The Adventures of ALY CAT

Back on Solid Ground

2009-06-29T17:17:00.001-04:00

Hello all! We have made it back to the US. We left from Spanish Cay in the Abacos and sailed directly back to the Cape Fear river and on to Carolina Beach. It took 3 days and 5 hours to complete the 500 mile trip. We would have made better time but the wind was extremely light.

So, to catch everyone up with the pictures, here are the ones we took of the Abacos.

http://picasaweb.google.com/lewisnance/Abacos?feat=directlink

Additionally, here are pics we swapped from two of the boats we travelled with - Side By Side and Miakoda.

http://picasaweb.google.com/lewisnance/MiakodaAndSideBySide?feat=directlink

Adjusting to reality is proving to be difficult!

--
Lew Nance

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." ~ Mark Twain

Lots and Lots of pictures

2009-05-29T12:38:00.001-04:00

We have finally found somewhere with enough bandwidth to upload photos! And so without further ado...

http://picasaweb.google.com/lewisnance/ConceptionCatLittleSanSalvadorEleuthera?feat=directlink

Quick update

2009-05-18T14:32:00.000-04:00

Hello all! We have had a busy couple of weeks and not much Internet availability. From Long Island we traveled to Conception Island. It is an uninhabited island about 25 miles north east of the North end of Long Island. It was an incredibly beautiful anchorage! From there we traveled to Cat Island to link up with some other "kid boats" and tour the island. While there we hiked to the highest hill in the Bahamas which has a hermitage on site. It was something special to be at a wonderful overlook and enter a one person chapel with its cross as the highest feature in the Bahamas! On the path up, were the 12 stations of the cross. Each station was depicted by sculpture or plaque.

From Cat, we sailed to Eleuthera. We stayed a few days in Rock Sound, a few in Governor's Harbor, and are now in Alabaster Bay, just off the beach from a resort named Cocodimama. It has some of the best Italian food I have ever eaten!

We plan to move North on Thursday once the weather gets better. I hope to post pictures soon so stand by!

Long Island

2009-05-05T15:25:00.001-04:00

We traveled 40 miles east - south east to Long Island. 80 miles long and with a population of 4000, it is a destination for bonefishermen from around the world. We are staying at the Stella Maris marina and having a great time. Yesterday we drove south to Davis' Blue Hole which is a blue hole just steps from shore that reaches a depth of 660 feet. Caroline and I both jumped from the cliffs on the far side, right into the middle of the deep part. We also toured the largest cave in the Bahamas and discovered many kinds of stalactites and stalagmites. Caroline's favorite part was seeing the fruit bats that inhabit the cave. Today, we went to the Christopher Columbus monument and enjoyed a spectacular overlook.

Heeeeeeeres the pictures!

http://picasaweb.google.com/lewisnance/LongIsland?feat=directlink

National Family Island Regatta

2009-05-05T14:24:00.001-04:00

We can definately say a good time was had by all at the 56th Annual National Family Island Regatta in Georgetown Bahamas! Locals and Cruisers alike let it all hang out for the entire week culminating in a huge party Saturday night which would rival Marti Gras! We only stayed til 8:00 and things were well on their way to getting out of hand. Let me just comment too that the Nassau Police Marching Band was awesome and would rival any drumline in the states!

Enjoy the pics

http://picasaweb.google.com/lewisnance/NationalFamilyIslandRegatta?feat=directlink
--

Countdown to the Regatta

2009-04-19T19:32:00.001-04:00

With a bit of sadness, we bid farewell to Melisa, Brian, Anna Lisa and Grant this morning. We had a wonderful visit which I'm sure will be remembered by all. Two weeks with guests and it already is begining to feel a little lonely. You just become accustomed to all the commotion, conversation and loving smiles, that once it's gone, normal no longer seems so normal.

We did get to spend a little time with John and Susan Hornaday, their daughter Brooks and her husband Steve. We spent the morning talking, laughing and swapping stories. By lunch we had really worked up an appetite, so we sauntered down to the Peace & Plenty to grab Sunday lunch together. It was nice to catch up with some friends from home and to hear about their cruising plans for the next few months.

Here is the final installment of the Ciarrocca Saga. Some of these pictures may even become the next P90X promotion posters!

http://picasaweb.google.com/lewisnance/BrianMelisaGrantAndAnnaLisa?feat=directlink

Melisa, Brian, Anna Lisa and Grant

2009-04-14T21:40:00.001-04:00

The Next group has arrived! We have already had lots of fun but have taken very few pictures. We have gone snorkeling at Fowl Cay, attended a sunrise Easter Service on the beach, played in a Texas Holdem tourney with 45 other cruisers, sang karoke at the St Francis Resort and have even caught a fish at anchor off the stern! Here is the first installment of pictures:

http://picasaweb.google.com/lewisnance/BrianMelisaGrantAndAnnaLisa?feat=directlink

We will post more pictures soon, so check back and follow the link!

Kevin, Lisa and Tyler

2009-04-06T19:36:00.001-04:00

We are glad to have Kevin, Lisa and Tyler visiting with us this week. We have left the Exumas Docking for Stocking Island on the other side of Elizabeth harbor. Yesterday we went to the pig roast at the "Chat and Chill". Today we sampled the burgers at the "Peace and Plenty Beach Club". Check out the pics from these and other adventures at:

http://picasaweb.google.com/lewisnance/KevinAndLisa?feat=directlink

Georgetown

2009-04-03T09:39:00.001-04:00

Hello all. I know its been some time since our last post but I've been lazy. We've spent a few days traveling, a few days exploring Cave Cay, a few days working on the boat, and a few days exploring Georgetown. I have been glad to find that GT doesn't quite live up to its poor reputation as other cruisers have told us. I guess its a place you either love or hate. I'm not sure which side I'll end on, but wouldn't be surprised if I ended up in the middle. It definitely isn't as unspoiled and beautiful as other places we've visited but it is still pretty beautiful. And, being back in "civilization" does have its advantages... ie groceries, restaurants. I tried hitchhiking for the first time in my life. I was headed to the NAPA auto parts store to get some filters for the boat and on the way stopped to get a wi-fi card from Perez - the local wi-fi guru, pet store owner and Rastafarian. I asked how far the Napa was and he said I should "hike it mon, someone will pick you up!" True to his word someone did pick me up. As I got in, my benefactor said, "I'm just having some lunch mon, do you want some?" He was eating some chicken wings and pointed me to the plate. I had just eaten a killer meatloaf at the Peace and Plenty Beach Club and so declined his generous offer. That seems to be how most folks are around here... always quick with a smile and greeting, willing to lend a hand whenever they can. No one seems to be rich monetarily but instead are truly rich in kindness, generosity and sense of community.

