31 October 2025 - Happy Halloween
Depart: Fairfield Harbour dock 8:55
Arrive: Morehead City Yacht Basin 1:40
Distance: ~ 35 nm
After our extended stay in the New Bern area, it was time to move onwards in a southerly direction looking for a warmer climate. When we attended the MTOA (Marine Trawlers Owners Assoc) meeting in September, I won a gift certificate for a free night's stay at the Morehead City Yacht Basin. I usually win things I do not want or need, but this prize we could definitely use. We normally stop in this area twice a year as we migrate from NJ to FL and back again. We stop here to visit our long-time friends Beverly and Dave whom we met at Faro Blanco a number of years ago.
With the intent of arriving at Morehead City around 2:00, we set our departure time for 9:00 and beat our objective leaving 5 minutes early! We said our goodbyes last night, so I did not get a final kiss goodbye from the dog "Gilly" this morning. (sad face)
Goodbye Fairfield Harbour ... until next time!
Once we entered Adam's Creek the winds and waves calmed down. I grabbed a few pictures as we headed towards Morehead City to show the changes in scenery as we traveled. We still could not do calibration on the Autopilot as we needed a wide space for the maneuvering operation. As shown below, the creek is narrow.
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| Trees and water - no houses here |
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| Sandy banks along shoreline |
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| Entering an area with houses |
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| Well built up along the creek's edges here |
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| Back to no houses; beach and trees only |
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| Light traffic on the creek |
As we traveled the creek, we passed Mile Marker 195 on the ICW, i.e. 195 miles south of Norfolk, Va. The marina we planned to visit is in an industrial area. I grabbed some photos as we approached our destination.
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| Entering Morehead City |
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| Pretty Tug at dock |
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| Entering the marina |
We arrived at our destination just prior to 2:00 which was our estimated arrival time, and three men were on the docks ready to grab our lines. Our first order of business was to empty our holding tank before heading over to a slip. Per the instructions on the gift certificate, we were directed to a side tie for the night's stay.
Since we would not be getting together with our friends until late afternoon for dinner out together, I decided to use the hiatus to throw clothes in the marina's washing machine. They had a comfy chair to sit in while I waited for the laundry to finish.
The water pressure must be awfully weak or the washer I chose had a serious problem as I thought the tub would never fill up with water to complete the rinse cycle. At one point I lifted the lid and stared in to see it was filling but ever so slowly. I decided that it would finish eventually and went back to my book. Eventually it did complete. I got the clothes dried and could check that item off my list. At $2.00 per wash / dry I figured it was worth it to get the job done while I had the chance.
Our friends came to pick us up for dinner and we arrived at the restaurant, "34 North", at 6:15 where we had an enjoyable dinner and conversation. This will be the last time getting together here I suspect as our friends, Beverly and Dave, are moving to be closer to their daughter in Northern Virginia, and horror of horrors - not on the water!
Before we ate dinner, I sent Clark out to get some sunset pictures at the restaurant.
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| Sunset at "34 North" |
No Trick-or-treaters for Halloween came asking us for a treat. We did, however, see some interesting costumes on the staff at 34 North. It is a hotel as well as a restaurant. The two women at the hotel reception desk both had fangs. One waitress was made up as a fox complete with nose, whiskers, and a bobbing red tail.
1 November 2025
Depart: Morehead City Yacht Basin 7:50
Arrive: Harbour Point Yacht Club, Carolina Beach, NC 5:15
Distance: ~ 79 nm
Clark was not sure if we could make it to the marina in Carolina Beach for tonight or if we would have to anchor near the Masonboro Inlet for tonight and arrive there in the morning. He said we needed an hour to get to the marina from the inlet. We decided to leave as early as possible to make it all the way there.
Before getting underway, we decided to walk up to the restrooms to save space in our holding tank for later trips to the head while underway. Instead of waiting for Clark to walk together, I left to get a head start figuring he would catch up later. As I was walking on the dock towards the building, I heard a yelp and turned around to find Clark sprawled along the dock.
He caught his foot on the edge of the uneven, and very rough, pavers used on the dock. As he says, he body surfed along the dock scraping skin off his chin and both hands and roughing up his knee as well. In short, he was a bloody mess! After that I grabbed his arm to help him us and walked beside him to the restroom where he attempted to clean himself up a bit.
While I waited for him to come out, I sneaked over a ways and took some sunrise pictures.
