After spending the better part of two years onboard, we have a pretty tight routine for getting the anchor up early in the morning. On good sleeping mornings, I can condense the timeline to roughly 15 minutes. Such was the case today. I exited the pilothouse for the bow as normal only to find that it was COLD ... and I was still in my usual shorts and a T-shirt. We spent so much time reviewing multiple weather sites for wind and wave predictions, but neglected to notice that the temperature was going to plummet. Passing by the NOAA station as we entered the ICW made us think of all aspects of weather forecasting. I ran downstairs, pulled jeans and fleece out of storage, and layered up. There was little activity around the fishing vessels at the Morehead City docks. A few folks were working cleanup at the destroyed docks. Another group was tending to the oyster beds. The wind was blowing in the low 20s and the current was against us as we moved up the Newport River to Core Creek. It was slow going and we had plenty of time to catch interesting views such as the helicopter in this yard.
We also gave in and fished out the portable heater and plugged it in. Just another reminder that we were not supposed to be back this early. Closed up in the pilothouse we were warm and comfortable. When we turned north into the Neuse River, the wind-driven waves met us on the bow with a short period. The chop did not make for an uncomfortable ride, but it did create quite a bit of spray. I tried to capture the moment, but it never looks the same as live. I'm sure Crossroads looked much like the 64-foot Hatteras traveling beside us and hidden behind a curtain of water.
Thankfully the Neuse River section did not last long and when we turned west the wind was blocked by the trees and we had a nice ride into the canal and through Hobucken. The fishing boats alongside the RE Mayo docks are always a nice sign of civilization. Another familiar landmark is this house at the entrance to the Pamlico River. We're always intrigued by its interesting architecture. One last northbound open water crossing gave us another boat wash before reaching the anchorage at Belhaven. Learning from my previous error, I was fully layered up in foul weather gear to deploy the anchor. It was dry outside, but blowing in the mid 20s and windchill was a most unwelcome factor.
As I type this, it is raining and the wind is still howling as a front is moving through. We will stay put tomorrow and let it pass. Both of us are looking forward to taking it easy during the rain delay.
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