Here are some pics from Cave Cay : http://picasaweb.google.com/lewisnance/CaveCay?feat=directlink

Sampson Cay - our home away from home

2009-03-19T19:37:00.001-04:00

Here are a few friends we've met along our journey. They've welcomed us with open arms and made us feel at home. Others will be posted soon at this same link.

http://picasaweb.google.com/lewisnance/SampsonFriends?feat=directlink

She always wants to be like me

2009-03-18T17:52:00.001-04:00

Tuesday, we bid Beth, Wayne and MacLaine a sad goodbye as they climbed into an even smaller plane than the one in which they arrived. We had a wonderful visit with only a single detour. We all know and love Alyson, but a few of you may not know she secretly wants to be me! By that I mean, she now, is at the top of the injury highlight reel followed closely by Caroline. At Rachels Bubble bath Alyson severly cut her ankle and Caroline got bruises and scrapes as they both were knocked from the rocks by the crash of a mighty wave. Both are OK but Alyson had to get 4 stitches. We were extremely lucky to have EMTs on the boat beside and the boat behind us. And, a few hours later a General Surgeon was stitching her up while all in the marina looked on. She is still sore but is recovering nicely.

Pictures of our visit with the Birches and the Surgery in the cockpit are now posted at:

http://picasaweb.google.com/lewisnance/BethWayneAndMacLaine?feat=directlink

Beth, Wayne and MacLaine Arrive In The Islands, Mon!

2009-03-13T20:21:00.002-04:00

Beth, Wayne and MacLaine finally get to Staniel Cay. They flew in on Flamingo Air with Wayne sitting up front with the pilot! We hurried from the airport to snorkel Thunderball Grotto. After a good snorkel, we headed back to our home away from home at Sampson Cay. On Wayne's first sunset, he sees a Green Flash! What a day!

Today, we had some leisure time on the beach, some kayak time in the lagoon and some reading time/catnap on the boat. Pretty good for a Friday the 13th!

Here are some pictures from our adventures thus far.

http://picasaweb.google.com/lewisnance/BethWayneAndMacLaine

Check back for more...

Went exploring today

2009-03-06T13:00:00.001-05:00

Today we took the dingy over to Little Pipe Cay to look for some conch and do some shelling. Little Pipe Cay is a private island between Sampson Cay to the south and Compass Cay to the north. There are lots of scenic views and pretty blue water all around.

We came back for lunch on the boat and will soon get ready to go to happy hour and dinner at Sampson Cay Club for Wendy and Delaney's last dinner in the islands.

We are currently anchored at: 24°12.466'N 076°28.547'W.

Also, check the previous post to view additional photos. I've uploaded to the same link a couple of times.

Wendy and Delaney Have Arrived!!!

2009-03-03T17:32:00.002-05:00

Our first guests are finally here! Wendy and Delaney Mitchell from Wrightsville Beach flew into Staniel Cay on Saturday. We spent the first night at Big Majors Spot and moved to Sampson Cay the next day. From there, we've travelled north to Compass Cay and further north to Waderick Wells where we are now. We are having an awesome time! The weather could be a little warmer but it is nothing like the weather they came from in WB.

Here are the Pics!
http://picasaweb.google.com/lewisnance/WendyAndDelaney?feat=directlink

Get to The Point, Stick To The Point

2009-02-21T11:06:00.001-05:00

"Get to the Point, Stick to the Point" is the motto of Black Point. It is the largest settlement between Nassau and Georgetown with 150 to 200 people. Most of the people work on nearby islands like Staniel Cay, Sampson Cay, or Fowl Cay. We spent several days anchored here and enjoying some of the island's offerings. Caroline made a few friends while swimming there. We toured "The Garden of Eden", a driftwood garden arranged to look like people or animals. Willie, the "curator" of the garden explained each sculpture in detail. He also has a green thumb, raising vegetables and fruit in holes in the rocky landscape.

The Black Point link: http://picasaweb.google.com/lewisnance/BahamasBlackPoint?feat=directlink

We also visited a place called Big Majors Spot, which is a great well protected anchorage beside Big Major island. The claim to fame for this island is the wild pigs living on the beach, who are fed by cruisers. Caroline fed them an apple and they seemed to really like it. They squealed and came into the water to get closer! We snorkeled, explored caves at the waterline and found a neat little beach that people use for "happy hour" get togethers at sunset. Folks have donated chairs and tables that stay set up all the time just waiting for the next group or sunset.

The Big Majors Spot link: http://picasaweb.google.com/lewisnance/BahamasBigMajorSSpot?feat=directlink

We've also visited Staniel Cay several times. That's where we get provisions. We are currently at Sampson Cay while a cold front passes. Sampson is a great little island resort with little to do but relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery.

Here is a link for Sampson Cay Club: www.sampsoncayclub.com

I also wanted to post a link for Macduffs, the neat little restaurant we enjoyed back on Norman's Cay. www.ncbcmacduffs.com

Well, well, well

2009-02-01T12:34:00.001-05:00

We traveled south to the Exhuma Park Headquarters in Warderick Wells. Here, we hand fed birds, hiked to ruins from the settlement in 1760, went to the "blowholes", saw a whale skeleton, visited a genuine pirate encampment complete with fire pit and a freshwater well and, of course went snorkeling. We stayed for several days and still feel we would like to go back and explore more.

Here are the pictures of Warderick Wells

http://picasaweb.google.com/lewisnance/BahanasWarderickWells?feat=directlink

Our next stop took us just south of the Park to Compass Cay. Alyson had read many good things about this little island so we were eager to check it out. Compass Cay is known to have one of the prettiest beaches in the Exhumas. After seeing it, I can hardly argue. It's greatest claim to fame, however, is the many pet sharks that stay in the marina. You can feed them, swim with them and pet them. They even get on the dock during high tide!

I know its hard to believe but see for yourself!

http://picasaweb.google.com/lewisnance/BahamasCompassCay?feat=directlink

A Few Cays South

2009-01-27T09:21:00.001-05:00

Having spent 10 days in Highborne Cay, we decided to continue south. We had really enjoyed the folks we met there, so it was with both anticipation and a twinge of sadness that we pulled out of the harbour.

