Saturday, April 29, 2017

Saturday
April 29, 2017

Chesapeake History

Tomorrow morning we will be leaving the city of Chesapeake, N.C.  The history here has played a major role in the birth of the United States of America.  During the American Revolution, colonists in the Chesapeake region celebrated an important victory at the epic Battle of Great Bridge in 1775.  This victory was responsible for removing all vestiges of British Government from the Colony of Virginia.  It was a significant turn in the America's fight for freedom.  We are not yet in the Chesapeake Bay area, although we will be entering the Bay late tomorrow afternoon.
Friday
April 28, 2017

We have been traveling over the last few days, trying to pass over large Sounds (large bodies of water) before winds turn to the north or northwest.  We have been hitting each area that might be treacherous, at very good times.  We have been following our very good friends, Myron and Lynda, during these days.


Mike bought some new glasses and Elwood wanted to try them on


Elwood "aka" "food inspector" has been helping out in the kitchen recently...


He watches over all food preparation...


If something doesn't look right he leans in a little closer for a better look...


Myron and Lynda showed up at the Homer Smiths Marina on Tuesday.  We went out for a good meal at the Spouter Inn, in Beaufort, N.C.  We left Beaufort, N.C on Wednesday morning.  


Along the way, we saw this helicopter in someones front yard.


We stopped at a little town called Belhaven, for the night.  We ate at the Tavern at Jack's Neck.
Excellent food.  The owner showed us around and all of his future expansion.  He wants this town to become a tourist area, it seems.



The evening at Belhaven, N.C.


Myrons Grand Banks had to go into get a pump out, but he had to back all the way out...
Nice job Myron...


Our boat is on the right.

Another beautiful Flemming Boat...

This baby should dig in...

Plenty of room for dancing...



This is a picture from our boat overlooking the Neuse River.  It is the widest river in the United States.  Notice where the land is? "what land"    This is one of the reasons this had to be a travel day.  We were told not to go on this river with north or northeast winds.


After leaving the Neuse River, we got to some smaller channels and saw many blinds like the one here continuously throughout the day.


This big tour boat passed us on the Alligator Canal.  We had just gotten to a widening in the canal.  Thank goodness!  The canal was very slim in most places and this boat had to call Securite, so all boaters were aware it was going through the slim.  


When we got to the Ablemarie Sound, Mike road upfront to watch the waves.



Elwood wasn't too excited about the waves.  He decided to sleep instead.


Much of the area we pass is just blue and green.


We anchored out on the Broad Creek, Thursday evening.  There were already 4 boats in the creek when we arrived.  Luckily it was a long creek.  We drove past all these boats and anchored farthest up the creek.  ðŸ˜€


Myron and Linda were having some windlass difficulties after putting their anchor out 50' is just stopped working.  That's Mike in the front trying to help out. Switches good, high amp relays good, power to the windlass when pushing the up/down buttons-good...so we figured the motor needed rebuilding.... Also thanks to Jim Peterson from South Shore Yacht Club for phone support and advice.... Thanks Jim..
But, Myrons Caterpillar engine has another problem...after cooling down overnight (diesel engines get much hotter than gasoline engines), Myron and Mike crawled down into the bowels of the Grand Banks to find out that the engines circulating pump needs changing...  two belts, four bolts and lots of antifreeze and sweat might do it...


Mike is trying to get a picture of every sunken boat we pass.  Near this boat was a sign that read "Danger sunken vessel"  we couldn't even see that one.