Voyage 2017: Chapter 2

09 May 2017, Six Days in New Bern, 35 06.048 N/ 077 02.334 W

One of our New Bern objectives to to meet up with old friends. On one of our first days, we headed (by car) to Dover to have lunch with Dick and Judy (W3RDL and KNC). We wanted to see his new 80 meter beam antenna which stands proudly in their back yard. We also had dinner with Butch and Vicki formally of SV Legend and lunch with Nancy and Jaren of MV NanSea D. Good times everywhere. On Saturday,we rented a car, drove back to Southport, helped Wanderer II and her crew sail up the Cape Fear (long story), and headed back to Jule on Monday.

We went to the really neat Farmer's Market, studied for our test as alternative caregivers (another long story), explored the town once again, and met with many of the live-aboards and transient cruisers that were staying at Bridgepointe Marina. The bear statues as depicted here are everywhere. A neat way of advertising! Tomorrow, we head for Grace Harbour Marina in Broad Creek also off of the Neuse.

10 May 2017, Broad Creek and then Little Washington, 35 32.55 N/ 077 03.528 W

We left New Bern yesterday at 0830 and motorsailed the 20 nm or so to Broad Creek. Wind and seas were light and with us much of the way. We have never been there before so we traded our beloved R.E. Mayo for Grace Harbour for the night. We 'parked' right in front of the large MV Red Head. We would learn later that Red Head was owned by the founder of Active Captain, now a product of Garmin. Nice place but not much here.

Today, we left the Harbour at 0645 with light winds up the Neuse and Bay Rivers. We waved to Mayo as we passed by. First time in 13 years we had not stopped. As we entered the Pamlico River, we headed WNW and the wind became more favorable. Still, we had to motorsail the 25 nm up to Little Washington. We were told that the railroad bridge is open most afternoons and they were right this day. The folks at the municipal dock were waiting for us at west most T-head. Nice waterfront and nice people.