We set a course for the next major Cay to the south called Normans Cay. As we found our spot in the anchorage, we had a swell on the beam but we had plenty of room to swing. We heard good things about the one restaurant on Normans and were looking forward to having a "cheeseburger in paradise". I think Alyson was looking forward to not cooking or doing dishes! We had a great lunch but were very much impressed with the balance of the menu so decided to come back for dinner too!

On the island, we met more wonderful folks. We talked for a long while with the owners of MacDuffs, the restaurant on the beach. Stefan gave us all sorts of insight into the history of the island and the surrounding "goings on".

One of the days, we took a long dingy ride exploring much of the eastern shore and a large bay called the Normans Pond. During the trip, we had to exit the dingy and walk across the sand flats, pulling the dingy behind. It wouldn't have been bad except that every tenth or so step you hit a waist deep hole or a soft place in the sand. I'm sure it would have been comical to watch!

Normans Cay pics: http://picasaweb.google.com/lewisnance/BahamasNormanCay?feat=directlink

Our next destination was Shroud Cay. It is pretty much uninhabited but offers some absolutely gorgeous views! Here, we dingied through a mangrove creek to one of the most beautiful beaches I've ever seen! I'll let the pictures speak for themselves, but even the best pictures don't do the real thing justice!

http://picasaweb.google.com/lewisnance/BahamasShroudCay?feat=directlink

We are now at Warderick Wells. We plan to spend a couple of days here so check back soon for more pictures and adventures!

A few more photos

2009-01-21T08:12:00.000-05:00

We are still here in Highborne Cay but things look good for tomorrow's travel to Norman's Cay. I posted a few more pictures follow the link below to see them!

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/35RvIGs-arQB8bJKIZY9NA?feat=directlink

Adventure at Highborne

2009-01-17T17:34:00.002-05:00

Hey Guys,

I just added some more photos from Highborne Cay.

http://picasaweb.google.com/lewisnance/BahamasNassauAllenSCayHighbourneCay?feat=directlink

Today we saw the sun for the first time in a few days! We had a great walk to "the quiet place" which contains religious artifacts from around the world. They were placed there by Sergio Bacardi - you may recognise the last name. He owns one of the houses here.

We also did a lot of lazing around on the beach. I know its a tough life!

Anyway, enjoy the new photos. We have a Luau buffet to go to tonight. I'm sure Alyson is looking forward to not cooking, but especially no having to do the dishes!

Love to all!

Postcards from Paradise

2009-01-14T10:13:00.002-05:00

We have finally made it to the Exumas! We spent nearly a week in Nassau provisioning and waiting for a better weather window. While there, we met many nice folks...other cruisers like us. Norman (beside us at the dock) has lived here for 35 or so years and so I picked his brain as to where all the good snorkeling, fishing and conching spots were. He also taught Alyson a new version of Gin he called Hollywood Gin. Its basically three games at a time. He said all the old men at the country clubs gamble playing Hollywood. His girlfriend is from Montauk, NY and she is a real go getter! Her name is Marion and she runs a consignment store back home for 6 months and then comes down here to live with Norman for the other 6.

Once we had our window, we moved on to Allen Cay. We anchored in a little harbour between two islands with as many as 17 other boats! We went snorkeling around the islands and explored the Ruins on Leaf Cay and watched the iguanas that run wild there. Tourists take trips there to feed them so whenever someone comes ashore, all the iguanas gather around, snorting and checking to see what delicious morsel you've brought.

As a front approached, we decided to jump to the next island down and tie up at the marina on Highborne Cay. It is very nice here with lots of scenic overlooks. Also, its very sparsely populated with only 16 full time residents on the island. That's where we are now. Thick, black rain clouds are on the horizon as the cold front closes in. I say cold but it is around 80. After it passes the temperature may plummet to 73! We will explore the island further in the next few days so check back and get the update on Highborne!

Here are the pics:
http://picasaweb.google.com/lewisnance/BahamasNassauAllenSCayHighbourneCay?feat=directlink

Our location is: 24°42.559'N 076°49.318'W

Blue water in the Bahamas

2009-01-03T21:53:00.002-05:00

We left West End and staged down island in Port Lucaya for a jump farther south. While at Port Lucaya, we got to visit the Bahamian Market that most of the cruise ships go to when visiting Freeport. If you have ever been to Freeport on a cruise ship, chances are you went this very market! Of course, Caroline had to get her hair wrapped. We also had a great dinner at an Irish pub (yes I had to get a Guinness)! we turned in early (this was New Years eve) since we had a long trip the next day.

Here are the pics of Port Lucaya: http://picasaweb.google.com/lewisnance/BahamasPortLucaya?feat=directlink

We awoke before daybreak and began to head out to sea. In the marina, there was absolutely no wind. By the time we made the clear water buoy, the breeze had begun to fill in. We hoisted sail and set our course. I soon was able to kill the engines and we were making 8 knots under sail alone. The ride was beginning to get uncomfortable, especially since we had the prevailing swell on our beam. The breeze continued to freshen and the swells increase. As I cursed the weatherman for being, in my estimation, 10 knots under the actual wind force, I put the third reef in the main and furled the head sail to match. We still made an average of over 7 knots with minimal rpm. It seemed dicey a few times as wind increased under overhead clouds, but it always felt good to get less wind on the other side. I used the engines to help maintain pace so we could make our destination before nightfall. After a hard slog in lumpy seas, we began to get a reading on our depth meters (in waters deeper than 500 ft they just blink). The Bahama bank was coming up fast - at last! We cruised into a depth of 15 feet and everything smoothed out, especially in comparison to what we just experienced. An hour later, we dropped the hook in 8 feet in Bullocks Harbor on the island of Great Harbor Cay.

Because of our rough day, the Captain and Admiral decided to give themselves the next day off. So, we sat around sunning, playing in the dingy, and swimming. Much needed! It also gave me plenty of time to plan our route to our next destination of Chub Cay.

The next morning we set off around the west side of the bank to make our way to Chub. Winds were light and favorable. It made for a much more enjoyable sail! I even got a few winks in with Alyson at the helm. By 3:00 we had Chub in sight. It is a beautiful island but has yet to recover from the last Hurricane. Much construction needs to be done. Also it has lost much of its local feel. The marina here is now owned and operated by a large conglomerate from the US. It will be nice...in 5 years after they finish construction but it will have the price to match. It already is one of the most expensive marinas we have stayed, yet has some of the worst facilities (except for the brand new docks and swimming pool). Needless to say we will be anchoring out tomorrow night!

