Log from the s/v Dutch Nirvana
October 2002
Week 5
9/28/02-10/02/02
I'm at my slip in Browns Creek off Broad Creek which is off the Neuse River near Oriental, NC for the month of October. Oriental is a nice "cruising sailor" town but I'm about 12 miles away so I only come in once a week.
09/28/02 - Saturday
I left Willoughby Harbor about 7 AM and went down the Elizabeth River to SM 0 of the ICW. I took the main route through the Great Bridge Lock where I had lunch and got gas.
I cruised along the Albemarle & Chesapeake Canal to the North Landing River. I got gas and had dinner at Pungo Ferry Marina and anchored in the old river bend across from Pungo Ferry at 4 PM.
09/29/02 - Sunday
I left Pungo Ferry at 6 AM and eventually entered Currituck Sound. I passed Bell Island where I saw some nice homes on the island. The water seems like a mirror it is so dark and the reflections are vivid. After passing through Coinjack Bay I entered the North Carolina Cut and got gas at Midway Marina. They have a nice store and I bough lunch there.
I then cruised on and entered the North River at Taylor Bay and eventually entered Albemarle Sound where there was a moderate chop. After crossing the sound I entered the Alligator River, which had a slight chop, and hopped over to the Alligator River Marina for gas. I anchored in the Little Alligator River in a large cove before Mill Point NE of a derelict shipwreck at 4 PM.
09/30/02 - Monday
I left the anchorage at 6 AM and went under the bridge eventually coming to the Alligator-Pungo River Canal. After reaching the Pungo River I came to Dowry Creek Marina where I finally got some gas after having to stop twice and transfer gas enroute.
At 6 PM I anchored off the town of Belhaven in Pantego Creek and dinghyed in for dinner at 'The Helmsman'. This was the longest day and I'm anxious to get to my slip outside Oriental for the month.
10/01/02 - Tuesday
I left the Pantago Creek anchorage at 6 AM and cruised down to the Palmlico River and then to Goose Creek. I eventually entered the cut and got to Hobucken where I got gas and had lunch at the R. E. Mayo Co. docks.
After leaving the cut I entered Gale Creek and then the Bay River to the Neuse River Junction buoy. After turning into the Neuse River the wind was coming upriver at 10-15K so I raised the sails for the run to Oriental. I got to the G7 buoy and dropped sails at 3 PM and headed for Oriental where I tied up at the Town Dock by 4 PM and had dinner at M & M's.
Check out an interview by TownDock.Net
of my cruise so far.
10/02/02 - Wednesday
Had breakfast at the 'Bean' and got gas at Oriental Marina. Got some groceries after walking a mile and got a ride back to the dock. Slipped the lines and retraced my route to G6 on the Neuse where I turned into Broad Creek and eventually into Brown Creek where the GPS led me to my slip for the month @ 35° 06.10'N - 076° 38.40'W. Very isolated and well protected with fresh water and electricity at the slip. Lots of black flies ashore.
The local 'marina' and 'General Store' in Whortonsville are closed. Real backwoods and quiet though there are tons of sailboats around on the creeks.
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
10/28/02 - 10/31/02
I'm currently in Beaufort, NC anchored out on Taylor Creek after spending the month near Oriental, NC and sailing on the Neuse River, Palmlico Sound and the Outer Banks along with dodging hurricane Kyle. Beaufort is a great sailing town with lots to see and lots of services for sailors. I had a great time there and this will be the last sailing for a while as I'm heading south on "the ditch" on Friday, November 1st.
10/28/02 - Monday
The run down from Oriental to Beaufort started out bad as I left about 10 AM in a heavy rainstorm with a significant chop on the Neuse River crossing to Adams Creek. Once on the creek and into the Adams Creek Canal things brightened up and the sun came out. After entering Core Creek and then the Newport River, I chose the Russel Slue-Galents Channel route to Beaufort and then motored into Taylor Creek where I anchored about 3 PM. I visited the Maritime Museum and explored the town.
