day six - into Oriental

Sail off anchor at 6:20, sunrise coming with a flock of white ibises.  Clear skies, light south wind.  Peaceful morning, quiet enough to listen to the sounds of the marsh.  Tack to the east side of Turnagain Bay to get a better angle on the wind. Making 2.1, then less wind, then more, 3.2.

7:25 rounding the point at Abraham Bay.  7:45 slip out onto the wide Neuse River.

Nothing but the water of Pamlico Sound to the north.  White sandy beach to port.  Making 3.9 on the river. Better wind at 8:25, doing a comfortable 3.8 towards Oriental. 

8:55 approaching the western shore of the Neuse, 4.3.  There is a waterman ahead setting out his crab pots.  Tack just before reaching the first crab pot float, I figure a long run on this tack and I'll be close to the Oriental channel markers.  And then the wind dies.  I struggle to find the wind, and there is none.  Under power with the sails still up.

10:35 the wind fills in just off Whittaker Creek.  A couple of tacks and sail past the jetty into Oriental.  Sails down and motor past the shrimp boats.  A man is standing on the town dock, seemingly waiting for me.  He greets me by name, grabs the dock lines.  His name is Kevin and he tells me he has followed my log.  He noticed my morning track and was there to greet me.  How nice.  We talks about boats and Oriental.  It is good to meet him.

There is a tight fit at the town dock.  After a while I cast off and motor around to the seawall behind Keith's BlueJacket 24 "LIZ."  Just enough room for SPARTINA.

Then off to M and M's for a burger.

Afternoon thunderstorms, then clearing for the evening.

 14.76