Here are the pictures from Bullocks to Chub: http://picasaweb.google.com/lewisnance/BahamasBullocksHarborToChub?feat=directlink

Our current position is: 25°24.585'N 077°54.236'W

Junkanoo is here!

2008-12-30T17:35:00.001-05:00

We have made it out of the US! We are currently in West End, Grand Bahama Island at the Old Bahama Bay Resort. It is nice but we are feeling the itch to keep moving south and east. We did take one day here just to relax and savor this long awaited moment. Tomorrow we plan to move on to Port Lucaya on the southern side of the island. Caroline has enjoyed the pool with a waterfall and is anxious to snorkel a reef.

Here are a few pics. A couple are from Christmas, most are during the crossing, and a couple are from the harbor here in West End.

http://picasaweb.google.com/lewisnance/BahamasWestEndAndAFewOfChristmas?feat=directlink

Our coordinates are: 26°42.091'N 078°59.511'W

Junkanoo is a celebration that happens here in the Bahamas around Christmas and New Years. So, Merry (or happy) Junkanoo!

Season's Greetings

2008-12-27T13:26:00.002-05:00

Hello all! I hope everyone had a great Christmas! I got 5 stitches for Christmas! Long story, short: slipped on wet dock, fell down go boom, in the process I kicked the edge of the wood! Everything is OK and it could have been worse. At least no one was watching! We have been waiting for a weather window and it looks like Monday is the day. In the meantime, we have been joined by friends from Fayetteville; Carrol Thomas and family are here on "Reel Time" and Dixon Dickens and family are here on "Turbulence". Its nice to see them.

Here are the GPS coordinates so everyone can check out the scenery we have been enjoying on Google Earth.

26°46.825'N 080°02.393'W

Have a safe and happy New Year!

The Wait Continues!

2008-12-18T21:14:00.002-05:00

We are still here in Palm Beach! The new electronics have successfully been installed and we may or may not have the water maker fixed by the time we depart. No worries, though, especially if I can get all the required parts to take with me. Sunday looks favorable for the short trip across the Gulf stream. Even though we are enjoying the area, we look forward to getting somewhere a little more remote. There are several cruising boats here, but they are waiting for after Christmas to head back to the Bahamas.

Caroline has found friends to play with in the afternoons once school lets out. They mostly swim and catch unsuspecting creatures that swim by. She did spot a manatee the other day but was unable to catch it!

Coco has even found a playmate! Her name is Luna and she is a Nova Scotia Duck Trolling Retriever. She's the marina's owner's puppy and she and Coco wear each other out!

Anyway, here are from shots from the area.
http://picasaweb.google.com/lewisnance/PalmBeach?feat=directlink

Poised to jump

2008-12-10T18:41:00.001-05:00

We are waiting for a weather window from North Palm Beach to make the jump to West End, Grand Bahama Island. While we are here, we will be upgrading some electronics and have rented a car so that we can get around.

We have also had our first Manatee spotting. As we went under PGA bridge, we had two manatee surface in front of us. With no time to dodge, I had to cut the engines and coast right over them! The water and weather here is beautiful! Clear and blue! We expect a front to come through tonight, so we will see a little rain and heavy winds.

Caroline has made friends with other children here at the dock. They play together and swim in the hot tub every chance they get! Two have lived on a boat their whole lives and the other is from Denmark and doesn't speak much english. But, they get along great and are going to have a sleepover tonight!

I can't say enough about this area. The water is so clear, you can see all the way to the bottom at 20 feet!

We are having a great time but always miss loved ones back home. Wish you were here!

Christmas is in the air!

2008-12-07T23:11:00.001-05:00

We had a wonderful sail to Ft Pierce today. Along the way we sailed behind a community named Wabasso Beach. I had never heard of it but it was beautiful! Not only were the homes magnificent, but the mangrove islands dotting the sound made me believe we were in the Keys. Both before and since, the land simply had a different feel to it.

Once at Ft Pierce, we discovered they were having their Christmas parade and tree lighting ceremony. What great timing! So, we ate lunch, had our first HOT shower in several days, and enjoyed the local parade.

Its funny how simple things like a good meal, a hot shower, or even sharing a laugh with strangers at a parade bring joy to my soul. I suppose the secret to enjoying life is being able to relish in the simple things. After all, they happen whether we notice or not!

Enjoy the pictures:

http://picasaweb.google.com/lewisnance/WabassoAndFtPierce#

Saturday, in the park, I think it was the fourth of July....

2008-12-06T16:39:00.001-05:00

Yes it is Saturday and we have stopped to anchor just south of Melbourne, FL. We stopped because the winds picked up and began to impede our progress. Should that have continued, we wouldn't have made our planned stop at Vero Beach by nightfall. Instead I decided to pull over, anchor and watch the Army Team beat Navy! It all went according to plan except for Army beating Navy. Oh well, there is always next year!

The good news is that winds should shift to the north overnight as a cold front moves through so we should have an easy sail tomorrow with favorable winds.

The past couple of days have been fun. The weather has been warm and dolphin have enjoyed frolicking about - we've enjoyed watching them.

Here are some random pics of sights along the way and a few dolphin.

http://picasaweb.google.com/lewisnance/DaytonaToMelbourne#

Here comes the SUN!!!!!

2008-12-04T19:27:00.002-05:00

Monday we left Jekyll and had a short run behind Cumberland Island to reach the cute little town of St. Mary's by lunch. St. Mary's is right on the boarder between GA and FL and just exudes southern charm. If you ever want to get to Cumberland Island, this is where you go to board the Cumberland Ferry.

We departed early the next morning and decided to go "outside" for the run to St. Augustine. We had decent wind and a following sea - just perfect for the 50 mile inlet to inlet trip. Coming in to St Augustine inlet was interesting! Breakers lined each side of the channel but once inside it was worth it for the view. For those that don't know, St Augustine is the oldest town in the US. The first night we ate at a great restaurant and then went on a Ghost Train. We visited several cemetaries and a couple of gardens, plus the Ripley Museum after it had closed! The tour included EMF (electro - magnetic frequency) meters and disposable cameras. I took pics with my digital camera too. Some of the pics did show anomalous "orbs". Creepy! We stayed an extra night in St Aug so we could visit the Spanish built Fort the next day and just relax. Alyson and Caroline played a round of miniture golf and did laundry while I checked a few of the items off the "to do" list at the boat. St Aug is a great town. If you never have been there, I recommend it!

