seeking shelter

Left Oriental (not easy for me to do) this morning.   Shorter than usual sailing day as I was getting alerts for severe thunderstorms moving around   Took a shortcut using a ditch through the marsh to Dipping Vat Creek and the Long Creek where I’ll be well protected  

 

the past few days

The last picture in this post is from this morning.  Cloudy and cool with a forecast of rain.  I’m back in Oriental after ten days that included some excellent sailing, visits to New Bern, Beaufort and Cape Lookout Bight.  There was a challenging sail up shoal-filled Core Sound and then a couple of gentle sails through beautiful canals.  High winds and waves kept me at anchor for a day.  Winds the following day carried me back to Oriental. 

I’ve got a room for the night.  About halfway through the trip this is the perfect time to do laundry, get cleaned up, resupply and recharge batteries.  

 

sailing into Cape Lookout Bight

Raised mizzen, jib and double reefed main this morning just outside Beaufort Inlet for a two hour sail to Cape Lookout Bight - a favorite place.  Later shook out the second reef to sail at 4.6 to 5.2 kts.  Wind and waves aft of starboard beam. Will head north up Core Sound either tomorrow or the following day.  

 

some props for SPARTINA

I have long resisted putting SPARTINA’s name on anything (even the boat, for that matter), no duffel bags, tee-shirts or the like.  So now after 17 years and several thousand miles of sailing, I have come to think she deserves her props.  Many thanks to the kind woman in Beaufort who helped me with the design and fonts, then used a complex computer/sewing machine to make this hat.  I like it. 

New Bern to Adams Creek

Sometime light winds, mostly strong winds.  Sometimes dark clouds overhead, feeling as if it is about to rain.  Mostly sunny and hot (the afternoon sun can be brutal).  Full sail, single reefed, double reefed, mizzen and jib, with lots of tacking.  Yesterday was great day on the Neuse River. 

Arrived Beaufort late this morning.  Will stay here tomorrow for laundry and clean up.  Headed I hope to Cape Lookout Bight the day after.  

 

Oriental to New Bern

 

Pamlico Sound

 Beautiful sail down Pamlico Sound to the Neuse River and Oriental yesterday.  Light but steady winds.  Sailed most the morning at 2 kts or less, finally hit 3.0 when the afternoon breezes filled in.  Slow, steady sailing on a picture perfect day. 

somehow it all disappears into the boat

Using the old gear checklist shared with me by Watertribe friends maybe 14 or 15 years ago.  It looks at gear in terms of systems, i.e. shelter system, cooking system, self-rescue system.  It has proven to be a good reliable list.  

Light winds and maybe afternoon rains tomorrow.  I will be content as long as I can make the drive down, rig and get on the water before the rain arrives.

Here's the tracking url for anyone who wants to follow along.  

 

tracking url and packing day

It's packing day.  Have most the food and gear ready to go.  Today is checking the electronics, batteries, etc.  Plan to load up Tuesday afternoon and be on the road to the Pamlico River early Wednesday.  Hope to visit Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds, the Neuse River and Cape Lookout.  Tracking url is here, or copy and paste the link below.  Should go live on Wednesday.  

https://maps.findmespot.com/s/WXKJ

When creating the shared url view I can across the last couple trips on my SPOT maps.  Made me smile.

Bahia Coco

 Arrived via car service and taxi about 1:00 pm.  This is the view from our rooftop patio.  

the volcano

last night and this morning 

 

under the volcano

Morning came with a beautiful and interesting lenticular cloud over the Arenal Volcano. 

And how about a nice swim with the Pilgrim in the thermal springs that flow from the volcano. 

Some local food last night, whole fried snapper.  Excellent!

 

a little pandemonium, a little peace

We’re in there somewhere.  

 

living like a sloth

…and loving every second of it.  Having a wonderful time in Costa Rica.  Tomorrow, the volcano.