Boating with Sunset Delight: 2021: New Bern to Wrightsville Beach NC

24 October 2021

Depart: Private Dock New Bern, NC 10:15

Arrive: Moorehead City Yacht Basin 2:50 - 3:30

Distance: 35 nm

Conditions: Bright sun; Forecast 52 -> 77 degrees

We enjoyed our bed and breakfast at Ralph's house - we provided the bed and he provided the breakfast! I got some more time to play with Chewy!

Play time with Chewy

Clark needed non-ethanol gas for our dinghy. While Ralph took Clark to a place to fulfill this need, I took Chewy for a walk around the neighborhood. Or perhaps I should say, Chewy took me for a walk.

Chewy on alert!

We walked, mostly with Chewy leading the way, for the full time Ralph and Clark were away. We both got a bit of needed exercise. As soon as Clark got back, he started prepping the boat for departure. We got underway shortly thereafter.

Traveling down the Neuse River, we saw very little boat traffic. As soon as we turned onto Adams Creek and the ICW, we were back in a long line of boats heading south.

Back in the ICW parade of boats

With plans to visit our boating friends, Dave and Bev, we made reservations at the Moorehead City Yacht Basin marina. As we arrived at the marina at 2:50, we found ourselves fourth in line to get into our slip. We floated outside the marina for a full 40 minutes and finally had our lines tied at 3:30. When Clark went up to check in, he found another long queue and a slow check in person. It took Clark until almost 5:00 to come back to the boat. By which time, our friends Bev and Dave were sitting on the boat chatting with me.

We quickly closed up the boat and headed out. Our friends were kind enough to offer their laundry room for my use, agree to take me to a grocery store for some fresh vegetables, and make a reservation for dinner at a local restaurant. We had a lot to do and the clock was ticking. By the end of the visit, we had accomplished everything on the list and had a great time reconnecting. Dave and Beverly dropped us off at our marina around 10:30.

Given I cannot use my electric oven without running the generator when we are at anchor, I planned to make Clark his favorite bedtime snack - Applesauce Cake. Even though we got back to the boat quite late, I decided to go ahead and make his treat. I finally climbed into bed around 12:30 a.m. I set the alarm for 7:30 knowing I would be dragging the next day.

25 October 2021

Depart: Moorehead City Yacht Basin, NC 8:15

Arrive: Wrightsville Beach, NC 5:35

Distance: 72 nm

Conditions: Overcast skies with rain in the forecast

Clark had hoped to travel on the ocean today, but the weather had other plans. A front approached and the conditions on the ocean were not inviting - even for us! As we got ready to pull in our lines to continue down the ICW, I saw lightning and very quickly heard thunder. I checked with Clark to see what he planned. He looked at an app on his phone, said, "The storm is to the east. Let's go!"

We pulled in our lines and headed out. Although we got light rain / drizzle off-and-on througout the day, we never saw any more lightning or heard any more thunder. We did, however, had an interesting show of clouds all day long.

I posted the below picture on Facebook and learned from our friend, Ralph, that this sky is called a "sucker hole". It refers to a short display of good weather that lures in a "sucker" thinking that weather is improving.

As we traveled along the ICW, we saw several frolicking dolphins and playful pelicans. None of these guys posed for the camera.

Clark said that our target for today would be the Mile Hammock anchorage. However, at 12:15 he decided that we would arrive there too early to call it a day. He looked for some other anchorage further along the ICW. We passed by Mile Hammock around 1:00, so that decision made sense.

Some pictures we took on today's leg of our journey.

We missed the scheduled 4:00 opening at the Figure 8 bridge. Clark said that we could "slide under" if we lowered the mast, so that is what we did. The Wrightsville Bridge came next, and thinking that there was no way we could slide under that one, we raised the mast and the antennas.

As we approached the bridge, Clark thought that perhaps we could have made it under with everything down. Oh well, we only had to hang out a few minutes waiting for the 5:00 opening. While we waited, I asked Clark how much further he planned on traveling. When he told me, it would be another 12 nm. I groaned and complained. I hate pulling into an anchorage at sunset and having to rush to make dinner after so many hours on the water.

Palm tree and flag on an "Island" on the ICW

Wrightsville Bridge

Wrightsville Beach, NC

Clark took pity on me and found an anchorage located just after the Wrightsville Bridge. Yay! I got to sit and relax for a few before cooking dinner. While I chilled, I watched the clouds and the sun setting.