Today we made it to Daytona Beach. It was the first day we had warm weather. I even broke down and slathered on a little sunscreen! It was a good day and the landscape is really begining to look like Florida. Palm trees line the ICW and grand Floridian Style houses abound.

Here are the pics from St Aug. Check out the Orbs and the cool fort!

http://picasaweb.google.com/lewisnance/SaintAugustine#

Our current position is: 29°12.186'N 081°00.778'W

Jekyll Island

2008-11-30T11:50:00.001-05:00

We have had a great time exploring Jekyll Island. Yesterday, we all took a bike ride around the island. We saw lots of cool sights and did a little exploring off the beaten path. It was fun but a little painful sitting on that small seat for such a long time!

Here are the pics from our explorations: http://picasaweb.google.com/lewisnance/JekyllIsland#

Last night, Jekyll had a "lighting of the Christmas Tree" festival. There were so many things going on that it was pretty much like a fair or carnival. They had live music, face painting, funnel cakes, Philly cheese steaks, inflatable jumping cages, candle making etc. Caroline's favorite, however, was the snowball fight! That's right, I said snowball! They had a big square fenced off where they made snow so the kids could go play in it and make/throw snowballs. It was quite unusual to be standing by in a t-shirt, perfectly comfortable, and watching snowballs fill the sky. Even as a spectator, you had to keep a wary eye for the errant snowball hurled into the crowd. Alyson learned that lesson the hard way :( ! Every so often they would have to replenish the snow. They had a big chipper machine and ran large blocks of ice through it to make the snow. While re snowing the square, the worker manning the tube that shoots the snow would let it "get away" from him, sending a great plume of snow into the unsuspecting crowd. After the Christmas tree had been lit, everyone enjoyed a fireworks display and sang Christmas songs.

Georgia on my mind

2008-11-21T10:34:00.001-05:00

We have made it to Jekyll Island GA! This is our stopping point to travel back to NC for Thanksgiving. It couln't have come too soon! It has been unseasonable cold this past week as you may see in the photos. Another cold front moved in last night and the winds are howling! In keeping with the season, I'm "thankful" to not be out in that bitter cold wind!

Anyway, I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving. In the next week, I hope you find a time to be mindful of all the Blessings in your life. God is good!

Here are a few pics of this leg of our journey. http://picasaweb.google.com/lewisnance/CharlestonToJekyll#

Running Hard

2008-11-18T20:34:00.001-05:00

Well, we've left Georgetown and put three long days under our keel. From Georgetown, we went to Charleston and stayed at the City Marina. There, we got to visit with Mackenzie Hutaff. She's now married and I can't recall her married name (sorry Mackenzie). She works for the marina there in Charleston and is doing well! It was nice to see a familiar face.

The next day we ran from Charleston to Beaufort, SC. Beaufort sure seems like a wonderful little town and we look forward to spending more time there on our way back north! The ICW south of Charleston was the most scenic we have experienced! It is simply beautiful!

Today, we journeyed to Thunderbolt, GA. We are still looking for the warm weather! I sure am tired of freezing my (insert descriptave explectitave here) off while we travel to paradise. I long to siesta in the warm sun and swim in clear blue water.

A Few Days to Relax

2008-11-15T10:56:00.002-05:00

Well, the winds have piped up again and so we have spent a few days relaxing here in Georgetown, SC. We have seen some cool old buildings and walked through the graveyard behind the Episcopal Church. Georgetown is a charming southern town with deep roots to the past. Rice was the crop of choice in this area several centuries ago. Today, it is more oriented toward lumber and tourism. Lots of eclectic shops line Main St which adds to its charm. The harbor also has a boardwalk that allows for scenic strolls along the river's shore.

Here are the photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Sf1gG2wUE6gTnw0FQDFf_g

The trip south begins!

2008-11-13T21:00:00.002-05:00

Monday, after a short day's journey from Topsail Beach, we arrived in the familiar waters of Carolina Beach. It sure was nice to see "home" again. We got to take hot showers in our own shower at the beach house. We washed clothes and watched news on TV - Caroline watched Disney (of course). We still, however, longed for warmer weather!

Tuesday, our attention was focused on reprovisioning. We had a great visit from the Boliek's and got to show them the boat and just catch up with what was happening back in Fayetteville.

Wednesday, we pulled out of Carolina Beach to begin the Southern leg (south of our home port in Carolina Beach) of our adventures. That first day we made it to Little River and stayed at Doc Holiday's. It was also a special day because it marked our first 1000 miles with just Alyson or I in charge. The first 1000 down, several more thousand to go! We are still looking for warmer weather. Yesterday, David Boliek bought Alyson and I, each a pair of gloves. We put them to use today! This evening, Terri Brownlee (Brian Watson's sister) and her daughter Peyton, and her son Trey, and her husband Mike all came to visit. Peyton has followed Caroline on her Blog (and ours) and just had to come and see it all for herself. I think she and Trey really enjoyed seeing the boat and trying out all the cool things (like the escape hatch in Caroline's bedroom).

Thursday, we left the dock with rain scattered skies. We only had a few hours of rain before it began to clear. Although we never saw clear skies, it did warm enough to shed most of the layers and enjoy the occasional sunbeam. By afternoon, we were well on our way to completing the Waccamaw river and by 5:00 were at the head of Winyah Bay. We turned west and headed in to tie up in Georgetown, SC (33°21.838'N 079°16.883'W). I've heard there is much to do and visit here, but we plan on leaving early tomorrow to put miles under the keel. We keep reminding ourselves that someday we will be under warm skies in a clear blue sea.

Sunset and Sunrise

2008-11-09T21:05:00.001-05:00

Does it get much better?!?!

Manteo

2008-11-05T11:34:00.002-05:00

Here we are in Manteo, NC! We have seen so much in the past few days, so I guess I'll just start at the beginning. We are docked at the downtown waterfront. Most everything is within easy walking distance. Lots of cool little stores and tons of good restaurants. We spent an afternoon walking around and just getting a feel for this historic little town. The next day we walked to festival park where we took a tour aboard the Queen Elizabeth II. She is a full working example of the type sailing ship the English used to cross the Atlantic and begin colonization of the "new world". It was amazing to see how small a vessel she was, especially considering how many people she carried. The next exhibit was an encampment the English would have made the first few days here in Manteo. They were mostly tents with only a few more permanent type structures. The highlight, however, was talking to the people at the encampment. They spoke Elizabethan English and were extremely knowledgeable of the history of the era and area. We also watched a film giving a Native American perspective of the early settlement.

