Report: Wednesday 31 October 2012 – Halloween

Day 6 of the Hurricane Sandy Hostage Crisis

Yesterday it was blowing a full gale out in the Pungo River.  Not so bad tucked in here at the docks at Dowry Creek. Nobody took off today from here, of course.  Very cold - 40s with windchill down in the 30s, and very humid.  Oh, well ...

Yesterday we also made a grocery run into town; did laundry; took the lashings off the sails; and put the dodger and bimini back up [the dinghy is still lashed onto the foredeck, where it will stay until we need it again.] 

Some of the boats are pulling out this morning.  With winds still in the 20s, gusting more, we will be staying put for another day.  It's supposed to slowly get less windy and warmer over the next few days, so we hope to make the crossing of Pimlico Sound and up the Neuse River later, under more comfortable conditions. [No Neuse is Good Neuse ...]  

It's a choice between cabin fever and getting beat up at sea - don't know which is worse, but safety first ...

Mark Doyle put on a 6-hour marathon session yesterday, telling us about all the anchorages, some of the marinas, and many of the hazards and cautions as we all travel down the ICW from here (NC) to South Florida. And also later about the cross-Florida waterway and cruising SW Florida and the Keys.  You just couldn't get this kind of information anywhere else.  Also learned A LOT about diesel maintenance, batteries, solar energy panels, and LED lighting. Wow!

We have met so many other boaters here - we have invitations to stop and visit some of them in Charleston and St. Augustine. We may lay over in these great cities on our way south, but not until December when we get back on-board after turkey with our kids and grandkids in California.

No events scheduled for today in Dowry Creek, except there may be some trick-or-treating between the boats. 

Tomorrow we may finally continue heading south. Finally!

Glad we made it through a hurricane, so we don't have to do that again ...

Report: Tuesday 30 October 2012 – 07:30

Day 5 of the Hurricane Sandy Hostage Crisis

It's about over here.  Still some wind, but down around 15 knots - not sure, since the wind instrument is still buried on the console under the cover (which is well tied on).  Rain stopped yesterday.  Still very humid, cloudy. It got real cold - low down around 40 F (46 this morning now) - wind chill way below that. High in 50s today and for next several days.  Biggest problem is that the windows are still condensing moisture inside the boat (nice that this is now the big problem).  Have to adjust the fender-boards now that the wind has shifted.

Events today at Camp Dowry Creek:  0800 - Road trip. Taking marina's car to get groceries in Belhaven.  1030 - Open discussion on boats: Engine maintenance, power [batteries; solar; wind generators; gasoline generators; ...], heaters, and whatever else comes up. 1400 - Fishing onboard. 1730 - Daily cocktail party.

Some boats may be leaving as soon as tomorrow = Wednesday. We will probably wait another day after that for the seas to calm down, as we have to cross Pamlico Sound (only a couple of miles) and go up the Neuse River (notoriously wild; "no Neuse is good Neuse...").  Winds will continue to diminish - expect 15-20 tomorrow; less next day; etc.

We continue to watch Sandy destroy New York and New Jersey - and are real glad we are not there anymore.  Cousins have lost power in both states; you all [yawl ...] are probably following the news as we are.

Spirits are so-so here.  Getting cabin fever, but not bad enough to take the boat out yet.  Everyone is now taking it day-by-day; will decide today about tomorrow, etc. etc.

Thanks to everyone for their support by e-mail and Facebook.  We can't believe how many people seem to be actually reading our blogs!  

Report: Monday 29 October 2012 – 08:30

Day 4 of the Hurricane Sandy Hostage Crisis

The worst is over.  Sandy passed by us last night, well out to sea east of Cape Hatteras.  We still will have winds today - probably 20-25 knots with gusts to 40. The same as we have been having, except now shifting to the northwest.  The winds will continue as Sandy continues her attack on the east coast.  Glad we are not in New York or New Jersey - hope they make it through okay. Landfall is a day or 2 away.

Still no wind problem, as we are sheltered from all directions except south and southeast (and then, only a couple of miles of fetch), and that is not going to happen until Sandy is long gone.  The boat is not rocking nearly as much as before; hardly at all.  There was a surge last night, the water came up about 1-1/2 feet, and has stopped rising.  Checked the dock lines last night, moved a fender-board down to compensate. Rain is much less intense.  

There has been 100% humidity for several days; boat doesn't leak but there is a lot of condensation on the inside.  The diesel heater is working wonderfully. Other than wiping up drips on the windows occasionally, we are still dry inside.  I am glad we have a new boat!

Still no worries about shore power.  We are running the boat on batteries, 12 volt, with a charger running off shore power.  If the land power goes off, we can always run the engine to keep the batteries charged.  So, no problem until we run out of diesel, and we have enough aboard for many days, if not a week or two, or more. In some ways, we are better off than those ashore who are dependent on the power grid.

