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North Carolina Loop
  • C-Traveler

North Carolina Loop

Towed C-Traveler out to my Buddy Bill's home on Lake Keowee in S. Carolina, to spend several days exploring the lake, and then we'll head over to Morehead City, NC, to relaunch and cruise the N. Carolina Loop. Read more
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  • Trip start
    May 7, 2024
    C-TravelerNorth Carolina LoopTraveler
    Bill's boat dockOconee Nuclear Power PlantFall Creek FallsLake Jocassee Dam (power turbines are under water. The dam is actually a large rock dam)Lake Keowee CastleInteresting house design on Lake KeoweeAnother interesting house on Lake KeoweeSun rise from Bill's dockSt. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church morning service at Biggerstaff Retreat Center

    First Stop. Lake Keowee

    May 10, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 79 °F

    Forgot I joined this blog to share my trips. I left home with C-Traveler in Tow this past Tuesday. Arrived at Bill's and Lake Keowee Thursday and launched. Spent the last couple of days exploring the lake. Tomorrow we'll pull the boats out and then Tuesday head over to the Newport River Pier and Boat ramps to launch for our cruise on the N. Carolina Loop.Read more

  • C-TravelerNorth Carolina LoopTraveler

    Last day on Lake Keowee

    May 13, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 66 °F

    Did some last minute shopping today, then we loaded C-Traveler and Mystery Girl on their respective trailers. Somewhat of a rainy / misty day, so good day to also get some laundry done. Tomorrow we'll head over to the Radio Island boat ramp and launch.Read more

  • C-TravelerNorth Carolina LoopTraveler
    Mike with King Neptune on the Morehead City water front
    Little Joe, Mystery Girl & C-Traveler ready to launch2Little Joe, Mystery Girl & C-Traveler ready to launch

    Arrived Newport River Pier and Boat Ramp

    May 14, 2024 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 72 °F

    Also shown as Radio Island Boat Ramp. Bill and I were on the road today by 7:40am. We had about a 30 minute delay just outside of Greenville, SC, for an accident, that was cleared up before we got to it. Then Bill's TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitor System) indicated his left front trailer tire was losing air near Wilmington. We pulled off at an off ramp and verified it was in fact losing air. While changing the tire we noticed that the inside brake pad was missing, so replaced that as well. Most the day of travel was in the rain, but fortunately, there was no rain while working on the tire. Our other friend Mike, on Little Joe, was already here at the boat ramp when we arrived. We started to set the boats up to launch before more rain moved in. We'll sleep on the boats trailered tonight and launch tomorrow. Should be an interesting day with more rain and lots of wind in the forecast. I went out for Pizza with Mike, and on the way back, we stopped along the water front to check out some statues.Read more

  • C-TravelerNorth Carolina LoopTraveler
    Launched at the Newport River Pier and Boat Ramps this morning. (Also known as the Radio Island Ramp
    5Mike and Little JoeA bit of a list at the dock...Looks like somebody sliced this sailboat in half.Bill and Mystery Girl, anchored in Greens Creek near Oriental NCC-Traveler docked at one of the two Oriental free docks. Shrimp boats in the background.Colorful sailboat on the other free dock in Oriental.Some of the Shrimp Boat fleet in Oriental.Oriental has some nice facilities for visiting boaters. This is the Boat house boaters lounge.Mike taking me over to check out the free docks before I pull anchor and head over with C-Traveler.Two tugs moving a barge of windmill tower sections around.

    Oriental, NC

    May 15, 2024 in the United States ⋅ 🌩️ 72 °F

    Today ended up being quite nice. We woke up to calm weather with clearing skies. Got our boats launched, then headed up Adams Creek, crossing the Neuse River and stopping for the day at Oriental NC. Some pictures along the way, homes along the creek, sinking or wrecked boats, a Great White Heron, some interesting yachts, the Shrimp boat fleet in Oriental, and a few photos of our boats. The one thing I missed, because they were too fast to photograph, where the porpoises that came near our boats, either diving beside us, or just ahead of us. This evening, Mike and Bill are anchored out in Green Creek, while I took the last space on the two free docks Oriental has for boaters. (That allowed me to go walk off some more of last night's pizza! lol).Read more