The rising sun reflected off the buildings on the opposite side of the marina.
When Clark appeared, he was still dripping blood from his hands and chin, so when we got on the boat, I pulled out bandages from the first aid kit and patched him up as well as I could. I need to buy bigger Band-Aids!
As we motored out of the marina, I noticed a huge work boat nearby.
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| "Chemroad Aqua" - Monrovia |
Just before we left the dock to head out into the ocean, a number of boats pulled out of the marina ahead of us. When we got out to the ocean, we found lots of boats traveling south with many of them being sailboats. The AIS indicators on the chart showed a huge clump of boats on the ocean. Looking off to the east, I could see numerous sails in the distance. Later, as we passed near one, I grabbed a picture taken into the sun.
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| One, of many, sailboats on the Atlantic Ocean |
For anyone who might be curious, the Autopilot is still not operating correctly. Sometimes it can hold a straight course. Then at some point it gets tired and gives up. When we experienced following seas, the AP stopped working. Very frustrating! Our boat is not one that is a pleasure to steer.
As we were out on the ocean for the bulk of the day, we looked for ways to entertain ourselves as we motored along. We managed to hear NPR's show "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me" (a comedy news show) that we enjoy. Later we listened to music on Pandora. Then for a while we turned off the entertainment as Clark talked alternators with our boating friend Bill on "Jean Marie". I did word puzzles to pass the time.
Around 4:00 I looked up to find out we were no longer on the ocean. We were through the inlet and traveling south on the ICW towards tonight's destination at a yacht club where the boat owners own the slips. Friends of ours we met at Marlin Bay, Tricia and Steve on "Journey", arranged for us to visit them and tie up to an available dock next to theirs in the marina.
Last season at Marlin Bay, Clark worked with Steve for several days analyzing and making recommendations on their boat's electrical wiring. Steve promised us a dinner as a thank you. Tonight we got to collect on that promise. They took us to a lovely little restaurant called "Soul Flavor". The dinners were good, but the Caramel Pecan Pie for dessert was unusual and amazing!
Before going out to dinner, I had some time to enjoy the sunset.
Sunset at a yacht club in Carolina Beach, NC ...
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| Sun reflecting on the buildings across the way |
Before going to bed tonight, we set all our clocks back an hour. Going forward, instead of getting up at 7:00, we'll be rising around 6:00. There is no difference really, it just sounds worse!
2 November 2025 - no travel
Clark decided we would stay in Carolina Beach for two nights. He had some ideas he wanted to pursue related to the misbehaving autopilot. Also, Steve had some questions regarding something on his boat. Thus, it turned out to be a no-travel, work day.
Yesterday, I met a puppy named "Charlie" that I fell in love with. He is a Cavalier / Poodle mix breed and the softest, cutest pup ever (and so very friendly)! Today, I got to say hello to the dog on the boat next to us named "Whiskey". He is an older dog I remember from having visited this yacht club in the past. I am happy when I get to love on other people's dogs!
Clark wanted me to stay handy on the boat today for when he needed my help with autopilot testing / debugging. He found a loose connection on the pilot house electrical panel that feeds the autopilot and fixed that, and he took a sample of the hydraulic fluid but didn't find any metal filings or large gunk in the fluid. When not on AP duty, I used the time to clean /scrub the boat - in particular the galley area. It kept me entertained when I wasn't pushing the "mode" button on the AP unit.
It requires an app on a phone or a key fob to enter the yacht club. We have neither so leaving the area had limited possibilities. The restrooms are on the outside of the gate, so we had to tag team going out to be sure to be able to get back in again. For two free nights at dock with electric, i.e. heat, I have no complaints. I needed to go nowhere for provisions, etc. So, no worries!
The only pictures I took today were of the docks.
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| Egret too busy fishing to worry about people nearby |
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| Looking left from the gated entrance |
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| Looking to the right from the gated entrance |
While up at the restrooms, I took a peak through the trees at the property next door and spied a fountain.
Clark's palms and chin do not look too pretty, and he says they are very tender and "talk to him" if he accidentally hits them on something. He will recover, and it could have been worse. That's one accident for each of us this trip, and that is more than enough! Looking for better days ahead!
Hoping for good enough conditions tomorrow to get back out in the ocean with a South Carolina target in mind. We will travel the Cape Fear River and hopefully then head "outside". The decision will be made as we near Southport, NC.
