Oriental here we come

We left Coinjock Marina at 07:00 along with everyone else docked there, well, maybe not everyone, but it seemed that way. Us passing boats, boats passing us and everyone jockeying for position depending on their speed. After all the fast boats passed us and we passed the sailboats it was time to settle back, put September Song on auto pilot, and enjoy breakfast on the fly bridge on a beautiful morning. We anchored in Broad Creek for 2 nights to let the cold front pass by while I caught about 18 of those gorgeous crabs. On the 8th we headed out at 07:00 through Albemarle Sound. Remember that quiet, beautiful day a couple days ago, and that wonderful breakfast on the fly bridge while under way? Albemarle Sound is known for being rough in windy weather and it lived up to its reputation. It was blowing like stink as we rocked and rolled with aft quartering seas, the worse kind. I can't imagine what it would have been like without our stabilizers. No quiet breakfast today. Not all days are calm, but it is what it is and we take the little bit bad with all the good. After we got out of Albermarle Sound (two hours) things calmed down and we anchored for the night in a beautiful quiet spot on Slade Creek off the Pungo River. Yesterday we left our anchorage early again and headed for Oriental, NC. Weather changes from day to day and yesterday was flat calm. Remember that day a few days ago with breakfast on the fly bridge? Instant replay. We arrived in Oriental early afternoon and proceeded to back into our slip. Things didn't work the way they usually do, I was having trouble moving the stern in line with the slip. After a few more RPM's and forward and reverse, I backed in. The dock hand says ""oh, by the way, there is a hump of mud in front of your slip". I was kind and didn't say what I wanted to say, ($%^%@#*)&%!) I just said "not anymore". September Song the dredge. After getting tied up we were met by a man by the name of Roger Tuttle, who is here for a Power Squadron Cruise. He is 85 and was one of four guys who created the Today Show and he was the one who hired Mat Lauer. Vary interesting guy. The average age of the group seems to be about 80 and the age of their boats looks to be around 35. What a hoot watching all these old boats with these old sailors coming into the slips. (get out the fenders Stephanie, we need to do some fending off.) After the show we headed to the Tiki Bar for a few cold ones, looked to the North and toasted Doug and Tammy, (the bartender said, "I think I know them) then had a great hot crab dip and split a half pound burger. Sound familiar Gypsies? The only thing missing were you two.
Time to end this blog and go exploring Oriental.

September Song (I hope I'm still boating at 85) out
Bob


The Alligator Pungo Canal. 150 ft. wide and 22 miles long.

Sunrise as we leave our overnight anchorage in Slade Creek off the Pungo River

Dolphins playing in our bow wake

Crabber out early checking his traps