We spent a couple more days in Charleston, waiting on our Amazon locker to get fixed so we could get packages. Finally got ahold of a good customer service rep, who informed us that no action on repair had occurred, so we opted to cancel our order we were waiting on, and then re-order all the items to pick up further south.
We left Carolina Beach, and moved just a few miles south, closer to the exit to the ocean in preparation for an overnight run. Nice little spot, not much on shore, except for one important sign.
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| They really should have had another one of these facing the water before I got out and waded in to bring the dinghy to the beach |
We did a couple more boat projects while at Sojourn's dock.
Installed our new wind instrument - as the old one seemed to be failing a bit.
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| New wind instrument on right. |
We left Norfolk, filled up the diesel tank, and headed to our first lock on the Dismal Swamp route of the Intercoastal Waterway. The lock keeper warned us off. Said that the water level was low, and that the duckweed in the Dismal Swamp waterway was two feet thick in places. A normal person would have heeded that advice - but --- so we proceeded. Stopped right after the lock at our normal stop, got groceries, and pizza at Pizza Plus - same pizza - boy it was yummy for lunch on that cold day. Then proceeded down the Dismal Swamp canal - duckweed watch out.
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| Duckweed as seen from Deep Creek lock, as we start the trip. |
The duckweed covered about 75% of the water when we started, but quickly thinned out, so no issues.
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| Dismal Swamp canal - you can see the duckweed is not too bad now.. |
For those of you who might not know - duckweed is a weed, that has very small leaves. The issue with it is that as you motor, your water cooled engine can suck the duckweed up, and it will plug your filter for the engine water, and then you can overheat your engine. Even if you don't overheat the engine, a plugged filter means you have to shut the engine off, and spend time to clean it out, while drifting in a narrow canal, with trees and logs in the water waiting to bump you if you get to close to the sides of the canal. We figured since our water intake was about 2' below the water surface - we would be fine - and we were.
Stopped for the night 3/4 of the way down the canal, and had a nice night docked at the free dock at the Visitor Center for the Dismal Swamp Canal. Unfortunately coming in to the dock there were already a couple of boat, so we were at the end, and Kris did a great job docking, except for looking up, and seeing the overhanging tree. No damage to our newly painted mast, but a bit of debris on the boat.
After a peaceful night we headed south, to the next set of locks - and now we found the duckweed.
Wish we had a photo - but we were both too busy figuring out what to do. It was a mat of duckweed about 200 ' long and unknown depth we had to get through to get into the lock. Kris put the engines on full speed, and got the boat going around 5.5 knots right before she hit the duckweed, then throttled back, hoping to coast through, and not suck any into the engine. Did not work. Made it about 50' into the duckweed and boat came to a stop, as it was so thick. So both engines, near full throttle to make it the last 150', and we only went about 1 knot for speed. Could not steer either, as it was like moving through thick jello. We made it to the lock, where the duckweed cleared out, and tied up, and then Dean went down to clean our engine filters, while Kris manned the lines.
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| The almost solid mass of duckweed pulled out of the port and starboard engine filters. |
On the other side of the lock, we went through a smaller mat of duckweed, and then alternated engines while we cleaned the filters again. Then no more duckweed, and smooth motoring all the way to Elizabeth City, where we tied up at a free dock. Got in around 12:30, and around 3:00 walked into town to get our burrito fix at Big Boss Burritos.
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| Nice decoration outside Big Boss Burritos - it even has sound |
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| Now that's a big burrito |
After a nice lunch/dinner, we relaxed on the boat and prepared for a chilly night. It got very chilly. Dean even had to put on extra blankets.
Next morning could not get the starboard engine to start - had to crank it a lot, but it did finally start. Winds were supposed to be light, but had 8 to 20 knots, so good day sailing down to an anchorage at the end of the Alligator/Pungo River Canal. But it was cold - very cold
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| Shoes, two pair of socks, jeans under the fleece sweat pants, thermal top, with sweatshirt over, then down jacket, and wind jacket. Baseball cap, scarf, and gloves. |
Another day of sailing, 8 to 20 knots again, but made good time to the dock owned by our friends on got Sojourn (Karen and Duane). They are super nice folks, and let us stay at their dock, and also let us ship packages there.
It was also great that our friends on What If (Ed and Cathy) were at the dock as well, and greeted us and helped us tie up.
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| What If - with Ed and Cathy ready to help us tie up. |
It was very ice to be at dock, with power, as the nights are still quite cold. We had some items shipped in, and Duane and Karen offered the use of their truck, so we planned a trip to town.
We put in a Wal-Mart order, and also stopped at the grocery, auto parts, and marine stores. Kris picked up some new glow plugs for the diesel engine, as she figures that is what is causing the hard starting in cold weather.
We decided to do a fairly major provisioning.
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| After the trip. No room to walk with all the groceries. |
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| Pantry full to the brim |
Have been enjoying our time here, Visiting and eating good food with friends.
Kris got the oil and fuel filters changed on the engines, and will install new glow plugs. Dean worked on some small projects, and will clean the boat exterior. We got a new wind instrument display, and will get that installed as well.
Have a couple more packages coming, but should be ready to head south by Wednesday. Kris is anxious to get to warmer weather.
The boat went back in the water on Tuesday. We got all our projects done except painting the boom, but we can do that one in the water later if we still want.
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| Always very nerve racking to watch the boat in the travel lift moving. |