  • C-TravelerNorth Carolina LoopTraveler

    C-Traveler layout

    May 16, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 64 °F

    Some of you may be wondering what living on C-Traveler for several weeks might be like; what’s the layout. So this post is a description of what’s available to me and Rosanne on C-Traveler. The V-Berth where we sleep has a shelf down both sides. When I’m solo, I get both sides. LOL! In which case, I use Rosanne’s side to store my camp chairs, my toiletry bag, and anything else I don’t have room for on my side. Like an extra tub of clothes. When she’s along with me, then her clothes tubs are on her side, and I just have my side for my tubs. We found tubs that fit perfect for storing our clothes. I also have my C-Pap on my side. It’s not in the photo, as it’s right up against the helm end of the V- Berth. We sleep with our feet towards the bow. The dinette has a sink with running water, and there is a small 2.5 gallon water heater. I need to be plugged in to shore power or run the generator to heat the water up. There use to be a stove (electric and butane) next to the sink, but I pulled it out and replaced it with a butcher block. (Basically a nice 1” piece of Oak.) We have a small portable one burner butane stove that we can use on top the butcher block, or better yet, on a small table set up in the cockpit (actually a fish cutting board, but it gets more use as a stove table). That keeps the heat and condensation out of the cabin! We have an enclosed head that I replaced the marine toilet with an Airhead composting toilet. We also have a shower in there (behind the small compartment door), but to conserve potable water, I have two large solar campshower bags I place on the roof. (The boat’s potable water tank only holds 20 gals.) The one on the starboard side I can bring the shower hose in through the head window and I have the toilet set up on a platform whereby I can remove it to give us more room for showering. (We can get 2 ½ showers out of each bag, and when the one bag is empty, I move the bag from the port side over to the starboard side.) We have a small table we can eat at. Along with the small refrigerator, we also have a portable Engle Freezer that when I’m solo, I usually strap down on the port forward seat. Otherwise, the freezer just stays in the cockpit (back of the boat). Rosanne made a nice insulated cover for it, and that’s what around it in the photo. With the freezer inside, I leave the seat and convertible back rest at home. I have two 100 watt solar panels on top the roof that are hinged so that I can lift them to clean the roof, or even take them off if I need to. If you look close, you can see we have several fans around the cabin and V-Berth. And since we do some cooler weather boating, I have a small webasto diesel heater. I also recently installed a 1200 watt inverter, just big enough to run the microwave if I don’t have shore power or want to start the generator. Also nice for charging up this laptop. :-) Anyway, that’s my home away from home in a nutshell.Read more

  • C-TravelerNorth Carolina LoopTraveler
    Mike in Little Joe about to be passed by a group of boatsLots of stumps and snags along the Canal shoreCanal bank erosion.A bit choppy

    Babbit Bay

    May 17, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 73 °F

    5/17. It was a very calm night anchored in Spellman Creek last night. We left there this morning at 7:30am and got back on the Pungo River. We passed Belhaven, NC and then shortly after entered the Alligator River-Pungo River Canal. This is a fairly narrow canal that is pretty much straight for its entire 23 mile distance. Very calm water, except when other boaters over take or pass you without slowing down, or worse yet, slow down, but instead of slowing down enough to not produce a wake, they end up “plowing” water, which leaves a bigger wake. A situation of the boater not caring or knowing what their wake is doing! Many of the boaters are more courteous and will slow down to a no wake speed. We are probably the slowest boats on the water. We cruise at 5 kts. Most the trawlers will cruise around 7-9 kts. The sailboats are doing about 6 kts. And then the go fasts are doing about 12-20 kts. We cruise slow for fuel efficiency and to see more. Many of the boats we are traveling among are doing the “Great Loop”. You can google it if you are not familiar. The canal bank has a lot of erosion from boater’s wakes. There are also a lot of stumps and snags along the canal’s edges. I’ve uploaded photos showing the erosion, stumps/snags and how busy the canal can sometimes be with several boats running together. Once we left the canal and entered the much wider Alligator River, with the wind we had 1 to 1 ½ foot chop. I think the winds were on the nose at 10-15 mph. This afternoon we only came down the Alligator River a little ways, and pulled into Babbit Bay to anchor for the night. The entrance past Catfish Point was a bit tricky with trees and stumps along the sides of the channel to come in. No photos as I was concentrating on navigating in! ;-) Covered 51 miles.Read more

