Getting here was not a big deal this year. We ran out of Annapolis the day Carol arrived because we were a bit tired of the wakes we get in Weems Creek on busy weekends. We just went to the Rhode River off of West River Bay not too far south of Annapolis. A two hour trip that only cut an hour off of the next day's trip to the Solomons.
We stayed two nights in the Solomons because of forecast wind and rain. Wasn't bad at all at our anchorage in Mill Creek but we heard it was rougher out on Chesapeake Bay. Sue and Al on Gelato came to the Solomons also but we didn't see them as they took a mooring in a different part of the harbor.
After that it was Jackson Creek near Deltaville, VA. An easy pleasant day to here and Gelato was able to get in despite the relatively shallow water. They came by after dinner for dessert.
Then it was down the Bay to Hampton Roads and Portsmouth, VA. We took a free dock for the first time in North Landing. Gelato squeezed in behind us and we found we should have tied up at the southern free docking spot. Much prettier. A chat with a fellow snowbird led us to a nearby movie theater where we all saw a Tom Cruise flic. The theater was very nice. It was the first in the country to provide full restaurant meals with the movie. Very fancy and the food was good, too. After the film we talked a while with the folks on Delta Blues (and Gelato, too, of course).
Then it was our usual Great Bridge stop. We did laundry and got a few items from the grocery store. We met up with Pru and Burt from Exuberant. We saw them on the city dock in Annapolis and then caught up up with them here.
Our next stop was Broad Creek just north of Albemarle Sound. Gelato anchored near similarly drafted Exuberant instead of coming to Broad Creek with us. Might have been better protection nearer to us but there was no way of knowing until we got there.
The next day Albemarle Sound wasn't bad, the Alligator River Bridge was working properly and the Alligator itself was pretty benign.
We ended up at Belhaven but Gelato had a bit of an adventure getting here. I'll let them tell their own story. The interesting thing was the fireworks display we were anchored almost under. They were celebrating the ICW which the town claims they are the home of. The last segment was completed in 1928 near here.
The passage through the Pamlico and Nuese River system was near calm this year, just how we like it. We stayed two nights at Cedar Creek off Adams Creek because of the rain and wind forecast. The weather started much later than forecast and didn't last long, either. We got the chance to explore by dinghy for the first time here and buy extremely fresh shrimp at a good price at a nearby processor. The shrimp we ate was swimming in the ocean the day before.
We had the chance to phone the range officer for Camp Lejeune to find the ICW would not be restricted by the marines the next day. Good news. We then spent our last night before here at Mile Hammock.
Since we arrived at Wrightsville we went out to dinner at our favorite spot, King Neptune, with Al and Sue. Plus they treated us. Made the two-for-one special cost even less. Zero (for us). Thanks Gelato!
Before she goes off to work in L.A. Carol wants to try a much more expensive restaurant we've never been to. We'll see.
The weather has been good here and the forecast is for just one nasty day during the upcoming week. If I survive there will be another blog entry in the future.
Navy LCUs (landing craft utility) pass us in Currituck Sound. Gelato is in the background.
