Southward, Ever Southward!

SHIP'S LOG:

It got down to at least 39 degrees last night! The morning broke relatively clear and cold and windy. It is a recurring theme it seems. Nonetheless, at $68.50 a night, as wonderful a place as Oriental is, I had to move on. It was down Adams Creek and another canal to Morehead City & Beaufort (pronounced Bow-Fert). It was a very narrow passage, with lots of shoaling taking place. The Core Of Engineers doesn't have the funds to keep all the ICW to a standard depth and seems to focus on the places with heavy commercial interests.

On the way to Morehead City, I passed a park bench floating in the canal. How it got there I have no idea but if you weren't attentive it could be a serious encounter. Lots more hoses along this part of the ICW and some of them real mansions. Lots of boats as well and some of them "mansions-sized" too. I am sure that the economy is hurting down here too but from what you can see off the water it doesn't appear to be the case.

Well, it finally happened again. Following the recommendation of "Skipper Bob's Guide to the ICW", I pulled into this little inlet and passed the "SANITARY" RESTAURANT" - yup, that's the name and made for this little bite on a small island. However, since this edition of Skipper Bob's went to press, that little bite got filled up with local moorings and there was no space for me, so I continued down the inlet which all maps and charts indicated joined up with the ICW. And once again I fell afoul of the the dreaded uncharted sand bar. One of the locals came by in his boat and he said his depth sounder was reading 12FEET! Mine read 10.2! and I only draw 5 1/2 ! The really bad thing about these things is that by the time you realize that you have been caught, trying to get off is almost useless. I tried, believe me I tried, but I had to resort to my friends at "Towboat/ US". They came and got me off in about five minutes and having the "unlimited Towing Policy" this time saved me, are you ready for this . . .$847! I am not sure how they figured that amount but since I am not paying for it, I really don't care. But $847 ! That's one heck of price for 5 minutes work! Waiting for operator to arrive, I noticed that there was a sailboat anchored on the other side of the ICE, just out of the channel. Checking the chart, it looked like a decent location except for the fact that I would be right along the edge of the channel. What was hinky about this was made clear when I headed over there, after getting unstuck, and had to cross in front of a large barge. Anchor too far off the channel and you go aground in the shallow water. Anchor too close to the channel and if the wind shifts you could swing out into the channel and into who knows what type of potential danger, not to mention it is illegal to anchor "in the channel" and there are big fines, yad-da-da! So I motored over and anchored inside of the other sailboat! There was plenty of room as was seen in the fact that two other sailboats and a large motor Yacht joined us. One of the other sailboats happened to be a subscriber to Skipper Bob's publication and got himself stuck in the very same place as I did. He got towed off and followed me over to "the other side!" Here on the "other side," we are more exposed and the wind is gusting and we are bouncing around pretty good. We have swung almost 180 degrees and it will be another bouncy, rolly night. If that's all that happens I am fine with that, it is just you don't get much in the way of restful sleep. I am beginning to appreciate spending one's nights in a marina!