Update again

I gotta tell you; shore leave is tough. Eat, eat, and eat some more. Quiche, key lime pie, strawberry shortcake, steak, geez; Scooter had to get going, no matter that small craft cautions were in effect or that the wind was gusting to 25 mph. Our thanks, once again, to Jim & Mae for their wonderful hospitality. Please be safe on your trip home next month. To bring you up to date: Scooter moved North on the 21st of April, to New Bern, NC. We were actually a day early in an effort to avoid forecast weather; some of which materialized as we came into the upper end of the Neuse River. We got wet pulling into Northwest Creek marina, but that's boating. Nice place, previously visited by Scooter & various crew members. Lots of sailboats, lots of wind & rain. But it cleared. The people came out, the rain stopped, and life was good again! Next day, life still being good, Scooter moved over to Spring Creek to temporarily join Admiral Jim's fleet at rest behind the main club house. Lovely spot in a great area. From there we drove to Oriental, NC for a town tour & lunch at one of the waterfront eatery's. Biggest discovery there; an incredible nautical consignment store ( boat stuff someone doesn't want, Chuckie). I'd still be there, but.....!

New Bern was on the list for a driving visit. That town is celebrating it's 300th anniversary this year; lots' of good stuff going on all Summer & Fall. Jazz festivals, etc. Pretty neat old town, actually. We roamed about the neighborhood catching some of the local wildlife while they watched us parade around. Made for an interesting walk. Anyway, each time we decided to get on the move, weather intervened, sometimes even measuring up to the forecast, sometimes not even being close. Night before last was pretty fierce in the forecast, with yesterday being just a bit on the nasty side, but the moon slid up out of the pines into a beautiful, clear sky, wind calmed down and it looked like the forecast was going to err in our favor. The decision was made to press on. Fortunately, while really strong, the wind was behind us most of the way down the Neuse River. Incidentally, that sucker is 6 miles wide at the mouth. making for a lot of fetch and other delightful boat stuff. In fact, the trip was not all that rough until we got to the Pamlico River. Then it started to get ugly, wind, towering cumulus, rain squalls, etc, as a cold front moved in. Having come far enough at that point, we elected to anchor in Slade Creek, just off the ICW from Belhaven, NC. Surrounded by pines and whippoorwills, we are tied tightly to the bottom awaiting the frontal passage. Then on to the Albermarle Sound, Elizabeth City, & The Dismal Swamp Canal.

Be safe, be careful, be hopeful. We'll catch you on the flip side!