Events today at Camp Dowry Creek:  9:00 Yoga (optional). 10:30 Continuing South on the ICW –  routes; anchorages; marinas - discussion of experiences and interests.  2:00 Power - wind, solar, generators, etc.  Power consumption.  5:30 Sundowners and cocktail party.  The wonderful cruisers' conference continues.

Julie O'Brien - sailor friend from Minnesota - e-mailed us that a couple she knows from Charleston Marina (South Carolina) is also cruising and holed up at this marina.  So we got to meet and talk with John and Helen Leddy (at the happy hour last night).

If all goes well, we may finally escape from here (Dowry Creek Marina, Belhaven NC) by Thursday or Friday.  Then we have 245 miles to Myrtle Beach down the ICW - have to get there by Thanksgiving week.  Should work if the weather holds after this.

Report: Sunday 28 October 2012 – 09:00

For latest’s hurricane news and forecasts, see the information at:
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

We had an interesting night.  Strong winds, rain.  Winds now 25 knots, gusting to 40; sometimes a little higher, often a little lower.  Wind from NE now slowly backing to North; that means the hurricane center is starting to pass to the east of us, off the Carolina coasts.  Won't be a direct hit here; probably not even on the Delmarva Peninsula now – sorry about that, New Jersey.

The real problem is that, although the winds are not supposed to get much worse, this will probably continue for several days.  But everyone is warm, dry, and well fed.

Boat has been rolling all night.  I find it much more comfortable to be lying down; we both slept very well.  Kind of rough sitting up. Even if shore power goes away, we have batteries, and enough diesel to recharge for many days. So we have lights, refrigeration, cold beer, food, friends. The forced-air diesel heating system is working very well – and was well worth the 6 boat units we paid for it.

Dock lines are holding.  The marina crew has been walking the docks, inspecting everyone's lines.  No significant surge. Rough here, considering we have almost no fetch – we can't imagine what it is like out in Pamlico Sound (or even off Cape Hatteras). This is the best possible hurricane hole to be in, in North Carolina – can't imagine what it would be like elsewhere.

We are spider-webbed between several pelican posts; we have about 8 dock lines out (read: ALL), in all directions.  For those of you who laughed that we carry 8 fenders and 2 fender-boards: Ha!  And we're not even touching the dock or posts.  There is no way the boat can go anywhere; even without the lines, the boat is trapped between pelican posts and finger piers.  And these docks survived Irene last year, with 109 mph winds here. No problem.

Events today at "Camp Dowry Creek":  9:00 Yoga (optional). 10:30 Laptops, iPads, etc. for boats – discussion.  Followed by individual work and programming.  2:00 Birding Aboard (with Diana Doyle).  5:30 Sundowners and cocktail party.  People are in (and full of) good spirits. Some people here have been through worse; those with experience are less worried than us newbie’s.

We (and everyone else) are wearing full foulies when making the trip to/from the boat and the clubhouse ashore.  Winds aren't supposed to get a lot worse; and we are very careful making the trip on the dock.  We can easily get ashore any time we want to; may spend much of the next day in the clubhouse.  If necessary, we can shlep blankets and pillows there and sleep on the floor (but I don't think it will be necessary.)  Note that we are NOT away from the docks and on-shore shelter (and have no intention of leaving here until it's all over.)

Latest forecast calls for landfall probably near Atlantic City. Sounds like Jersey, New York and especially Long Island are not the places to be.  Good luck to all up there.

As usual, Internet and phone is if-fy here.  If the shore loses power, we might lose communications.  Don't worry – we will be fine even if you can't hear from us.
Ilona is taking pictures so others can see what's going on.

  - Bob & Ilona, @ Dowry Creek Marina, just east of Belhaven NC.

Erie Canal closing

oh, the ear-eye-e was a rising and the gin was a-gettin' low ...

HURRICANE SANDY 10/26 UPDATE

The Erie Canal from Lock E-8.(Scotia) to Lock E-17 (Little Falls) is projected to close at 7:00 AM on Sat, October, 27, 2012. Water levels in this section will begin to be lowered, at that time, to approximately 3-5 feet below minimum navigation
levels. Any vessels remaining in this section which are able to navigate at reduced water levels, will be allowed to transit to safe harbor. Additional closures are possible depending on the storm track.

Bahamas Bound Discussion Group

An impromptu group, comparing notes and swapping advice - for those of us heading towards the Bahamas.   One of the events at the Hurricane Sandy Hostage Crisis Convention, for those of us holed up near Belhaven, North Carolina.

Mark Doyle, Bob & Ilona Rouda, and others.
Photo by Michelle Bennett, s/v A La Mer.

Events for the Hurricane Sandy Hostage Crisis

Schedule of events for those of us at the Dowry Creek Marina (Belhaven, NC), for the next several days.  Organized by Mark Doyle (m/v Semi-Local).

This is turning into one hell of a great boater's rendezvous, convention and party! [Keeping our spirits up as we take our liquid spirits down ...]