4/26 New Bern, NC

o mi

Today was a layover day.

The day was spent cleaning the boat, doing laundry, and minor maintenance. I walked around the downtown area of New Bern and explored the hotel, but there just wasn't a lot to offer. Perhaps after the last few days I just wanted to be out on the water and enjoying the adventure again.

In the afternoon I went to the airport and met Lois and brought her back to the boat. After she settled in we went uptown for dinner at a local type restaurant and came back to relax before tomorrow's travel.

I'm a little nervous since Lois doesn't have a lot of boating experience. While she has done a few day trips on Lake Erie, and she spent a couple of nights on board in Charleston in January, she just doesn't have a lot of confidence on the water. Well we will just see how it goes tomorrow.

4/25 Beaufort, NC - New Bern, NC

43 mi., 3 hrs.
Overcast, 70's, slight chop

We got up early this morning and took the loaner car the marina provided (nice touch) to Amanda's surprise father's day gift. I was really puzzled as we drove out of town and pulled into a small private airport. The surprise was to be a tour of the Outer Banks by plane. How cool is that; but sadly it was to overcast to see anything, so after a brief chat with the pilot and a promise to schedule when we return in the fall, it was back to the boat. Amanda was so disappointed after all her work; but now I really have an incentive to come back.

About 10:30 we left Beaufort and passed by Moorehead City and into Taylor Creek headed for the Neuse River. It's about a 2 hr trip to the Neuse and like so much of the trip the variety of scenery is wonderful. It just seems there is never a chance to get bored.

The Neuse is a large river that appears to be largely uninhabited. It reminded me a great deal of the large lakes in Canada where my Dad & I went fishing.

It was about an hour trip up the river to New Bern and to the Sheraton Hotel and Marina. The hotel is a convention type hotel with a nice marina.


We got in about 1:30 and took the hotel shuttle to the airport where Amanda rented a car for the trip back to Charleston. After taking me to the store to pick up some items, she headed south, planning to do some sightseeing and scouting stops for future trips on the way home. I was sad to see her go; but so glad she was with me from the start.

So now I have time to do some chores (change filters, clean, etc.) and an evening by myself before Lois arrives tomorrow.

4/24 Bald Head Island, NC - Beaufort, NC

100 mi., 6 hrs
Hazy AM, Sunny PM, warm, 2-4 waves with slight chop

We left Bald Head Island about 8:45 AM and started up the ICW headed for Beaufort. We weren't sure what to expect in the ICW, and what a change it was from the day before.

The ICW was pretty and interesting; but after a couple of hours we decided that with having to slow for traffic, no wake zones, and the occasional wrong turn, that we would go back offshore and head straight for Beaufort. Besides, Amanda had a surprise waiting for me in Beaufort. She won't tell me what it is; but she is really excited and frustrated with the scheduling and delays so about 10:30 we reentered the Atlantic at Mason Inlet (Wrightsville Beach) and headed to Beaufort. Again it was set the auto pilot and just be aware.

We arrived at the city docks in Beaufort about 1:30 PM. Once we were tied up and settled in Amanda headed off to check on her surprise plans and do some shopping. I explored the town and just kind of "visited" the shore. We appear to be in between the transient boat traffic going north and the summer tourist season, so there marinas and towns are empty and quiet.

Beaufort is a quaint town with little shops, galleries, Blackbeard, Treasure Island, and the southern tip of the Outer Banks their main claims to fame. In general a wonderful little town now,but I wonder what it's like "in season".

After a nice dinner ashore and a few hands of gin rummy; it was to bed to prepare for Amanda's surprise tomorrow morning, and then the trip into New Bern.