Soon, Chip and Lucas arrived. We were eager to get to Kill Devil Hills and see the Wright exhibit before the rain came. After a quick lunch, we were off. It was awesome to see the spot where such an important historical moment took place. It is truly a unique exhibit! The views from atop Kill Devil Hill were impressive, especially for being at the beach!

Next stop was Jockey's Ridge to blow off a little steam and roll/slide/jump off the edge. The sand dunes are massive. It is hard to gain a perspective of the enormous scale of the dunes without being there. It reminded me of being back in Saudi Arabia during the first Gulf War.

The next morning we went to the aquarium amidst the sprinkling rain. It was fun, but nothing spectacular.

Lucas and Chip left on Tuesday afternoon and we have remained here in Manteo waiting out better weather. It has been terribly windy with gusts of 40 mph. Steady winds have been over 25. Right now it looks as if we'll be here until Friday morning.

In the meantime, enjoy some more pictures http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/5UcAI_k6fjXLEU2N1vbP_Q

Here we are - Back in NC

2008-11-01T23:23:00.001-04:00

Having left Leeds Creek, we spent nights in Deltaville VA and Norfolk on our journey south. Norfolk on Halloween was interesting to say the least. Everyone we saw walking in the downtown area was in full costume. We saw zombies, ghosts, angels, clowns (scary not Ha Ha) old men, babies - you name it we saw it! Leaving from Norfolk, we had lots of company beginning the ICW. It was "bumper to bumper" all day long with numerous stops for bridge openings and one lock traverse. But, it was a good day and Alyson had enough foresight to call ahead and secure a place for us to tie up among the throngs of Southbound traffic. Yeah Alyson!! We have another full day tomorrow which will lead to virgin territory! Yes, Waters yet to be plied by the Aly Cat and her crew! In the meantime, here are a few photos of the past few days.

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/08YJ3pUHq_jZH5fBBWupbA

Waiting it out at 38°48.666'N 076°10.975'W

2008-10-27T21:02:00.001-04:00

We are back in Leeds Creek. We left St. Michael's this morning to attempt the slog against the wind. It was rough and cold and I just didn't feel up to the task. A little dejected, I turned Aly Cat around to settle in a good little anchorage and wait out better weather. The forecast says we may be waiting here through Wednesday but I hope it has let up enough to leave Wednesday morning and make Soloman's Island. In the meantime, Alyson has taught me to play Backgammon. So far, we are all square in the win/loss columns. When something exciting happens, I'll take a picture - but don't hold your breath!

St Michael's Island

2008-10-26T19:08:00.001-04:00

Here we are enjoying a wonderful festival at St. Michael's Island at 38°47.133'N 076°13.253'W

We had a visit from Kathryn, my sister and her boyfriend, John. They stayed Friday night on the boat with us. Caroline taught them how to play "spoons". Saturday, we saw a Pumpkin carving contest, ate at a gourmet Pizza and Wine bar, shopped in lots of cool little stores, and visited the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. St. Michael's is steeped in a rich history. It is known as the town that tricked the British in the War of 1812 and was first established as a shipbuilding community.

Sunday was race day here on the Island. Coconut entered in the Dachshund Dash taking first place in her preliminary heat. In the final round she clearly outpaced the field but entered the rabbit hole only after sitting by and watching two others go in first and second. Still, we were awfully proud of our little Coconut! She even brought her own cheering section from another boat here in the harbour. After the races, it was clear she had won the hearts of more fans as she walked down the street - many calling her by name!

The photos please: http://picasaweb.google.com/lewisnance/StMichaelS#

The middle of Mecca

2008-10-22T16:12:00.000-04:00

Here we are in the middle of the sailing mecca of the east coast. Yes, I know, there are squids (AKA Midshipmen - yack!) all around but I just popped a few Benadryl and I'm fine. We are moored right in the middle of the harbor at:

38°58.517'N 076°29.026'W

Check it out on Google earth and you will see we are in the middle of everything! Too bad we are only staying here overnight. We are heading to St. Michael's tomorrow for yet another festival. After that, we head south until it gets warm! Sunny skies and warm blue water, here we come!!

Lots of Photos

2008-10-21T16:14:00.003-04:00

Here is what you all have been waiting for! Photos, photos and more photos! These were taken over the last few weeks and include: Oktoberfest, fishing, hanging out, Tilghman Island and more!

http://picasaweb.google.com/lewisnance/SevernRiverToTilghmanIsland#

Enjoy!

Return to the Severn River

2008-10-19T22:03:00.002-04:00

It's Sunday and all the festivities on Tilghman Island have come to a close. We departed around 9:30 bound for Severna Park. The good news; the coffee this morning was simply divine. The bad news; the forecasters were right about their wind and temperature predictions. It was COLD! That aside, it wasn't too bad of a day for a cruise. It was especially scenic sailing into Annapolis and watching the fleet of sailboats with a myriad of rainbow colored sails, rounding the marks in a race at the mouth of the harbor. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge lay just behind and formed a picture frame backdrop as they turned downwind to pop their spinnakers. Upriver, fleets of dingy sailboats, with their blazon white sails, skittered to and fro like moths around a light. Tonight we tied up at the dock in Burt and Nancy's neighborhood. I look forward to having some Ludo's pizza tomorrow for lunch - I'm told its famous!

Tilghman Island

2008-10-18T20:08:00.001-04:00

Life on Tilghman Island is good. The island hosts an annual festival, complete with rowboat races, anchor throwing contests, boat docking contests, boat races, and an assortment of locally caught and prepared seafood. We enjoyed watching most of the events and sampling everything the vendors offered! Yes, it was a little on the cool side, but it did little to cool the spirits of all the folks gathered to celebrate Tilghman Island Day.

Here are a few of the photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/lewisnance/TilghmanIsland#

We are currently docked at the Tilghman Island Marina at: 38°43.230'N 076°20.283'W. Check out the island on Google Earth.

Tomorrow we will cross the Chesapeake, back to Yantz Creek. We hope the winds will be gentle, but the forecast doesn't look good. Expected winds will be brisk and right in the direction of travel.

Still here...