  • C-TravelerNorth Carolina LoopTraveler
    Sunrise in Babbit Bay
    Rainbow behind Mystery Girl in Babbit BaySunrise continues in Babbit BayBill took this picture of C-Traveler this monring in the sunrise.Approaching the Alligator River Swing BridgeAlligator River swing bridge behind me. It's a very long bridge.Bill took this photo of Mike/Little Joe coming under the Alligator River Swing Bridge.Sunken sail boat at the mouth of the Pasquatank RiverWeeksville Airship HangarHelicopter landing at Coast Guard Airsta E City.C-130's I believe at USCG Airsta E CityLooks like a scrapped old C130Elizabeth City bridge closing behind me.Elizabeth City Veterans MemorialElizabeth City Veterans MemorialCoasties leaving the Potato Fest.Bill and Mike photo op.Little Joe, Mystery Girl and C-Traveler, rafted on the dock at the Mid Atlantic Christian UniversityYour's truely cooking supper with Bill looking on.Chop, rain and crab pot floats!

    Elizabeth City

    May 18, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 59 °F

    Woke to a beautiful sunrise in Babbit Bay, and then saw the rainbow behind Mystery Girl. Got an early start as we left our anchorage around 6:45a. We had the Albemarle Sound to cross, and thought maybe earlier would be better as the winds seem to pick up more as the day goes on. It was choppy again continuing out the Alligator River, along with rain, and dodging Crab pot floats. I don’t like to spend a lot of time crossing open or larger bodies of water, so I left Bill and Mike behind as I pushed C-Traveler up on plane crossing the Sound. Fortunately, nothing worse than the 1 foot chop. Before leaving the Alligator River, we go under the Alligator River swing bridge. Because of the size of it, they will not open it whenever the winds are gusting more than 34 mph, or any other time the bridge tender doesn’t feel it’s safe. Didn’t matter for us, as the bridge has a clearance of 14’ and that was about 6” higher than I need for my VHF antenna’s, which I can put down if necessary. Bill also can put his antenna down, and Mike’s is not that high. As I was entering the Pasquatank River on the ICW track, there was a sunken sail boat with about 30’ of mast sticking up. I reported it to the USCG, but I suspect they were already aware of it. I continued dodging all the crab pot floats, passed the Weeksville Airship Hangar (during WW II blimps were a key part of the US defense against German U-Boats and this building could house a dozen of the armed airships!), then passed the USCG Air Station Elizabeth City base. I was never stationed at E City, but seeing the planes brought back fond memories of flying the C-130 in Sacramento and Kodiak! Finally passed under the Elizabeth City bridge and then found space on the dock in front of the Mid Atlantic Christian University. Bill and Mike arrived two hours later and rafted off of me. Before they arrived I walked downtown to enjoy the Potato Festival. 50 miles today.Read more

  • C-TravelerNorth Carolina LoopTraveler
    Deep Creek Bascule Bridge.Deep Creek Lock

    Lake Drummond Ditch, Bill and Mike

    May 18, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 61 °F

    These are photos Bill and Mike took the other day when I stayed rafted at the Dismal Swamp Visitor Center, and they continued up to the Lake Drummond Ditch. Also two photos while we were all at the Elizabeth City Mid Atlantic Christian University.Read more

  • C-TravelerNorth Carolina LoopTraveler
    Albermarle and Chesapeake Railroad Bridge and building, or what's left of it.
    Albermarle and Chesapeake Railroad Bridge, or what's left of it.Fenwick-Hollowell Wetlands TrailI don't think the captain was Happy when his other boat sank!I'm the last one to enter the South Mills Lock.Inside the South Mills Lock.Inside the South Mills Lock.South Mills Bascule BridgeLooking back behind me on the Dismal Swamp Canal.6 large trawlers a head of me on the Dismal Swamp CanalHouse along the Dismal Swamp CanalBoats docked and rafted at the Dismal Swamp Visitors Center.C-Traveler is dwarfed by the other boats docked and rafted at the Dismal Swamp Visitors Center.Mystery Girl and Little Joe coming past the Dismal Swamp State Park Canal Bridge.Bill on Mystery GirlMike on Little Joe.

