April 30, 2017

Today was spruce up day.  The boat got washed from top to bottom, inside and out.  I washed our clothes too, so I guess we got spruced up too.  Can't believe that tomorrow we will begin our THIRD

month on the boat.  I know our friends are amazed that we have made this long.  The town of Manteo

is a sleepy little burg on Sunday.  Hopefully when Becky and Doug get here tomorrow we will be able to see the sights in and around and on the Outer Banks.  We did receive some sad news.  We were hoping to go through the Dimall swamp into Virginia, but hurricane Matthew did some real damage to it and it is not opened yet.  I was to busy doing my chores to take pictures but tomorrow I will be out and showing you all the sights.  I would like to say HI to Mr Rahmann's class.  I understand that you are watching and reading the blog every day.  Please excuse my spelling mistakes, that gives you guys a reasons to read it.  We miss all our friends and enjoy hearing from you guys.  Tonight we are going to a movie.  The theartre has been in the family for 5 generations and looks like it did in the 60's.  I will fill you in more on the place tomorrow. 

Day is done on the Outer Banks, North Carolina

April 29, 2017

Today we are staying on Roanoke Island, which is part of the outer banks in North Carolina. Try and remember your history lessons from school about Roanoke Island.  This is where Sir Walter Raleigh

tried to start a settlement back in the 1500's.  After yesterday and today we know how those people 

felt.  There is nothing but trees and big lonesome water.  We have gone through man-made cuts, crossed very wide rivers, crossed big sounds and I think in the past 2 days we have probably crossed paths of less than 10 boats.The biggest town was yesterday in Belhaven, a population of 1500.  Now

Bald Eagle watching us go by

on Roanoke Island it is less than 1000.  In the season (summer)  population jumps to 200,000.  We are

Sunrise

water the color of tea

going to stay here until Thursday.  Becky and Doug are coming back and we are going to crew for them.  They have the car and they are driving all of us around the outer banks.

Crossing the Albemarle Sound

30 mile Alligator cut

April 28, 2017

Today was a travel day.  We left New Bern and traveled  68 miles to the sleepy hamlet of Belhaven.

Belhaven may be small but let me tell you they know how to pour drinks.  We naturally had a drink on the boat before going to town, then a drink a at a tavern that was highly recommended.

After that we went to a restaurant  that was a 5 star that had a wine flight of 3 glasses of wine 9 oz pours.

)f course I had to give it a try.  Needless to say today's blog is short with no pictures and the

writer is going to bed before the sun goes down.  Sorry about that, but this is all I can do.  Should you ever go to Belhaven, try the tavern for drinks, and the restaurant Spoons.  You will love it.  I promise to be better tomorrow. 

April 27, 2017

Where do I begin.  Today was very educational, enlightening, and exciting.  All this in less than

a 2 mile area.  We started at the Palace, then an architureal tour around town which was also a historical of both the Revolutionary war, and the Civil war.  Then there was the church tour that

included all denominations.  When that was all done Jim went to the boat and I of course went shopping.  Found some bargains of course and ended my excursion with a Pepsi from the drug store that started it all, 150 years ago.  Back at the boat around cocktail time we were entertained by an air show.  Our dock master explained that the pilot practises out over the river and he

put on a great show for about 30 minutes.  We highly recommend New Bern as a 2 or 3

day get away.  There is alot to see and do and if you are into history, there is a lot here.

My pictures really won't do the things justice, just make plans for a get away and see for 

yourselves.  Tomorrow we start down the river.  We want to get to Belhaven, 70 miles away.

Our airshow

We have to be under the bridge before 6:30am or he won't open it until 8:30.  If that happens we won't make it to Belhaven.  So much for taking our time.

Palace gardens

Favorite drink, wine with whipped cream

Pepsi's humble beginnings

Washington slept here

George Washington danced here

1st school in NC 1715

April 26, 2017

Today was one our more memorable stops.  Not that we saw much today, but it is what we will see tomorrow.  We are in New Bern, NC.  It became North Carolina's first capital city.  The British built its governor a palace here, Pepsi Cola was invented here 150 years ago.  The first Continental congress met here, and North Carolina's first newspaper and book were printed here.  There are 450 historical places in New Bern alone.  We found our all of this just walking down the main street of New Bern.  What will we learn tomorrow?  We also discovered that it is this year's 

church started 1710

rendezvous point for this years Great Loop Society; and it is happening right now. In the 2 marinas in town there are about 60 loopers (officially), and 1 (unofficially).  All in all it has been a very instructional day.  Just think of the tid bits I will tell you tomorrow.  I bet you won't sleep
tonight thinking about all you will learn.  Can't wait to blow your mind.

