Big Fun in Nantucket

Posted by Captn Andy on Jun 17, 2008 in Destinations | 0 comments

How big? 46 inches! Attending Espo’s batch party, organized by John Madison, one day was devoted to a fishing excursion. Two boats, and boasting rights at stake, we set out into the cold misty morning in search of the big fish. The two boats caught a collective 122 fish, including 13 stripped bass (the rest Blue Fish). This fish fed 12 with plenty to spare.

Rockpile!

Posted by Captn Andy on Nov 7, 2007 in Destinations, Southbound 2007 | 0 comments

No, not Dave Edmunds and Nick Lowe, although we are now in “low country” (sorry), but I’m getting ahead of myself.

We spent Monday night in an anchorage in Wrightsville Beach, NC. Thank God the satellite dish was working and Espo was able to watch the Steelers game or there would most certainly been mutiny.

We woke up to discover that due to current and wind, we were in a precarious position relative to a couple of sailboats and had to beat it out of there. Bade farewell to Espo and the contents of our holding tank (we were sorry to see Espo depart, but glad to unload the rest) and headed for the Cape Fear river.

Along the way a few Marine patrol boats came out to gawk at Seadee -

and later we were forced to repel a band of pirates.

We now know how Cape Fear got its name. Wind and current combined to give us quite a bumpy ride and scrambled the contents of all the cabinets not to mention my brain.

Spent the night at the Saint James Plantation Marina. Highlight was finding the same bottle of wine that I had paid $21 for in Portsmouth for $11.99 (sorry Larry, not the Reisling).

Got up long before the sun in order to get in a long day today so we can make Charleston tomorrow night. Cold down here at 5:30AM. Damn cold!

Which brings me back to the Rockpile – a very narrow channel in the Waterway blasted out of granite. Not much margin for error or passing, but as usual, the Captain did a masterful job.

We were rewarded at the end of the day with a beautiful cruise down the Waccama River with no one in sight for miles, moss on the trees, and the sun shining brightly.

Finally crossed the border today in to Sout Carolina. We’re in the Wacca Wache Marina where we will have an early dinner at the Boondocks River Grill and another early departure tomorrow AM.

Now I gotta find out if Andy has any Rockpile on his I-Pod.

On the Move Again

Posted by Captn Andy on Nov 5, 2007 in Destinations, Southbound 2007 | 0 comments

The weather has been in our favor and we are on the move. Swansboro last night and in Wrightsville Beach today. Not much to say about Swansboro. The marina was fair. Tied up in the afternoon and watched football. Espo fixed a chicken stir fry for dinner (nice) and ended the evening with guitar in hand. Great fun.

We’re now seeing Dolphin every day. The water has changed. Cleaner, greener. Now, when you drop the anchor, you see it on the way down.

Today was our most challenging in terms of route planning. The bridges in NC have restricted openings. We timed our departure in order to make the bridge opening and que us up for the next one. If you don’t time it right, you can sit for as much as an hour. One of the bridges was closed from 1-4pm. We made the 1pm opening.

Espo is again in the galley – Shrimp Marinara, fresh green beans and whole wheat pasta. Speaking of shrimp: the shrimp boats have also been on the move.

What about NC attracted the military? There are bases everywhere. Today’s route included this little gem.

Photofest on the flybridge: Jim and Espo

Andy and Espo. Who is not wearing underware?

New Bern NC

Posted by Captn Andy on Nov 1, 2007 in Destinations, Southbound 2007 | 0 comments

Noel? A hurricane on Nov 2? We are tied up at a marina in New Bern NC waiting for Noel to move off shore and north. Expecting 30-45 mph winds Friday. We will be here until Sunday. Espo has joined us and Larry flew back to St. Louis. We’ll try to get to Wilmington (Wrightsville Beach) by Nov 6th. Espo will jump off there and Jim and I will continue south.

We are ready to go. Hit the farmers market and stocked up on fruit and veggies – even picked up some home made bread. While filling the cabinets with goodies we came across the world’s largest Slim Jim display. By the way, New Bern is the birthplace of Pepsi. Now you know.

I’ve added some photos to the posts below. Here are a few that we snapped along the way: