Blog of Events & Happenings

19 November 2025

Cast off at 8 a.m. for a 70-mile run to Beaufort, NC. Weather couldn’t have been better—sunny skies and calm waters all the way.

A scenic stretch of the Intracoastal Waterway: the Pungo and Pamlico Rivers, Goose Creek, Upper Spring Creek, a man-made canal, Bay River, and the Neuse River—20 miles of open water that can get wild, but was smooth sailing. From there, we cruised through Adams Creek, its canal, and finally the Russell Slough Channel into Beaufort.

This leg is a textbook example of how the ICW brilliantly connects natural waterways with man-made cuts to create a seamless passage – the ICW. We made the trip in just 7 hours, enjoying perfect conditions the entire way.

After tying up at Beaufort City Docks and freshening up, we set out in search of a new dinner spot. We’ve always gone to Clawson’s, but tonight we tried something different—Ribeye Restaurant. True to its name, it delivered: a cozy atmosphere, an all-you-can-eat salad and soup bar, and steaks from 8 to 32 ozs. We had a great meal. See a few pictures below. Magnify the pictures by hovering over the picture and click Ctrl twice.

20 November 2025

We’re picking up the pace—up at 6:50 and underway by 7:00 sharp. This morning we left Beaufort and made our way south to Wrightsville Beach, covering 76 miles. It was a good push, but necessary if we want to reach Georgetown, SC in time for Thanksgiving. We’re on track to arrive this Saturday, which gives us time to clean up the boat and get ready for the holiday week.

And in our planning we understand what we have to do every day on the water. We have to decide where we’re going — and get a reservation or anchorage location, then review the waterway and manage the trip. How many no-wake zones will keep as at idle speed, what bridges must we meet a published opening time to get through without a long wait, and then we realize the weather and shifting shoals at some locations impact our trip and may keep us guessing whether we will go aground and determine how fast can we go through the area to make it to our destination before dark. Yep, it’s busy but this is what makes it great!

One of the photos below shows our route over a road map—it might help you visualize how we’re weaving our way through the Southeast. See this and more below. Magnify the pictures by hovering over the picture and click Ctrl twice.

November 17
Our morning began with a bit of boat TLC at Atlantic Yacht Basin, where we addressed a leak in the starboard shaft seal. Thankfully, it was a simple fix—made even easier with help from the friendly yard crew. Just routine maintenance, but always satisfying to check off. Now I wonder what other maintenance items I need to take care of this week.
By 10:30 AM, we were underway, heading 38 miles south to Coinjock. The waterway was lively, with plenty of boats on the move—many, like us, had been waiting out the weather. The route took us along the winding North Landing River and across the open Currituck Sound, offering a smooth and scenic ride.
Coinjock Marina welcomed us with its famously long face dock, perfect for accommodating vessels of all sizes. It’s also known for its restaurant, once celebrated for its generous prime rib. When we arrived, the dockhands mentioned they were expecting around 15 boats that evening. By nightfall, that number had easily been surpassed!
We settled in with a glass of wine and appetizers at the local bar—an ideal way to unwind. Later, we returned for dinner, though sadly, the restaurant’s reputation seems to have faded. The prime rib wasn’t what it used to be. Still, the marina remains a favorite stop, thanks to its excellent facilities and the camaraderie of fellow boaters. We shared stories, laughs, and a mutual love for life on the water. It’s the kind of place that feels like home.
November 18
A bright, sunny morning greeted us as we prepared for a longer leg of the journey. At 7 AM, we departed Coinjock, bound for Belhaven, NC—an 80-mile run that would carry us through a variety of waterways.
Our route began with a cruise down the North Landing River into the Albemarle Sound, then through the Alligator River Bridge and into the Alligator River itself. After about two hours, we reached the entrance to the Alligator-Pungo River Canal—a perfectly straight, 20-mile stretch that’s unmistakably man-made, in contrast to the winding rivers before it. Every hour we check or progress to ensure we on our plan to make it to Beaufort on time.
Eventually, the canal opened into the Pungo River, and by evening, we arrived in Belhaven. It was a long day on the water, but the journey was rewarding, filled with changing landscapes and the quiet rhythm of travel by boat.

I finished the evening at Fishhooks Restaurant in Belhaven with a true southern meal — a hamburger steak, mashed potatoes, and green beans. I’ve loved it and Carey enjoyed her seafood “Trawler Special” of flounder, oysters, and a crab cake. Amaxing southern food. A few pictures below. You can magnify an image by hovering over image and pressing Ctrl twice.

Got underway at 7:30 AM, timing our run to arrive at Great Bridge Lock and Bridge for its 10 AM opening. After last night’s fantastic dinner at Restaurant Guads in Portsmouth—easily one of the best Mexican meals we’ve had in ages—we were more than ready for the day.
The lock and bridge, currently operating on a two-hour schedule due to maintenance issues, made for a busy Sunday morning passage. Once through, we pulled into Atlantic Yacht Basin just beyond the lock for the night, to wait out another round of strong winds sweeping through the area.
With only three hours of travel behind us, the shorter day suited us perfectly. We spent the afternoon reading, relaxing, and watching a parade of beautiful boats make their way down the ICW. Spaghetti night!
A few pictures below. You can magnify an image by hovering over image and pressing Ctrl twice.

Up at 6 AM and underway by 6:45 for the 100-mile trip to Norfolk/Portsmouth. Olverson’s was quiet and peaceful as we left the marina during a beautiful sunrise. The wind was producing choppy waves on the beam as we joined the Potomac, but once we reached the Chesapeake Bay we smiled as 2-3 foot waves came from dead astern. The ride to Norfolk was great. As we passed the Norfolk Naval Station, I was reminded, with pride, that it’s the largest Naval Station in the world. It supports 75 ships, 5 of which are aircraft carriers, and 134 aircraft across 4,300 acres that has 4 miles of waterfront and 11 miles of pier and wharf space. Yep, a big deal. And the carrier pictured below is USS Harry S. Truman CVN-75. We ended the 100-mile run in just over 8.5 hours and stopped at Ocean Yacht Marina in Portsmouth.

We’re here for an extra day (the 15th) due to 25+ knots continuing in Albermarle Sound, but our plan is to move through North Carolina, as the weather allows. The picture below shows our route in a red line on a road map, giving you another perspective of the trip with other well-known landmarks.

First day of our cruise to the Bahamas! Finally loaded the boat and were underway at 10:30 AM, after a last night dinner at Dockside with our dear friend Peggy Saylor. The prime rib dinner was fantastic! Weather today was very good, clear and sunny with 12 knots of wind pushing us straight down the Potomac with 2-foot rollers astern. We made an easy three-and-a-half-hour trip to Olversons, topped off our fuel and stay tied up at the fuel dock for the evening. We have 100 miles to travel tomorrow to Norfolk before a 5:00 PM sunset. While at Olversons, we met with our friend Kathy Dow who we met 20 years ago on the Great Loop. She and her late husband Ross traveled over 20 years living aboard their trawler. We also traveled with them in the Bahamas and up the East coast. They docked and lived aboard at Port Kinsale for 12 years; she moved to Olversons following Ross’s death. Always great to see and reminisce our adventures together and there’s been quite a few! A few pictures below.