Day 5 - Dense Fog, Beautiful Sunshine and Dolphins

We left Dowry Creek Marina at 10am despite a fairly heavy fog. It looked like it was lifting and we felt comfortable continuing on. We took it slow and only encountered a couple of boats. I think most boats decided to wait until the fog cleared more. We enjoyed our stay at Dowry Creek Marina and got a good night's sleep, not to mention the free laundry that Martha took advantage of. The couple that run the marina are very nice and are good hosts. They have a very well stocked, but small store, and are expanding by adding a large restaurant. Maybe it will be operating the next time we stop by. 

By the time we got through the Pungo River, the fog was just about gone. We entered the Pamlico River and passed a couple of boats as we entered Goose Creek. There were a couple of Coast Guard boats stopped in the creek and we thought that they may stop us for an inspection, but they must have been doing some other type of training. We were ready if they did stop us. We passed the R.E. Mayo Seafood docks, but didn't stop to purchase anything. The docks look a little old and worn. I already have enough marks on the painted hull. We continued on to Bay River on our way to the Neuse River. The water was dead calm and allowed us to make really good time.

We were concerned about the Neuse River as we had heard many say how rough it could be. We must be living right, as the river was like a sheet of glass and wide open for us to transit at full throttle. We happened to pass an old friend at this point, the tugboat Island Express. The barge she was pushing this time was empty. I guess she found a spot to dispose of all that scrap iron from a couple of days ago. Shortly after that we entered Adams Creek and came upon another familiar boat, Aries, a Fleming 55. They were with us at the Great Bridge Lock in Virginia, then at Coinjock, last night at Dowry Creek and now here. More about them later. There were a lot of homes along Adams Creek and we slowed down to reduce our wake. It wasn't a problem since we were making good time. Here is where we started to see dolphin, but just a few other boats. As we got close to Morehead City, the shoreline became much more industrial

We made our way down Adams Creek to Morehead City Yacht Center. We ended right behind Aries and followed them in. They are on the other side of the dock from us and we finally got to meet them. A very nice live-aboard couple that transits from New England to Florida and back each year. I talked to the husband Peter about their destination for tomorrow as it seems we are following in each other's tracks. He said they were going to a marina in Wrightsville Beach that I had already planned to call for a reservation. As it turns out, that marina is full for tomorrow night, so we decided to go to Bald Head Island Marina at the Cape Fear Inlet. Peter talked me into going "on the outside" to get there. That means going into the Atlantic Ocean for the first time ever. It is supposed to be perfect conditions tomorrow for such a journey. Maybe it will work. I'm excited to try it out.

Morehead City Yacht Basin is a very nice marina that caters to some really serious fishermen. The boats are gigantic and most of them have a captain and crew, waiting for "the boss" to tell them when it's time to go fishing. We look a little small among all of the behemoths.

​Tomorrow the ocean for the first time and Bald Head Island for a couple of nights. Check back to find out what happens.