2008-10-16T22:28:00.001-04:00

Well we are still here in Yantz creek taking it easy. I thought some of you back home might like to know what kind of a view we have been enjoying.

http://picasaweb.google.com/lewisnance/MoreFromYantzCreek#

Some things just don't get old!

Google Earth

2008-10-15T22:14:00.001-04:00

For those of you using Google Earth, try this Lat/Long format. You should be able to cut and paste the coordinates and "fly to" our exact reported position. Here are the coordinates in the correct format: 39°03.999'N 076°33.913'W

Let us know if it works for you!

We made it

2008-10-14T17:58:00.002-04:00

Well we finally made it to Annapolis last Friday. We found a cool little anchorage called Weems Creek which was away from all the "goings on" at the boat show but within walking distance from a grocery store, laundromat, and a handful of great little restaurants. We spent Saturday with Burt and Nancy Jackson, who live here in Severna Park. Their neighborhood had a great Oktoberfest party complete with bratwurst, home - brewed beer, and an Ohm Pa band! Fun was had by all! Caroline took third place in the pie eating contest!

Monday, Alyson, Caroline and I went to the boatshow to check out all the new gadgets. It was pretty much same as last year. Later that evening we went out to eat for Caroline's Birthday. Burt and his son, Ben, joined us at the Macaronni Grill. Yum Yum!

Today, we moved the boat down to Burt and Nancy's neighborhood to a little cove called Yantz Creek. It's located at 39.04.002N 076.33.923W. Look us up on google earth and you will see the exact cove we are in!

I Didn't Fall Overboard!

2008-10-07T21:24:00.003-04:00

Yes, I am on the boat with my family! I have been very busy and haven't had made time to write until now. The planning for this trip took some time to work out. If you have ever planned to leave on a vacation for a week and gone through all the preparations, you know just a taste of what I have been up to these last couple of months. We had to plan for being way for ten months . . .taxes, absentee voting, Dr. and Dentist visits for all, establishing automatic bill payments, working with the pharmacy and BCBS to get our meds in advance, finding a house sitter and the list goes on.

So our first day out, I was exhausted and I must admit, I had a tug of sadness as we left our home port. It was not a sadness for the material things left behind but for my family and friends. Along, with my melancholy came excitement that the day had finally arrived. We were on our way on a journey of a lifetime! I prayed for safe travel, for happiness for my family and for our eyes to be opened to all of the new things God wanted us to experience. Oh, and I prayed to see Dolphins on the first day.

The ride down the ICW to Wrightsville Beach was a couple of hours but as we left the inlet, the sun broke through the haze. It was a gorgeous day! I felt true joy as I sat on the trampolines with Caroline watching the boats go by.

The seas were calm and I felt no fear being out in the ocean. I took my turn at the helm and off the Starboard side came our first of many Dolphins we would see that day. Caroline and I were like little kids with such excitement to see them. There were other sightings that day of large schools of fish, sharks (2 of them feeding on said fish), Jellyfish as big as Caroline's head (as she said). At one point, a beautiful little brown and yellow bird flew as hard as she could to catch up with us so she could rest a while. Coco did try to chase her off one time and in doing so almost went overboard.

Speaking of Coco, she is doing well so far. She has found her favorite warm, sunny spots and loves to sit in my lap while I'm at the helm. She is still apprehensive about doing her business on the AstroTurf but is doing much better.

Oh, Lew and Caroline caught their first (of many, I hope) fish today. It was small and Lew decided to throw it back. Truth be told, I don't think he wanted to clean it.

We anchored off of Beaufort that night. We had dinner, watched a movie and went to bed early. This was a great day!

The next two days traveling down the ICW were pretty uneventful. The second night we anchored off of Belhaven and third night we docked at Alligator River Marina. In our travel books, it claimed to have ultra modern facilities. Caroline said they were "ultra ancient." It was really windy that night so I knew the next day would be rough. It was. We cruised across the Alligator River and into the Albemarle Sound straight into the wind and waves. I was like riding a bucking bronco. School was called on account of rough seas. It calmed down later but it was tough getting Caroline back on task. We finally docked at the Coinjock Marina. A nice marina with good seafood. Now, I have asked several people if they have ever heard of Coinjock, NC. No person has at this point. All I know, is we are in the Outer Banks.

We leave early tomorrow so we can make to Norfolk so I better get to bed! Love you and goodnight!

http://picasaweb.google.com/lewisnance/ClosingInOnAnnapolis#

Closing in on Annapolis

2008-10-07T15:47:00.002-04:00

We have had a great few days making our way north toward Annapolis.

We began Saturday morning leaving Carolina Beach. We motored up the ICW to Wrightsville Beach and went outside, straight to Beaufort. It was a gloriously clear day with smooth water. Although we had the engine running the entire time, we did get to put up the sails for the last 4 hours. We saw tons of wildlife. Pods of dolphin frolicking all around, bait balls being hemmed at the surface, a brief glimpse of a sea turtle, two sharks and Caroline caught her first fish by trolling are just a sampling of our encounters. We got in to Beaufort that night and anchored out in Town Creek just to the north of the drawbridge.

With an early start on the day, we had a pretty uneventful motor to Bellhaven. That evening, Alyson cooked an awesome dinner - sesame chicken with a wasabi salad. I awoke early the next morning and I couldn't see a thing! OH NO, I'M BLIND!!! NO, Wait, I can see the boat. I just can't see anything beyond the boat. As we slept, a thick fog had rolled in, enveloping our peaceful little anchorage. So, plan #2 went into effect. Sleep a little longer and hope the fog burns off soon. The weather radio said the fog would be gone by 8:30, but we still could only see about 100 yards. But, within 30 minutes , the fog began to dissipate and we could get underway. We made Alligator creek Marina that night and had one of their "world renowned" cheeseburgers. I must admit they were pretty darn good!

This morning, we were the only ones choosing to head north against the wind. Forecasts had the wind at 25 knots gusting to 30. I believe it was every bit of that. Our first leg we went straight across the Albemarle. I was rough!!! I began to wonder if I had made the wrong decision to go that morning. We had to fight to get off the windward shore. Once we had made it about 1/3 of the way across, the waves began to mellow but the breeze remained stiff. Did I mention it was unseasonable cool? I nearly froze at the helm. To make matters worse, the sun seemed to hide behind thick white clouds until we had nearly made our stopping point. At 1:30 we pulled up to the docks at Coinjock Marina.

