Update Nov 21, Beaufort, SC

The past 2 weeks have been spent motoring in foul weather, except for 2 days in Carolina Beach NC, where the weather played a trick on us & got sunny AND warm!!!!

Taking advantage of the respite from the cold we stayed there & enjoyed the beach for 2 days.

Departed Carolina Beach to continue south & warmer climes...

Motor (cold-rain), anchor, motor (cold-rain), anchor, motor (cold-rain),  anchor,

Looking ahead through the rain @ S/V Mezzaluna

Dock -Charleston heater quits!!!! Thanks goodness there was a hardware store nearby bought a small electric heater during 2 days downpour uuuggghhhh!!!!! Bought an electric heater to dry out the boat.

We did manage to get a brief break & were able to do a walking tour of the old city, very beautiful.  Found an Irish pub (go figure) so stopped for a pint. 2 sips into our ales & a voice says "Monique"!  Nina & John from S/V Sunkissed who we first met back in Cape May NJ, had also decided to stop for a pint. Such is boating, chance meetings at the least expected moments, bright spots on a dreary day!

Charleston SC street scene

Southern belle in a driveway....

19 Nov, departed Charleston, moving south, to catch up with S/V Ishmael, &possible outside hop to Florida...

20 Nov Beaufort SC, we arrived as the weather began to improve, sun came out at least!  Met up with S/V Ishmael & caught up on our separate journey's thus far. Discussed the option of  an overnight trip to St Augustine FLA. After consulting the weather for the next 72 hours, the decision was unanimous...GET SOUTH FAST.

So tomorrow it will anchors aweigh at first light & down wind sailing for 24 hours in 15 knot winds. Should be a very pleasant voyage.

Stay tuned...next posting from FLA

10 Oct – 29 Oct

Departed Baltimore...meet up with our friends on S/V Mezzaluna  and continued buddy boating down the Chesapeake , looking forward to our destination at Tangier Island.

17 Oct, Tangier Island VA…Arrived at a very quaint and unique fishing village. Milton Parks, owner of Parks Marina greeted us at the dock. Milton, the gentleman, ensured the women were well briefed on all the island had to offer. Quite the character!!!!!!! Milton arranged a narrated golf cart tour with Alice, very informative and fun. These people are very proud of their island. Great scenery.

 

Going to work



Monique & Milton 

 

 

 18-20 Oct, Norfolk VA…Toured the USS Wisconsin, very informative, lots of history…

21 -23 Oct. Dismal Swamp Visitor Centre , NC.. Entered the Dismal Swamp, 25 mile man made canal, very narrow and straight but scenic. Overnighted at the visitor center, six boats rafted together with our boat rafted to another Prout  Snowgoose 37  (S/V Polar Pacer) from Toronto that we had met 5 years before, small world!!! Enjoyed the free rental of bikes and hiking the State Park.

 

23 Oct. Elizabeth City NC….Attended the famous Rose Buddy boater greeting. Wine and cheese, information session, and all women get a rose, long standing tradition of greeting transient boaters.

 25 OCT; Oriental NC: we arrived back in Oriental where it all began with a boat called Frodo! Felt like a homecoming of sorts. After a warm welcome we were reunited with Harry of M/V Osprey & crew, Terry & Russ.

26 Oct, news of the approaching hurricane sent everyone scurrying about taking down sails, canvas 7 packing shore bags. While in the process I was interviewed by the local tv station & found myself on the 6 o’clock news…

http://www.wcti12.com/news/Boaters-ready-to-ride-out-storm/-/13530444/17151770/-/hqkpeo/-/index.html

After all was completed we moved into the clubhouse for a hurricane sleep over, complete with food, drinks and nervous banter. Several trips in full storm gear over the course of the evening checking the boats helped to reduce the anxiety.

For the next 2 days we anxiously watched the water rise, tracked the storm’s progress & celebrated each change in direction that took Sandy a she steered farther & farther away from us. The worst condition was the rising water which threatened to overflow the docks, which if that happened we would not be allowed out to check or even adjust our lines if required. Thankfully by Sunday afternoon the water stopped rising & began to slowly recede. Wind remained strong around 20 to 35 miles per hour.

 

 

Thankfully Sandy decide to move east out to sea as she passed our location. Those north of us were not so fortunate. The resulting cold drawn south by Sandy`s passage was brutal!!! We have spent the last week in winter clothes, heater blaring! Not the warm south we had in mind.

08 Nov Oriental NC, still here!!!! 2 weeks of waiting for weather has allowed us to complete many upgrades & projects that we were not able to do while moving every day. BUT, now it is time to get moving again, today,s weather forecast included A freeze WARNING…..ughhhh!!!

So until next wifi… (booster did not yet get installed) hoping for pleasant seas
& warmer winds!