    Dismal Swamp Canal

    May 19, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 61 °F

    Left Elizabeth City this morning on the Pasquotank River. Went through the old Albermarle and Chesapeake Railroad Bridge, that must have recently been removed, that had a pretty dilapidated building next to it. Turned into Turners Cut leading into the South Mills Lock on the south end of the Dismal Swamp Canal. Bill and Mike stopped to take their Kaboats and explore a side channel while I kept going, picking my speed up a bit to make the 11am lockage. I’d lock through, then make my way to the Dismal Swamp Visitor Center and see if I could get a space on the dock there, then Bill and Mike would join (raft) after the 1:30p lockage. They apparently were able to take Mystery Girl and Little Joe all the way down that channel, so never got their Kaboats down. When I got to the visitor center, there were already 3 large boats on the 150’ dock, with one already rafted. I rafted on another big boat and informed Bill and Mike that they could raft on me when they got here. Rather than join the crowd of boats, they decided to continue to the Lake Drummond Feeder Ditch, find somewhere to dock or anchor their boats, and then explore the ditch with their Kaboats. Once they got there, they called to let me know there was a small dock there, but since I was already rafted and in a good place for the night, I decided to stay put. Tomorrow they’ll get going early and go through the first lockage at the Deep Creek lock on the north end of the Dismal Swamp at 8am, and then do some more exploring with their Kaboats right on the other side of the lock. I’ll go through the 11:00am lockage, and meet them before we continue on. The Dismal Swamp State Park and Visitor Center is right next to a Highway Rest stop. The state park visitor’s center has some interpretive displays, while the rest stop visitor center is more of a gift shop. Prior to supper, I enjoyed social hour with the other boaters docked here for the night.Read more

  • C-TravelerNorth Carolina LoopTraveler
    This is some farmers portable bridge.Farmers Portable bridge on each side of the canal here.One of several free docks along the Dismal Swamp Canal. You can stay anywhere from 24 to 48 hours.This turtle was sunning on a log behind C-Traveler while I was waiting for the bridge and lock.Saw this mermaid at a swimming poolJust entering Norfolk and it's industry.Not sure...unless he leveled his stilts at high tide.Bill going by some loading operation.A lot of boats waiting for the RR bridge to be raised!Mike waiting on Little Joe for the bridge to lift.Scrap metal operation.Railroad bridge finally lifted.Old small iron ship wreck in Saint Julian Creek.Sailboat on the shore of Saint Julian CreekOld wharf? in Saint Julian Creek.

    Norfolk, VA

    May 20, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 59 °F

    I left the Dismal Swamp Visitor Center dock this morning at 7:30am and made my way to the Deep Creek Lock. Most interesting thing I saw was a farmer’s portable steel bridge that he can slide back and forth to get his livestock and farm equipment across the canal. Both Mike and I tried to get photos of it when we went by, but were already by before we were able to take a shot. The entire canal is not much more than 50 feet wide pretty much the entire length. And only about 7-8 feet deep. Just before the Deep Creek lock, is a bascule bridge that also has to be raised before we can get under it. Two of the other larger boats at the Visitor Center were waiting with me for the bridge and lock. One south bound boat was locked through at the 11am lockage, and then the lock tender, who also tends to the bridge, about a ¼ mile away, came down to open the bridge. Once the south bound was through, then the three of us continued under the open bridge and to the lock. The operator drove back to the lock and locked us through. After lockage, I met back up with Mike and Bill, who had gone through the first lockage at 8:30, then anchored in the next bend, while taking their small Kaboats back on a small side creek to explore. We continued on in Deep Creek, and then turned into the Elizabeth River Channel, which runs into Chesapeake Bay. We entered the Norfolk outskirts and all the industries along the water. Not far, we had to wait about 30 minutes for a railroad bridge to be opened. It’s normally left open, except when trains are traveling by. There were quite a number of boats waiting by the time it opened! Coming around Money Point, we turned into Saint Julian Creek to anchor for the remainder of the day and night. 23 miles today.Read more

  • C-TravelerNorth Carolina LoopTraveler
    Blue Crabs.
    Fisherman uses chicken wing on end of string to catch the blue crabs.Bill says this is his next "Ranger Tug". lolSoft fendering for working with submarines.USS WisconsinUSS Wisconsin.USS Wisconsin.NOAA station and ship Thomas Jefferson.Military Sealift Command ships.

