day thirteen - south to Oriental

Sail off anchor at 7:00.  Steady rain at times overnight, a few mosquitoes so zipped up the mesh enclosure on the bivy and slept very well.  Cool with clouds all around in the morning, can see rain falling both to the east and west so put on the dry suit..

Overcast, southeast winds, a little blue sky to the southwest.  Making 1.8 downwind to the Pamlico River. 7:40 no wind and motoring west to Pamlico Point.  At the Point at 8:30, can see a storm moving up from the south on Pamlico Sound.  

9:00 Little Porpoise Point, wind, full sail making 3.8.  Rain falling at 9:35, put on my cotton oilskin to keep my head dry and warm.  Big Porpoise Point making 4.3 sailing to the south southwest.  

10:35 two tacks to round Sow Island Point, 4.2 across the mouth of Jones Bay.  Blues skies to southwest and west, dark clouds to the north and east.  More rain.  

Bay Island Point at 11:25, tack to the east, skies clearing and less wind.  Rough in the mouth of the Bay River, making just 1.2 in the chop and light wind.  Use the outboard to power through it.  Maw Point at 12:40.  

Wind arrives at 1:45, 2:00 light winds, 2:45 more wind and making 4.2.  3:20 off Pierce Creek and realize I've got a single tack from Gum Thicket to the Oriental breakwater.  

Under bright blue skies enter the harbor at Oriental at 4:00.  Surprised to see the free town dock is open.  I motor up to the dock where a man is waiting to catch my lines.  "Hi Steve," he says, a friend from a past visit.  Got to love Oriental.  

I decide to get a room at the Oriental Marina and Inn, a chance to shower, wash clothes, recharge my batteries.  A quick shower first, then head to M & M's for fried flounder dinner and a cold beer.  Then back to the Inn for, well, another beer and some local music on the patio.  How nice.

31.65 nautical miles