1st Continental Congress met here

April 25, 2017

We woke up this, morning to a beautiful blue sky, no wind, and a day on dry land, muddy but dry.

The people at the marina called yesterdays storm  a small "Noreastern". We walked to a local resturant  named Grumpy's, that did not live up to its name for  breakfast.  After breakfast

we got an uber ride to downtown Beaufort for a walkabout.  We could have taken the couresty car for 2 hours but figured that there was a lot to see in Beaufort and we would eat dinner there tonight.  After 1 1/2 hours we had walked through the whole town, gone thru the maritime museum

and I bought another Christmas present.  The town was nice but small..  We learned about Blackbeard  the pirate and his sunken ship.  Saw the wild horses on Shackledfort  Island, and it wasn't noon yet.

Our slip mates

We called uber and came home.  So much for a day in town,  once again back on the boat, I

victum of yesterdays storm

wild horses on the island

did laundry, shopped at an antique store, went on a dinghy ride, and walked tp a local resturant  for dinner that has been here for 63 years.  All in all it was a very enjoyable day on land.  We have come to the conclusion that all the port towns are about the same with a few different shops.  But it is nice to walk and check things out. 

Good morning

April 24, 20

Today was a test of  our wet weather knowledge  and endurance.  We knew a storm was

coming but not quite as wet and windy as this.  We got up at 6:00am to find that we had no electricity.

During the night the storm came and our electric chord was not covered on the dock.  The rain

got into the connection and fried our chord, and their box.

 We then had to leave the marina,  of coarse the wind was blowing and it was raining.  Luckily our slip mate was up and getting to leave also.  He helped with the lines and we hit the ICW at about 6:30 heading north.

The weather did not improve and the rain got heavier, good thing there were not many on the waterway.  Visibility was  not good.  We stopped at New River for diesel and the dock master told us we needed to find a place to hunker down, the weather was going to get nasty.  We turned the engines up and started truckin to Morehead City to beat the nasty part of the storm.  We were hoping when we went through Camp LeJune Marine Base they would not being practicing live fire at the shooting range, cuz we were going right through the middle of it.  We lucked out  and

no shooting and got to the marina at 1:30pm.  Of course the rain was still coming down, and the wind was still howling, but we were dry, safe and comfortable.  It is still pouring and wind howling 

and we are still happy and dry.  Over all I think it was a great day to be inside a boat in a marina.

Tomorrow I hope the weather is nicer.  I want to explore Moehead City and Beaufort, NC.

Camp Lejune firing range

targets on the ICW

 

April 23, 2017

Today was a very slow day.  When we stopped yesterday it was because the weather was going to change and the weatherman was correct.  The wind changed directions, the temperature dropped and the rain started to fall.  It wasn't a hard rain just one of those that you don't want to go out if you don't have to.  We didn't, and didn't. I was disappointed because of the shopping possibilities, but it wasn't anything that I really wanted or needed.  Jim was going to wash the boat but let mother nature do it for him.  We watched movies, planned the next 4 days travel and how we are going to get out of the slip.  Since we don't have deck hands anymore, it is going to

be tricky.  Man I hate tricky.  Our slip mate is a boat that looks exactly like ours, and they are going to the same place we are tomorrow, Morehead City, NC.  When the rain stopped for a few minutes we walked up to the Atlantic ocean for a peak at the water.  Big beach, not one seashell to be seen, and large breakers.  The name of the town is Surf City, NC.  I bet they surf on those waves, but no one was today.  There were several  large crosses on the beach all decorated with mementos.   Makes you wonder what happened.

Beach is 22 miles long

  

April 22, 2017

Before any news is posted a request from the captain.  Yesterday's blog said that Jim  ran out of jack Daniels.  That did not happen.  It was very close but true to his nature, he ran very low in one bottle, but there was one in the cupboard.  Fear not fans, there is Jack on board.  Now on to today's blog.

Today was a bitter-sweet day.  We lost all of ours crews and none are expected any time soon,

but we begin exploring more places we have never been.