    Norfolk Naval Shipyards . 1

    May 21, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 61 °F

    We left Saint Julian Creek this morning and headed north on Elizabeth River. Stopped to check out the Elizabeth River Boat Landing and Park, and Mike met a guy that uses chicken legs on a string to catch Blue Crab. We continued on up the Elizabeth River past the Portsmouth and Norfolk Naval Ship Yards. Many Naval vessels parked behind restricted buoys, some protected by Navy Police boats. If you like to look at our nation’s protection power and enjoy ships, you will enjoy this photo dump. And I only uploaded a quarter of the photos I took. Also passed some ship loading facilities. And a dredge working in the channel. Eventually crossed over the Hampton Roads Tunnel and poked our bows out into Chesapeake Bay. This is as far north as we will go on this trip. We turned back around, and pulled into Hampton River Inlet to get fuel at one of the marinas. From here, we went back on the Elizabeth River to continue south. Bill and Mike decided to go up the James River and pulled into Deep Creek to anchor for the night. I continued south and turned on the Western Branch of the Elizabeth River to go visit a friend on Lilly Creek. I am tied up to his dock for the night. Tomorrow I’ll meet back up with Bill and Mike. The friend is another C-Brat that I knew from online chatting on C-Brats and the Facebook C-Dory group. It was interesting to find out we both served in the USCG and knew some of the same Coasties. It is a small world! Thanks so much Steve and Joan for the great supper and hospitality! 40 miles traveled today. I will add two more additions to this footprint, just to upload all the photos.Read more

  • C-TravelerNorth Carolina LoopTraveler
    This coal ship had two tugs assisting it to position at the coal dock.This coal ship had two tugs assisting it to position at the coal dock.This coal ship had two tugs assisting it to position at the coal dock.Backside of the container loading facility that I uploaded photos of earlier.Lamberts Coal facility. That's the ship that was being positioned by the tugs.

    More of Norfolk

    May 22, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 82 °F

    Low mileage day today, only traveling 14 miles. I didn’t leave Steve’s dock until around 1:15pm. Bill and Mike started their day from where they anchored about 22 miles north of me. After leaving Steve’s I came back out on the Elizabeth River, then turned north towards the Lafayette River, where I met Bill. Mike was still exploring Bennet Creek up near where they spent the night. Bill and I explored the Lafayette River, and then turned around to come back out, meeting Mike along the way. We are all anchored now near the Lamberts Point Coal terminal. I understand we export good grade coal, and import lower grade coal. This is some information on the Lamberts Coal Terminal:
    Lamberts Point Coal Terminal is the largest, fastest, and most efficient transloading facility for coal in the Northern Hemisphere. Opened on the Elizabeth River around 1865, the NS-served and operated transshipment terminal boasts an annual throughput capacity of 48 million tons. While the facility handles utility and metallurgical coals, most of its business involves the export of met coal, which is loaded onto ocean-going vessels and shipped to countries across Europe, Asia, South America, and beyond for use in steel production. At the heart of the terminal is the 1,850-foot-long Pier 6, in use since 1962. Operated 24/7, the pier features two 18-story-tall ship loaders that enable the facility to load two vessels simultaneously. Twin tandem rotary dumpers tip over railcars brimming with 100 tons of coal, feeding the ship loaders for a combined loading capacity of up to 8,000 tons per hour.
    With its versatility, Pier 6 can load vessels ranging in size from small coastwise barges to large Cape-sized colliers. Both loading berths and the lay berth are dredged to allow loading to a 50-foot draft. The ship loaders can accommodate vessels with a beam of 175 feet and an air draft of 74 feet.A special competitive advantage is the terminal’s ability to offer complete coal blending and mixing services for both metallurgical and utility coal applications. A four-stage sampling system, operated independently by Sampling Associates International, can provide ASTM- ISO-approved samples for all cargoes.    Read more

  • C-TravelerNorth Carolina LoopTraveler
    C-Traveler in the Sunset at Lamberts Point.
    1Bill captured this photo of the ships lit up at night.Two coal ships on the Lamberts docks. One is empty, one is almost loaded. Notice their freeboard.Work boat taking the workers to the work barge.Just another view of the coal ships from astern.Norfolk Lamberts Point Deperming Station.Norfolk Lamberts Point Deperming Station.I thnk the tubes might be towers for ocean windmills maybe?Looks like a Military Sealift Command Ship, with the back door and ramp open.Some more Military Sealift Command Ships.Stern view of the MSC ships.Two paddle wheelers at a marina in Scotts Creek.Crofton Tug and Barge staging area in Scotts Creek.Naval ship just came through the opened bridge at the East Branch of the Elizabeth River.Another naval ship northbound on the Elizabeth River crossing the East Channel mouth.Yacht being lowered into the water. East Branch.Notice the heavy duty blocking under the ship. I think it was steel blocking.Another Nebo app user took this photo of C-Traveler and sent it to me.

