HB at the Southport docks.

HB is smiling! She entered the ocean (finally) on Tuesday  10/14 at 12:00. It has been 5 1/2 years since she frolicked in a swell with dophins dancing in her wake. It was a good reunion. Pat, too, had a great intro to offshore sailing. Mild winds off the quarter, a gentle swell from the east and a clear bright daylight sky. Then a full moon for the entire overnight trip to Charleston. For those who've never seen a full moon at sea (with no land in sight) .... it is spectacular! Really helps to put things in perperspective as to how insignificant we really are! We were joined by two "stray" crew members, Yangtze (a gold finch) and Wrenford (a wren)! Tow birds flew onto deck while we where twenty miles offshore and boy were their arms (OK wings) tired (to quote Red Skeleton). After a brief recuperation they became part of the family. At one point I thought Pat was going to make little bunks (with little pillows) for them!@#!!! Evidently they were so appreciative of a place to light that they forgot they were "wild". At one point Pat was actually hand feeding them and helping them drink water. They were without fear...even landing on my head! They both disappeared at dark (tucked into some little comfy spot I suspect). Sadly, the next morning, Wrenford was lying dead in the cockpit. I suspect as a result of man and beast sharing too close quarters (in the dark). Just after sunrise, when approaching Charleston, Yangtze flew off to join some seagulls on one of the sea buoys. Good bye little friends.

Anyway...we're here in Charleston for two nights. Walked through town yesterday and had a late lunch. Charleston is a great city. Hope to get out to Fort Sumter tomorrow. Then were off in route to Savannah. 

pics of Stowaways here

Pat on watch as we motor down the ICW.

The beauty of our plan is..."there is no plan"! Even when there is one.....it's subject to change!!
Weather, once again, kept us from going out to Cape Lookout. Had we gone we would have had to stay there for 4 or 5 days due to unfavorable winds. So we motored down the ICW through Camp Lejune, Wrightsville Beach and are now anchored in Carolina Beach, NC. Tomorrow it's a short hop to Southport where we will depart from on Monday morning. The current "blow" should be out of here later tomorrow. It has been another windy, damp and cloudy couple of days. As you can see (Pat's pic) our attire has been full foul weather gear. That's OK....it makes the day dry, warm and comfortable. The good news is that Monday AM we reintroduce HB to the open ocean (and give Pat her first offshore venture). It will be an easy one with a two leg trip. 67 miles to Winyah Bay with a quick layover and then again offshore to Charleston (98 miles). If the weather holds we may just stay offshore and go directly to Charleston. Our extended Ocracoke stay now has us in a wee bit of a rush to move south! Hoping to be in Savannah by October 24th to meet up with Debbie and Randy! Looking forward to that get together (it's always a good one!!). So that's it for now. Will update from Charleston (unless something spurs us sooner). Have fun!

PS - Virginia & Davie (from Nantascot (the yellow Spray from Ocracoke)) gave us use of their car while in Beaufort. Our provisioning would have been impossible without their help. Then, to top it off, they had us over to their home for dinner! "Thank you" Virginia & Dave! 
Read more at: 
http://towndock.net/shippingnews/nantascot?pg=1

Ocracoke lighthouse just off our port quarter.

We awoke to a beautiful fall like day. Crystal clear, fifty one degrees with a fresh NNW breeze. We rode to the coffee shop with long sleeves and jackets. Charleston and Savannah are now bekoning us south! We're excited, today, with Emily on her way down. She's to be here early this evening. We will move HB back to the Park Service docks so the "grandogs" have easy access to shore (yes....and we won't have to ferry their arses back and forth). Looking forward to catching up with Em! She's here until the 6th. Hopefully Katherman's will be here on the 6th for an overnighter and then we will shove off for Oriental, NC. Then a quick one or two day stop in Beaufort, NC followed by a quick jaunt (offshore) to Charleston, SC. Plans are to do a little Revolutionary War history tour, see Brian K. and then off, again, to Savannah where the Atlanta crew will join us for a fun visit and some more Revolutionary War history touring. So that's the update as it stands this morning. Stay tuned....

PS - Someone told me (predeparture) that you can not get any work done underway. Oh how contraire..... we are shortening the 'to do" list with each good weather day.  See Pics Here

End of day at anchor in Silver Lake

....the day is coming to an end. Just back from a beer, chips and salsa at the Jolly Roger (lakeside bar/resturant). Sitting in the cockpit enjoying the sunset. We'll make pizza in a little while. Wishing you were all here to share the moment. You are here, with us, in spirit....we await you physical presence with great anticipation! Buenos noches'

Our new "designated smoking area" onboard.

Let's hear it for Pat!!! 30 days with no tobacco! I am proud of her and am confident that she is on the road to being permanently "smoke free". It hasn't been all easy....but she's managing it well and gets through each day one at a time. Somehow I think this new lifestyle has enabled her to face this challenge with a new twist..... and it's working!

PS - Yes.... I, too, am tobacco free! To quote the Soup Nazi.... "No cigars for you!!!"