The past two weeks the weather has been great, now that we our on our own, the winds come up as well as the anxiety levels.

The homes along the waterway are large, multi-floor beauties.  You could tell that it was Saturday

the water was full of boats, people, and very crowded.  That too added to our anxiety.  As the salt

marshes begin to get smaller the coast line is lined with hills covered with hard wood trees.  I bet it is beautiful in the fall.

I made a unexpected discovery today, When we bought the boat it was in Mississippi and on the great loop path.  If you count those miles when we brought the boat to Clearwater, and the miles we have gone since March 1,  we have gone HALFWAY.  The bottom half is over, and the top half is going to be more challenging.  

We were going to anchor out tonight, but the howling winds, and lack of a spot to shelter from them, we had to stop in a marina.  Oh the sacrifices I make to keep the captain happy.  On top of that, there are a lot of stores for me to wander around in all day tomorrow.  What a way to spend a Sunday.

North Carolina waterway

Art on the waterway

Strange art on the waterway

North Carolina waterway

There was even a parking meter

April 21, 2017

My third and last day on the Colorado Cat and it was a fabulous one.  We left South Port, NC this morning at 7:48 on the dot.  We sailed up the Cape Fear River which was way bigger than I imagined.  It was magnificent!!!

We passed a barge being loaded with sand (who buys sand from Africa?) and a barge stacked nine containers high being unloaded.  Industry at work---what a sight.

We parked at the City Docks at Wilmington right at lunch time.  The currents and wind was working against a smooth tie off and when Captain Bailey brought us in safe and sound, it was a huge load off.

Lunch at Oyster Shuckers, then shopping, then cocktails before dinner.  While enjoying cocktails on the boat, Jim noticed three marines in full uniform on the dock and ask them to join us on the boat for drinks.  They did and were soon joined by 17 members of their battalion which were in town celebrating their 75th anniversary.  Well these young fellows thought they had died and gone to heaven and Jim Bailey was for the first time in anyone's memory was out of Jack Daniels.  It was a great experience for all of us.

Our evening ended with a last dinner together at a wonderful French restaurant.  A beautiful ending to a beautiful adventure.  We hope to be back on the Colorado Cat again.

Happy 75th

Bye Doug and Becky

Cape Fear

April 20, 2017

Second day on the Colorado Cat and I am getting the rhythm of the boat.  It's been a thoroughly wonderful day from start to finish.  We started out in a thick fog which quickly burned off to a beautiful, sunny day.  The sky was a perfect Carolina blue with big, billowy white clouds. Yes, a perfect day with no pesky no-see'ums.

We traveled 69 nautical miles, a good eight hour trek.  We are at a marina at South Port, NC and will be travelling to Wilmington, NC on the Cape Fear River.  Another great day to look forward to.

Our first  North Carolina sunset

fly fishing in the marsh

 As usual, our Captain did a great job.  Not only does he know his way around a boat but he cooks a mighty fine hamburger on the grill.  Along with Moscow Mules, we celebrated another day on the water.

Officially in North Carolina

soggy spider web

April 19, 2017

Continuing with tradition, the blog is being written by Becky.

Day one on the Colorado Cat by this landlubber.  We started out in the small shrimping village of McClellanville, SC with the weather forecast of partly cloudy and 80 degrees.  The forecast was right on---what it didn't tell us was that we were headed directly into the eye of a no-seeum plague.  Yes the skies were black, the boat was covered, and the humans were suffering!  For twenty miles, we forged ahead until finally we entered beautiful Winyah Bay off of Georgetown and the heavens cleared.  Blessed relief.  We entered smooth waters, blue sky, dolphins playing, all beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.

But throughout the day, I was never bored because I was constantly changing my clothes based on weather conditions.  I went through half my wardrobe in one day;  long pants, short pants, long sleeve tee, short sleeve tee, sweatshirt, and four hats.  It's exhausting just to get it right. I am determined to do better tomorrow!

The boat is wonderful---very comfortable and of course, Jim and Penny are great hosts.  Funny story.  Jim took the dinghy out for a little ride after dinner.  Pretty soon, way off in the water, we see someone rowing into the marina.  Guess who ran out of gas?  Yep, he should have stayed on the boat and had another drink.

Some of our plague of bugs

From salt marsh to cypress forest