    Black Water Creek .1

    May 23, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F

    Today was our last day in the Norfolk/Portsmouth area. One last look at all the naval ships and commercial ships here, and we started our trip back to the south. I also took some photos of the Navy’s Deperming Station. You can look that up, but it’s basically a facility to decrease or eliminate a remnant magnetic field. We poked into Scott’s Creek and the Eastern Branch of the Elizabeth River just to see what there was to see. Then we continued south on the Elizabeth River Southern Branch to the ICW’s Virginia Cut. This put us on the Albemarle & Chesapeake Canal and North Landing River. This afternoon we pulled into Black Water Creek to anchor for the night. We had one lock to go through today, the Great Bridge Lock. There is very little elevation change here as the lock is primarily to prevent much current in the Albermarle & Chesapeake Canal. After that, we had three low bridges that we went through, that opened on the hour and half hour. The Great Bridge Bridge, which was a Bascule type, and then two swing type bridges. 39 miles on a hot sunny day today. 92 is what my thermometer showed.Read more

  • C-TravelerNorth Carolina LoopTraveler
    Late addition. This photo Bill took of me coming through North Landing Bridge yesterday.
    Pretty Cyprus tree in Blackwater Creek.Duck blind on the North River.Cape Point, ferry between Currituck and Knotts Island.Panoramic view of homes on Bell Island near Coinjock.Long dock in Coinjock, NCLooking back at the channel through Coinjock.Just a rainy afternoon south of Coinjock.This is why you don't want to stray to close to shore. Lots of stumps!Crabbers doing their thing.Zoom in and look closely and you might see the Ospreys Head on top the nest.Little Joe.Panoramic around C-Traveler where I'm anchored in Broad Creek.

    Broad Creek

    May 23, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 88 °F

    33.5 miles today. First half under cloudy skies, most of last half in rain. Last night was very calm and peaceful in Black Water Creek. I think tonight here in Broad Creek will be just as nice, if not better. Today’s route was pretty much on the North River. We crossed back into North Carolina and passed Bell Island and then went through Coinjock, NC. Coinjock is a busy stop during the Great Loop boating season as many boats will overnight there, after or before crossing the Albemarle Sound. There are only a couple marinas, but one has a very long dock almost the length of town. Prior to passing through Coinjock, the “Cape Point” ferry between Currituck and Knotts Island passed in front of me. Early this afternoon we turned off the ICW into open water and into Broad Creek. Most boats on the ICW where we have been are north bound. At least the ones doing the Great Loop. Heading north for the cooler temperatures, and to cruise the northern parts of the Great Loop during our summer season.Read more

  • C-TravelerNorth Carolina LoopTraveler
    The Lost Colony Waterside Theatre, https://www.nps.gov/places/000/waterside-theatre.htmLaughing GullN. Carolina Shad BoatElizabeth II ship.I was very intrigued by this wooden model from Ukraine, so bought one.

    Manteo

    May 24, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 77 °F

    It was a quiet and calm night in Broad Creek. 32 miles today as we continued on the North River, crossed the Albermarle Sound into the Roanoke Sound, turning into Shallowbag Bay and then into the town of Manteo. Mostly open water today, but fairly calm on most of it. Had one Tug and empty Barge turn up the North River as we entered into Albermarle Sound. By the time I arrived in Maneo, I was running about a half hour ahead of Mike, who was running about an hour ahead of Bill. (All of us running at slightly different speeds.) Bill and Mike decided to anchor out here, while I’m on a free dock. (I prefer docks when available. They prefer to anchor out, especially since they have their Kaboats.) They explored with their Kaboats, while I found the nearest Ice Cream Shop, Big Bucks Homemade Ice Cream. (LOL) They eventually came to shore, and we walked around town some more, and then got supper at Poor Richards Sandwich Shop. Tonight we are being treated to a free concert. Sort of. KC and the Sunshine Band, opened by Chairmen of the Board, are playing at the Roanoke Island Festival Park just across the small bay from where I’m docked, and an equal distance from where Bill and Mike are anchored. So it’s not going to be quite as quiet tonight as the last two nights. At least until later… But at least it’s a decent band. Lol.Read more

  • C-TravelerNorth Carolina LoopTraveler
    Fog in Manteo this morning.
    Some very nice large homes on Roanoke Island.1All these home on Roanoke Island looked the same.Fishing off the bridge at Roanoke Island.Another crabber.Osprey in her nest.A lot of duck blinds in this area.Birds like this beach.Mystery Girl passing the dredge, Miss Katie.Just how calm it was today. You'll have to zoom in and look close to find Little Joe.Calm off the bow.Ocracoke Express. Doing 20 kts.Ferry, Sea Level, heading out from Ocracoke.Entering the inlet to Silver Lake and Ocracoke.Sunset over Silver Lake.Panoramic view around C-Traveler at anchor in Silver Lake.

