly full moon.  It don't get no better!!!

Moonrise to the East and Sunset to the West on Adams Creek

Thurs,  Sept 19

We had a nice relaxing trip back down the ICW to put Eureka back in the barn until the next trip.