Travel Day 5 - Top Rack, Chesapeake, VA to Shiloh, VA

     Once again, it was an early start so that Pete could catch the 7 AM opening of the Great Bridge Lock.  He and the trimaran, that tried to anchor across from the marina yesterday morning, were invited into the lock shortly before seven, but the lock master suggested that they turnoff their engines and enjoy some coffee while waiting. The opening will be at 8 so it coordinates with the Great Bridge Bridge opening. The two boats chatted for a while while waiting.  Pete commented to me on the shallow draft of the trimaran and the dagger boards on the outside hulls.  It looked to be roomy and would be interesting to see what the interior looked like.

Predicted path of
Tropical Storm
 forming in the Gulf

     They were joined in the lock by a number of larger boats as well as other cruisers.  Once clear of the Bridge, the faster boats took the lead.  Pete has been using the mile radius on the VHS/AIS, which makes it easier to call out boats wishing to pass.  Pete prefers that they pass "on plane" and PEKABU cut across the wake.  This way he doesn't loose time slowing down, but more importantly, the larger boat doesn't accelerate too soon, and send us into his huge hole before the wake forms.
     The winds were blowing from the west at about 20-25, but the channel across Currituck Sound is pretty close to land on the western side, which helped to keep the waves from building.
     Around 4:30, Pete dropped anchor on the western edge of North River, by Black Swamp, NC, which is only about 5 miles from the Arbermarle Sound. There are about 5 other boats already here.
     There is a system forming in the Gulf of Mexico which all the tracts point to it coming close to this area.  News report that it might form into a tropical storm by tomorrow.  Local weather shows that it will hit the area late Saturday and into Sunday, Pete already has dockage at River Dunes for Saturday and Sunday.  He plans to leave early tomorrow and head straight to Belhaven.  It is about a 10 hour trip. It won't be hard to drop anchor in the harbor there.  From there, it is only a 5 hour trip to River Dunes.  Hopefully, he makes it before the winds start to pick up.  The Neuse River can get difficult in winds, due to its length and width.
   
      Dinner tonight was meatball parmasian.  Since Pete is at anchor  without electricity, he couldn't use the microwave.  Hence, he improvise.  It worked and dinner was delicious!

~ ~ ~ /) ~ ~  P & K