    Ocracoke

    May 26, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F

    Woke up to fog this morning in Manteo. We wanted to get an early start as we decided to make Ocracoke this evening, 66 miles, due to wind forecast tomorrow, along with a small craft warning. We’ll spend two nights here, anchored in Silver Lake. More like a very small Bay that the town of Ocracoke surrounds. We came out of the Roanoke Sound, continuing along the Old House Channel, and into the Pamlico Sound. We were out of the fog not far after leaving Manteo. The Pamlico Sound is a large and shallow body of water. There was little wind today, so it was pretty calm. Until the last 8 miles, which got a little choppy. As we left the Old House Channel, we passed the Dredge, Miss Katie. Entering the Pamlico Sound, there was an area with quite a number of duck blinds. Bill, Mike and I were all about a mile or two apart. Just droning along on such a calm day and open expanse of water, I decided to watch Sister Act 1 and 2 on my ipad to pass the time away. We entered the Big Foot Slough Channel to come into Silver Lake and Ocracoke.Read more

  • C-TravelerNorth Carolina LoopTraveler
    The ferry terminal is in the far background. Our 3 boats are anchored in the foreground.Standing at the bottom of the light house looking up.Check out the price and description of this house for sale. House in next photo.Price and description of this house for sale in the previous photo.Great free tram. You can pretty much tour the entire city in under an hour riding this tram.

    Ocracoke Day 2.1

    May 27, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 75 °F

    Today was spent in Ocracoke, due to the winds and small craft warning. No alarm and enjoyed sleeping in! After I made and ate breakfast, I kayaked over to the town to walk around. Bill and Mike were already on land also walking around. I walked out to the Light House here, and into a few gift shops. Treated myself to a banana split at noon and called it lunch, since I had my breakfast later in the morning. Walked around some more, and then caught the free tram to ride back to the ferry terminal. Then walked back to my kayak. During my walking around, I also did a virtual geocache at the British Memorial. This cache was was presented exactly one year ago, and seemed appropriate for me to find it today. (Memorial day cache. https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCG5V8_brot…). During Bill and Mike’s walk, they also walked to the Lighthouse, and then over to the other side of the island to check out the beach. Somewhere along the way they came across a cemetery that had a headstone for a horse buried there, next to its owner. They also saw an interesting old truck. This evening the three of us had dinner together at Howard’s Pub. The winds did pick up pretty good today. Out of the SW, and we are anchored in the sw corner of the lake, so in a relatively calm spot.Read more

  • C-TravelerNorth Carolina LoopTraveler
    A private cemetery next to the British Memorial and graves.Bill at the lighthouse.https://www.villagecraftsmen.com/sam-jones-island-legend/Bill didn't think I would post this. lol. Guess I need to lay off the ice cream...I'm paddling pretty hard against the wind to get back to my boat.

    Ocracoke Day 2.2

    May 27, 2024 in the United States ⋅ 🌬 77 °F

    More photo dump. Also, with regards to the one photo of me on the bow. This was actually a picture Bill took in either Black water Creek or Broad creek. I was tying off my anchor rode and talking to Mike who came by on his Kaboat. Bill didn't think I would post it... lol The other photos we discussed in Ocracoke Day 2.1Read more

  • C-TravelerNorth Carolina LoopTraveler
    Not sure what this is in Core Sound. Chart just said Production Platform.
    Looks like a rock shoal that was a ways off our course in Core Sound.These are Pound Fish Nets in Core Sound. We saw quite a few of them.

