North Carolina - 10/31-16 - Happy Halloween!

Deb's stuffed peppers.

After a wonderful visit with friends in Portsmouth, VA we headed south to North Carolina.

Here we are tied up in Portsmouth, VA

Dinner aboard with our sailing buddy Ryan (top left) and Jerry's high school friend Steve (top right) with his wife Heidi and their 16 month old Addilyn.  Our first meeting with Addi!  She was so content and happy through a couple hours of adults visiting and talking all night.

The journey from Portsmouth to Great Bridge, VA was a short one.   About 10 miles.  We tied to a wall between the lock at Great Bridge and the bridge.  The library is a half mile away as is the grocery store.  Some friends from the trawler Adirondack found us there as they cruised by in their dinghy and we joined them later for a pot luck at the marina they were staying at.
The next leg of our travels was long - from Great Bridge, down the Currituck Sound, across the Albemarle Sound, down to anchor at the bottom of the Alligator River.  The first part of the trip is just a motor through protected rivers though we had the sails up.  The Currituck Sound opens up some.  The Albemarle Sound is a large, shallow body of water.  15 knots of wind and current create a bumpy sail.  Water splashed over the bow dousing the dodger and cabin top as we made our way across the 12 mile stretch to the Alligator River.  Take a look:

 Anchor down just as the last bit of light vanished from the western sky.  The next morning before Jerry is up he hears the anchor windlass hauling the chain up as I make preparations to leave.  How's that for an alarm clock.  Another long day of travel down the Alligator-Pungo Canal to the Pungo River, across the Pamlico, through Goose Creek, down the Neuse River to Broad Creek.  There was almost enough water at Donna and Jerry's dock as we made our way in and tied up.  We enjoyed a visit and then Donna served pulled pork sandwiches for dinner.  My favorite!
We spent the week at the dock in front of Donna and Jerry's visiting and sharing meals.  The 2 Jerrys worked on Bluejacket, the Luh's catamaran, preparing it for a winter in the Bahamas.  Boating friends Ron and Deb from Scheherezade and Karen, Tim and Poppy the lab stopped by for a fun evening too.  Friday, we literally plowed our way off the dock.  Not quite enough water for us.  We made our way to Oriental, NC where we'll be for one night, then on to Beaufort, NC, and then on to the ocean if the weather window holds.  Keep checking our SPOT to see where we are!

Halloween Eve in Oriental, NC aboard Persephone at the town dock.

Deb's Jack-O-Lantern Stuffed Peppers.  Excellent!

10/17/16 - Norfolk, VA

10/17/16

As I sit here in the cockpit anchored at Hospital Point in Norfolk, VA watching the boats go by and the sun on my back I will update you on our travels:

Our arrival at the Hideaway Marina was pie scheduled.  After transiting the last NY lock, Lock #1 in Troy, I handed Jerry the bag of apples and a peeler while I worked on mixing and rolling the crust.  We had warm apple pie to share with Vince when we arrived at the marina.  Vince used the crane on Wednesday to pick up the mast and set it in place while we scurried around connecting the rigging.  By Thursday morning the sails were on, the rig tightened, the lights on the mast and the new Garmin radar had been tested, stuff was stored and we were ready to go.  Before first light we were out on the Hudson motoring against the current and straight into the wind.  We gazed with fascination, as we do each year, at the sights along the Hudson.  Mighty mountains that cascade down to the water, artistically engineered bridges crossing the river, long standing stone mansions, vibrant trees….

The sun was setting and the current, which was with us in the afternoon, turned against us and we settled in to anchor at Nyack just north of the Tappan Zee bridge.

Tappan Zee Bridge on the Hudson River

Tappan Zee Bridge

Friday morning, up again before sunrise, we motored through 2 Tappan Zee bridges.  The second Tappan Zee bridge is under construction.  Even at this early hour workers on the bridge sections and in boats were milling around setting up for their tasks for the day.

We hauled up the mainsail and took advantage of the northerly winds as we made our way south.  By noon we were south of the Verrazano Bridge and out on the ocean.   

Verrazano Bridge - Friday afternoon

It was warm, the sun was shining and we made good time motor sailing in the light northeasterly winds all the way down the coast.  An almost full moon kept the waters bright all night.   

We hang blankets up on the back of the dodger to keep warm overnight.

By Sunday morning we were at the mouth of the Chesapeake and anchored in Norfolk by noon.  

Looking west at the full moon setting over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.

 

Looking back east at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and the sun coming up.

 As usual, it took about 48 hours from NY harbor to Norfolk.  We marveled at our record time - it was only 10 days ago when we left Pennellville, NY.  We can thank the weather for cooperating!

Both of the basins at Portsmouth, VA were full of schooners!  The annual Chesapeake Bay schooner race happened last Thursday.  Here the congregate to celebrate.

Full moon rising over Norfolk - our view from the anchorage at Hospital Point.

Sunrise in Norfolk - another view from the anchorage.  Just south of the moonrise picture.

I will post this update when we make it to shore and find someplace to access the internet!  Thanks to those of you who took the time to write and share what’s going on in your lives.  We truly appreciate staying in touch.

Karen & Jerry

 ps  Did you notice the GPS SPOT link on the right hand side of the screen at the top?  You can click on this to see where we have been/are.

10/9/16 - Heading South

It’s that time of year again.  We have a summer’s worth of cat hair on board and now we’re ready to leave.  We’re sure going to miss Kurd!  Thanks Bill and Laurie for the cat loan; not that any of us humans decide where a cat will go and what the cat will do.

Kurd's favorite place to sleep in actually on a head.

Kurd

Cat Nap

 

We said our goodbyes and headed out Thursday morning, October 6^th, Deb giving us a last farewell toot as she drove past on her way to work.  A bit chilly to start the day but the sun came out and we had a pleasant ride to Sylvan Beach.

Some of our deck loot from the garden became stuffed peppers and apple pie by dinner time. 

Tomatoes, peppers and zucchini from the garden.

Apples from Appledale in Mexico, NY.

Liz, Karen and Mike at Sylvan Beach.

 

Thanks Mike, Liz, Dave & Bonnie for coming out to share.

Friday and Saturday we motored along, 23 locks (we were the only boat in each lock) in all, for our NY canal journey.  

A picture perfect day on the Erie Canal.

  The largest lift is at Little Falls where we descend 42 feet.  

Approaching the town of Little Falls.

Approaching the lock at Little Falls.

Lock 17 - Little Falls, NY

 

Here we are holding onto the wall, the water is up....

and now the water is down 42 feet.

This is the only lock that has a gate that lifts up.  All other locks have doors that swing open.

Slowly the gate goes up and we continue on to Lock 16.

 

We were happy that the rain held off in the Albany area as we docked in Waterford Sunday morning.

We’ll clean, organize, and prepare for stepping the mast in Kingston, NY on the Hudson and then be on our way.  Our plans are to leave from Beaufort, NC to head to the Virgin Islands for the winter. 

I’ll try to put together pictures and words as we travel along.  Please remember to send news of what’s going on in your lives.  We love to hear news from home and stay connected with family and friends.

Jerry & Karen

S/V Persephone