We are currently 50 miles south of Norfolk and just below the NC / VA border. Tomorrow we hope to make Norfolk and visit with Chip, my brother.

Making Progress

2008-10-02T18:28:00.002-04:00

Well we have certianly been busy these last few weeks. Caroline has learned to throw the cast net, ride in the dingy and climb the mast. The following link shows some pics of the highlights. Alyson took the picture from way up the mast looking straight down at the boat. You will know it when you see it!
http://picasaweb.google.com/lewisnance/MakingProgress#

If all goes as planned, we'll head back toward Beaufort on Saturday morning. I doubt if we'll hardly stop since we are running pretty tight for making Annapolis for the Sailboat Show. I expect to spend a good 5 days getting there. Updates to this blog may be light since we'll be concentrating on making miles and not finding an internet connection. Winds should shift to the east by Monday so we can do some sailing. Unfortunately, Saturday and Sunday promise to be motor days, or rather, motor daze.

Home Sweet Home

2008-09-20T10:06:00.002-04:00

We left Beaufort early Wednesday morning, crossing through the drawbridge at the nine o'clock opening. With winds from the north at 15 to 20kts, we set the main with a tripple reef and unfurled the jib. Aly Cat made good way for most of the morning. Under sail, our best speed was around 9 kts. Later in the day, the wind eased and we opted for motor sailing as we surfed down following swells. Top speed as we surfed with engine and sail was just over 12 kts. We averaged closer to 7.5 or 8. By late afternoon, Wrightsville Beach appeared through the haze. As the sun set in the west, we entered the jetty at Masonboro Inlet. We had made it! Back in familiar waters and just a few miles from our homeport.
http://picasaweb.google.com/lewisnance/BeaufortNCToWrightsvilleBeach#

Wet Again!!!

2008-09-15T21:46:00.002-04:00

Well, we are back in the water and ready for the final leg to Carolina Beach. Tomorrow Shields Harper and his son Alan will join me for the brief run to CB. We plan to go straight from the Beaufort inlet to Wrightsville Beach Inlet. It promises to be a great downwind sail with moderate wind.

Incidentally, Alan Harper just spent the summer working for Sail Caribbean as a Catamaran Skipper. I hope he can give me some tips.

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." ~ Mark Twain

latest update

2008-09-02T11:13:00.001-04:00

Alyson and I spent Sunday attending to various items, loading new cockpit cushions, and unloading/throwing away items on board that we won't need. We filled several 55 gallon drums with the stuff we threw away. I also got a chance to inspect the dingy. Even though it has several slow leaks, I feel confident I can get all of them patched. We are quickly approaching our departure and all is progressing well. We should have all repairs completed by the end of the week and be able to relaunch her by early next week. The time table will mostly depend on tropical activity heading this way as to when we'll put her back in the water.

another pic

2008-08-14T16:57:00.002-04:00

Here is a pic of after the cove and boot stripes were painted. There is still some masking tape on the cove stripe!

Work in Progress

2008-08-14T16:47:00.001-04:00

Today the boot and cove stripes were painted. We (Alyson) finished with all the scrubbing and such. I got a few electrical problems corrected and am beginning to tackle the hatch leaks. I also had to dry out sails. It seems the groove that catches the water on the forward lockers drains directly into the lockers! As you might expect, anything in the lockers gets wet. One more item to add to my list. We are knocking off early and going to find some good seafood in downtown Beaufort tonight.

Fwd: On the Hard

2008-08-13T16:42:00.001-04:00

Well, we are currently waiting for maintenance to be completed. There are a lot of little things that need to be taken care of! Alyson and I are spending a couple of days on her simply cleaning and scrubbing every surface. OK, She's cleaning and scrubbing - I'm just trying to learn all the new systems, trace wires, and generally troubleshoot anything that doesn't work properly. Tomorrow I hope to post a picture of Aly Cat out of the water. She sure makes the Lincoln Navigator look small by comparison!

Bringing her home

2008-08-10T16:13:00.000-04:00

When we bought the boat, she was some 200 miles up the Chesapeake from Norfolk at Georgetown MD Yacht Basin. Our first task was to bring her to Beaufort NC for a refit at Jarrett Bay Boatworks. For such a task I enlisted the help of master sailor and delivery Captain James "Bo" Petty. We began our voyage around 3:00pm on national marina day, Saturday 1 August. The first leg called for motoring 10 miles out the Sassafras river to the Chesapeake and a turn south. By the time we reached the Chesapeake, squalls surrounded the bay and lightning flashed all around. We dug in and soldiered on to make Tolchester on the Eastern shore just as the most violent of the storms approached and the sun disappeared across the bay. Once safely tied off at Tolchester, we discovered the power was out at the marina. That meant no hot restaurant meal, no real toilets on land, and no long shower in the guesthouse. But, just being securely tied to a dock was better than nothing! We awoke the next day to gloriously clear skies. Departing at sunrise, we set our course for the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. By That evening, we had made it to a small river just north of the Potomac. We glided back into the gentle waters seeking a shelter for the night and found a beautiful bay to drop the hook. An early departure the next morning allowed us to close in on Norfolk by the late afternoon. With rush hour approaching, we knew the bridges would be under an opening restriction so we tied up in Portsmouth for a cold one and a Mexican dinner on the harbour. With restrictions over, we pressed on and made it through Great Lock in the Virginia Cut part of the ICW. We tied up after passing through the lock and settled in for the night. The following day we would see very little traffic compared to the Chesapeake, but would see much more natural and unspoiled beauty. We saw our first of a dozen or so Bald Eagles and Osprey too numerous to count. We made good time throughout the day only slowing to scrape our masthead antenna on the girders of 65' fixed bridges. That night we anchored at the entrance to the Alligator Canal. We had more squalls that night during which we ended up dragging anchor. Once our anchor was reset, we got a few more winks before starting the Alligator the next morning. Ah yes, the Alligator Canal; 20 miles of straight as the eye can see canal with houses few and far between. With the canal to our stern, we weaved our way along the Albemarle sound, across the Pamlico and up the Neuse River to Adams Creek. Jarrett Bay lay just 10 miles from the entrance to Adams Creek. We arrived at Jarrett Bay by 6:30. With Aly Cat's first inland passage already behind her, we tied up awaiting haul out the next morning.

Intro

2008-08-10T16:05:00.000-04:00

This blog will chronicle the adventures of the sailing vessel Aly Cat