    Core Sound

    May 28, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 81 °F

    Today’s 10 hours and 50 miles was the most challenging of this trip! 8 of those hours was spent bouncing along in 1 to 3 foot very short spaced chop! We did have about 30-45 minutes of relatively calm water about half way into the day. Then we had to navigate a shoal area where some of the deepest water was only 2 feet. And it was surrounded on both sides by just several inches of water, or sand bars. And of course not in a straight line! Fortunately we all three made it through without grounding. Our route brought us out of the Ocracoke Inlet into Pamlico Sound. Then we went around Hodges Reef into Core Sound. Core Sound doesn’t appear to have any marked channels anymore. At least not going north and south. The USCG stopped trying to maintain the navigation aids, as the shoals are always shifting. We were able to navigate most of it with our electronic charts, but some of it was reading the water visually (shoal areas tend to have brown colored water) and just watching our depth sounders closely. We had to skip several planned anchorages, as the winds were not favorable and it would been a rock and roll night. We finally pulled into a small bay on Middens Creek. Should be a calm night here. A few photos uploaded. One of a production platform (not sure what it is, but that's what the chart said), along with many Fish net areas. Many of these fish nets had setups for someways out. Also passed one shoal out in the distance that looked like a rock pile.Read more

  • C-TravelerNorth Carolina LoopTraveler
    Wild horses on Shackleford Island
    1Panoramic view of Barden InletThe small building low and to the right is where lamp oil was stored.Light keepers house.Art work at the little concession store.Gets busy by noon with boaters sunbathing.The ferry boat that comes over from Harkers Island.A panoramic view of the ocean beach on the other side of the spit here.Sunset in Barden Inlet. You can barely make out the USCGC Richard Snyder in the sunset.Look close, and you can see the light in the lighthouse.

    Cape Lookout

    May 29, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 77 °F

    12 miles was all today. Left Middens Creek at 8am, and arrived at Cape Lookout shortly after 10a. Beautifully calm day. We anchored in Barden Inlet in front of the Cape Lookout lighthouse and kayaked and kaboated into shore to walk on the beach and visit the lighthouse and keepers quarters. Back to the boats for lunch. Bill and Mike moved across the small bay here over closer to the ocean side. I stayed here to read and watch the sunbathers. Lol. Coming into Barden Inlet, we passed Shackleford Island and were treated to the view of several wild horses. The USCGC Richard Snyder is anchored over on the other side of Barden Inlet from where I’m at. This will be the last night of our trip. Tomorrow we’ll be back at the boat ramp where are rigs are, about 10 miles away. As you look at the pictures of the Cape Lookout Lighthouse, the interesting thing about this lighthouse is that the diamonds represent direction. The white diamonds face east-west, while the black diamonds face north-south.Read more

  • C-TravelerNorth Carolina LoopTraveler
    House boat with a tuna tower???Sand sharksEither Bill or Mike taking a dip in the ocean.Some wild horses along Taylor CreekHomes along Taylor CreekBack at the boat ramp. I've already pulled C-Traveler out.

    Morehead City, Bill and Mike photo dump

    May 29, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 77 °F

    This dump of photos is from Bill and Mike. We were all in Barden Inlet by Cape Lookout, but I stayed close to the Light Station, while after lunch, they headed over to the west side of the Inlet. They explored Catfish Point, and the beach on the ocean side. They also did some swimming in the ocean. They took photos of the beach, Mike messing around with some crabs, and some sand sharks. Then as we got back inside the Beaufort Inlet, they detoured through the Beaufort Channel Inlet into Taylor Creek. There they got some more interesting pictures.Read more

  • C-TravelerNorth Carolina LoopTraveler
    Another wild horse on Shackleford Island.
    View of my iPad Navionics showing our route for this trip.Fort Macon. Look close and you might see the canonsCG Buoy Tender SmilaxR/V Atlantic Explorer. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RV_Atlantic_Explorerhttps://www.uscg.mil/Assets/Article/1825014/47-foot-motor-life-boat/Railroad Bridge left in the open position.Me, Bill, Mike, Myra, Mark

    Morehead City

    May 30, 2024 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 70 °F

    14 miles today. Total for our trip, 512.5. I burned about 120 gals of gas. We launched on May 15th, and returned on May 30th, so 15 days of travel. All in all, made pretty good time and had some nice weather for most the trip. Today we left Cape Lookout and Barden Inlet, traveling in the ocean along the Shackleford Banks shore, before turning into the Beaufort Inlet and then continuing up the Morehead City Harbor Channel to the Radio Island Boat Ramp. Mike and Bill actually detoured a bit into Taylor Creek. You can see my separate post in regards to their detour. I took a few photos of another wild horse, Fort Macon and some USCG boats. This afternoon Bill’s brother Mark and his wife Myra provided a N. Carolina BBQ and some other great food for supper. Bill will spend a day or two with his brother, while Mike and I left for home. (Bill lives in S. Carolina, while Mike also lives in Wisconsin.)Read more

    Trip end
    May 30, 2024
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