Weather Delays Once Again

11/05/07 Dowry Creek to Oriental

ICW Statute Mile 133 to Oriental 181

Temperatures are dropping. It was in the 50’s last night. I’m grateful for the diesel furnace Bob installed. Our fellow cruisers are shivering while we are toasty warm and comfortable – plus hot showers every morning!

Today the sunrise at Dowry Creek was incredible. What a beautiful setting to wake up to every morning.

Skies are bright blue today, good day for travel. The views are beginning to change. Southern pines are replacing the swamps along the canals. Crossing Pamlico Sound was very smooth. Tonight another front is on the way with small craft advisories for the next two days. Weather delays are beginning to get old!

We are docked at Oriental Harbor Marina tonight. "Journey" came in behind us and is docked next to us once again. We motored down with "Second Spree" and are really enjoying their company.

Our cell phones don’t work here, but we can get a WiFi connection.

11/04/2007 Alligator River to Dowry Creek

ICW Statute Mile 82 to 133 Dowry Creek

The menu at the marina snack bar offered “Alligator Bites,” fried pieces of alligator tail. I asked the clerk at the counter if they saw many alligators in the river, hoping to see one as we motored along. She replied, “Not dis time ‘o year honey. Days all hibernatin’.” With alligator tails on the menu - must be Miss Wanda is a “freezer queen” too!

We were able to pull out the jib and pick up a little speed motor sailing for about 45 minutes. Then we lost the wind.

The water has been brown with tannin for miles. We’ve been motoring four hours through nothing but wetlands, swamp, and marsh. I wonder what creatures inhabit this area with the sleepy alligators. We’ve seen a few cormorants and seagulls, but nothing else in the Alligator River – Pungo River Canal.

At 7 knots, my grandsons could ride their bikes faster than we are traveling. Those trawlers are looking pretty good right now! I’m thinking of putting my thumb out and to catch a ride as they pass us. I wonder if there are any laws against hitch hiking on the ICW.

We passed a sailboat from Teal Cove on the St. George River, near Maple Juice Cove, Maine. Later in the afternoon, they came into Dowry Creek Marina and docked across from us. The boat is “Journey” and their name is Walsch, we have an invite to visit them next summer.

Dowry Creek Marina is a serene and beautiful setting. Mary, the owner, is in her mid-fifties and recently widowed. They have the best Captain’s Room I’ve seen anywhere. The only drawback at Dowry Creek is no cell reception or internet. They do offer a loaner car and Belhaven is nearby.