Belhaven to River Dunes, NC

Today:  48 miles, 7.5 hours, ICW St. M 173

Total:   364.2 miles, 52.0 hours

Last night will be one we will not forget! The 6 pm news predicted a bit more rain in our area with some possible thunderstorms.  It would be followed by winds in our area of 18-20, starting in the SSW and clocking around to WNW later in the evening. Temperatures will also drop to the 40’s.  Doesn’t sound too ominous, does it? Hummmm….

As I mentioned, around 7:30 last night the final tail of what was Phillipe, came though and changed things completely. What started as a 20-minute, moderate rain shower suddenly added intense winds that were sustained for a couple of hours.  The boat in front of us clocked them at a steady 40+mph!   PEKABU, being the closest boat at the dock to the open water, was pulled away from the dock.  Though Pete tried numerous times to get the boat close to the dock, but not close enough to safely get Bailey off the boat for a final walk.  We had a halyard that kept banging despite Pete’s multiple attempts to tie it secure.  Also, with the winds coming to our aft port quarter, the chain that holds down the bottom of the enclosure constantly banged until heavy painter’s clamps were used to try to hold it in place. Pete managed to eliminate some of banging’s of the chain and halyards, but finally had to give up any attempt to walk Bailey after 11 PM.

 

The temperature dropped to 44 overnight, but with the wind, it felt like 35.  Pete dosed in the salon while I dosed in the bed. We both had on multiple layers. The constant howling of the wind and, without power/no heat, the night was cold, raw, uncomfortable and endless. We even placed a large towel over Bailey to make sure she also remained warm.  Yes, we have a generator, but it’s common curtesy not to use it in a docking situation due to noise for the other boats. P.S. I think we were both so overtired that we didn’t give though to the fact that the wind noise would have probably masked the noise for the other boats! I think we might have gotten a total of about 2 hours of sleep between both of us.

7 am arrived and it was time to rise and get underway. Pete has a big project that must be ready for tomorrow.  He needs to work most of the day.  I need to make a run to the food store and do a load of laundry, so the sooner we get to River Dunes the better chance we have of getting what we need done. The winds are supposed to continue to decrease.  As we are heading out, they are about 15-18 from the NNW and are predicted to drop below 11 around noon.  Let’s hope they are more accurate than last night.

After layering up well, walked dog (who did very well and never requested a walk last night), prepped to be underway, and left the dock at 7:45.  While walking the dog, the labradoodle and her “dad” from a boat further up the dock, joined Pete and Bailey for their walk.  “Dad” mentioned that he monitored Channel 68 last evening.  There was a captain requesting help from anyone with a motorized dinghy to get him out to his boat.  He rowed in for dinner just as the storm broke and needed to return to the boat.  It was too dangerous to be in a small boat in 40+ winds, so he had to remain on shore.  This morning, his sailboat had been blown into the shallow water and was laid hard over on its side.  It will be a major project to refloat since the winds once again blew the water out of the area. Hopefully, once it returns it will be more buoyant and easier to pull into deeper water.

As predicted, the winds did die down as the day progressed.  There were very few boat moving this morning.  Crossing Pamlico Sound was bumpy, but I finally found the right angle to cut through the waves.  By the time we were on the Neuse River, the winds were down to about 8 so it was an easy ride to River Dunes.

Entry into Grace Harbor, River Dunes

Some of the homes at River Dunes

One of the guest houses

The guest cottages

The pool and main house

Azaleas are still blossoming

As I checked in, I was able to catch up with the harbormaster, Richard.  Last fall he was limping, and his left knee was braced.  Apparently, the exercise and therapy didn’t work.  He will be having knee surgery in 3 days.  There has been some changes in the “Harbor Village.”  The general store is open, as well as the luncheonette and new exercise facility above it.  The cruiser’s dinner is now $18/person, OR you can order off the lunch menu.  Both can be charged to you slip.  Since it is Pete’s birthday, we decided to try the menu.  We both opted for the huge and delicious hamburgers (of course) with fries and chocolate hazelnut gelato for desert. Our server was very generous and gave us 4 scoops each!  YUM!!!

Grace Harbor Provisioning Store

The new luncheonette and gym

Grace Harbor at sunset

With very full bellies, fresh air poisoning, exhaustion from so little sleep last night and Pete’s intense concentration with work, we are calling it an early night.

~~~/) ~~   K & P