Albermarle to Beaufort

The weather finally cleared up enough to leave the town docks at Elizabeth City, NC.   A flock of sail and power boats had spent several nights there during the rainy days occasionally running their motors to keep their batteries charged and, once, stringing all their hoses together so that all the fresh water tanks on all the boats got topped off.    It was like a flock of birds taking off when the weather broke.

The wind was favorable so we sailed a good part of the way across Albermarle Sound and  later in the day started seeing boats anchored to our left and right along the way.   We finally found our spot,  back in and protected.   After following a channel most of the next day, we anchored again just behind a jut of land that was protecting us from the wind that had been from the south.  That evening was the quietest we'd had for a while and reminded us of an anchorage back in the hinterlands of Georgia.

But during that night, the wind came up and was blowing from the north!   We were sure we'd have to hunker in for a few days to let all that pass, but looked out at the channel and saw SAILBOATS with their foresails out, heading right out in the the Pamlico River.  We realized it was okay to do and just joined the parade.   

It was only a few hours through that river and over into the Neuse River (the big one that fronts Oriental). We had made reservations at a resort/marina we'd heard about called River Dunes where rates are not too high and where two men will come to work on boats for $25 an hour.    

They came by on that Monday morning and saw our long list and just got busy.  It was wonderful.   

We took the courtesy car for our alloted two hours each day and did errands and had lunch.   There at the restort, we did laundry and after hours, hung out in the hot tub and steam showers.

The weather never did get nice though so it was good to be holed up.  Today the sun came out and today we left, motored to Beaufort, NC and are here anchored.   This evening, we dinghyed to the main drag and had drinks/dinner watching the waterfront.   If it's nice, we may go back tomorrow and then explore islands past there where one should see wildlife, including wild/tame ponies.

My camera has not come on in the last few days so I used Tom's for a few pictures.  The dismal weather also has not made scenes very attractive.  So you get a few of the River Dune scenes scattered through this post.

I'll work on getting a camera back on line.