Norfolk, VA
To see as much of the world as we can,
Using the smallest carbon footprint we can,
Spending the least amount of money we can,
Making as many friends we can.
Last week, the arctic blast that arrived last night was expected to be brutal. As time has passed, the weather moderated, and today's cold was just cold. Not quite brutal.
But.
The next few days look like this for the Cape Fear area (AMZ252.)
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH …
Waiting for weather. Except for the laundromat issue, this is a great place to wait for weather.
Today's Excitement? There's good and there's bad.
First, the bad.
One of the boats anchored near us had dragged their anchor. Greg from Serenade calls it "Bumper Boats in a Blow."
The more …
CA and Jo from Serenade went out shopping for bulk goods at Trader Joe's. Later, we went we out to dinner. The folks from Serenade had rented a car to make things like shopping and dining out easier.
Greg was working on alternator and starter upgrades. They're planning an …
The marina I emailed really was imbecilic. If they can't get \(2.50 per foot for a 30' minimum (\)75 per day) to use the laundry, they'd prefer to have no income at all. I asked. Twice. Different ways. Just to be sure I read the answer properly in the …
Cafe Del Mar for WiFi and Coffee. Finally figured out how to use SpotWalla to show my location history; I regret not having looked into this back in October.
Post Office to ship some Floating Leaf Tiny Quilts. Follow the action on the Floating Leaf Tiny Quilts Blog.
And yes …
Started: Mile Hammock Bay 34°33.05′N 077°19.52′W
Anchored: ICW Mile 283 Wrightsville Beach 34°12.42′N 077°47.94′W
Log: 36.8 nm. Time 7 hr. Engine Hours 7
The cold was epic. Ice on deck. Again. And other problems, bigger problems than …
Ice!
It was so cold… (How cold was it?)
we had to run the the engine for an hour to warm up the boat enough to eat a cold breakfast.
we could use the ice from the bimini for our gin and tonics.
the fridge doesn't need to run.
Coincidentally …
Started: Town Creek, Beaufort, NC 34°43.57′N 076°40.04′W
Anchored: ICW Mile 244 Mile Hammock Bay 34°33.05′N 077°19.52′W
Log: 44.3 nm. Time 7 hr. Engine Hours 7
We received our NOAA All Hazards Weather Alert while we chugged down …
Started: Campbell Creek 35°17.11′N 076°37.18′W
Anchored: ICW Mile 201 Town Creek, Beaufort, NC 34°43.57′N 076°40.04′W
Log: 55.2 nm. Time 8½ hr. Engine Hours 7.6
Beaufort is a Big Milestone. Mile 200 out of 1,000. We're …
Started: Newport News Point 35°40.45′N 076°03.34′W
Anchored: ICW Mile 154 Campbell Creek 35°17.11′N 076°37.18′W
Log: 48.0 nm. Time 7¾ hr. Engine Hours 7¾.
Anchored next to Motu. Again. And also next to Casa Blanca. We met them …
Started: Midway Marina 36°21.10′N 075°56.85′W
Anchored: ICW Mile 103 Newport News Point 35°40.45′N 076°03.34′W
Log: 52.1 nm. Time 7¼ hr. Engine Hours 7¼.
Anchored next to Motu and Hold Fast. We last saw them in Deltaville.
We …
Started: Atlantic Yacht Basin 36°43.20′N 076°14.03′W
Docked: ICW Mile 50 Midway Marina 36°21.10′N 075°56.85′W
Log: 35.4 nm. Time 6½ hr. Engine Hours 6½.
Fuel: Took on 40 gallons.
Said goodbye to Baccalieu. They're going back to Toronto …
Waiting for weather is a skill we're trying to learn.
In Pungo Creek, last fall, waiting for the end of hurricane Sandy was unpleasant: no place to go; nothing much to do.
In Norfolk, however, we have to be a little careful about waiting too long. There's lots to do …
Big Milestone: we've closed the loop on our home port of Norfolk, VA.
While we started this voyage in Deltaville, VA, Norfolk is our home port. I like to think that the first four weeks of living aboard—prior to Norfolk—are a kind of prologue.
Because of Hurricane Season …
Two tasks: Fix the propane. Get to Norfolk.
Note that we left the Bahamas due east of Ft. Lauderdale, ICW mile 1064. Norfolk is 283 ICW miles away. A hair over 25% left to go.
No trip is uneventful. In addition to propane weirdness, which cleared itself up, we had …
It's feeling like time to move on. St. Mary's is nice. Very, very nice.
The weather has been fabulous. Biking to the grocery store looks pretty easy. The anchorage feels secure.
But.
Cumberland Island is nearby. So is Fernandina Beach. The First Coast stretches South of us. Then the rest …
This was a crazy thing to see (and be a part of).
I would call this one of the most significant benefits of being able to choose a life-style that involves hanging around on docks.
Chardonnay is a double headsail ketch (like Red Ranger) but bigger. Her main mast stands …
This week we're finally through with hanging around in Charleston, South Carolina.
We'd like sail outside to St. Mary's, Georgia. Or maybe even further (St. Augustine, perhaps.) We'd really like to sail there, instead of motor, so we'd like wait for better weather.
Except. It's cold here at night. So …
This week we're still hanging around in Charleston, South Carolina.
The Commodore's aunt, Venerable Great Aunt (VGA) Diane will be here this week, enjoying the sights (and tastes) of the Low Country with us. Specifically Shrimp and Grits.
Docked at 32°49.93′N 079°56.03′W …
This week we're hanging around in Charleston, South Carolina.
The Commodore Says: "We Can Haz Visitorz?"
The Commodore's aunt, Venerable Great Aunt (VGA) Diane may visit next week. So, for this week, we're just hanging out.
Docked at 32°49.93′N 079°56.03′W
Cleaned out …