We were pleasantly surprised to awaken under clear blue skies and calm winds this morning. After so many days of near-gale conditions and gray skies this was a very nice change. Today was a lay day at Whittaker Pointe. Jeff had MiHIN calls in the morning and we installed the new GPS unit in the afternoon. Mission accomplished, we went into town to browse an art gallery and buy some turkey trimmings for our Thanksgiving dinner afloat tomorrow. As we write this the smell of roasting turkey fills the salon. We are heading out early for Beaufort, NC and hope to get past there to a nice anchorage on the ICW.
Jeff enjoying the marina view from the clubhouse porch
Shrimp boats in Oriental harbor
Sunset at Whittaker Pointe Marina. Nice!
Sunset view off our stern tonight
Turkey's a cookin' for tomorrow's Thanksgiving feast.
Tuesday, November 20 - Sweet Sail from Bear Creek to Oriental, NC
We woke up early today after a tenuous night's sleep in a deserted anchorage in Bear Creek while the winds howled 20-25 kts most of the night. Jeff used his Drag Queen iPhone app to ensure we did not drag our anchor in the night. We did not move at all and are very happy with our new Manson Supreme anchor. The chain does clunk over the bow roller; however, and we need to get used to that noise. In the morning, the winds had abated to 15 kts and the anchorage was much quieter. We weighed anchor after sunrise and Neala used our new washdown pump to hose off the muck and even an oyster shell that had attached itself. We gingerly threaded our way through the shoals and back out to the Bay River. Once in the river, we unfurled the Genoa and had a very nice sail down to the Neuse River and Oriental, NC, known as the "Sailing Capital of NC". This was one of our best sails on this trip. We got a slip at Whittaker Pointe Marina and took their courtesy car to West Marine to pick up the GPS parts Jeff had ordered plus other necessary items. We stopped by Inner Banks Sails and Canvas to visit Mark Weinheimer - brother of Leigh Kostis, a robotics colleague of Neala's. Jeff also got a much-needed haircut (!) and we wandered the commercial docks in town. There we discovered Garland Fulcher Seafood Market, selling all kinds of seafood. We bought a pound of local shrimp and sauteed it in butter, garlic and white wine for dinner. It was yummy!
Nice sail down the Neuse River. So great to be sailing today!
Jeff at Garland Fulcher shrimp market across from the commercial fishing docks
Neala in front of Whittaker Pointe clubhouse. Lovely girl, lovely facility and great harbormaster hospitality.
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