2010 sail

Get ready, Marcnicliz is heading South around the 4th of Feb. Why so Late? Speedy had his gall bladder removed, a hernia repaired, and Nanc has been recovering from a broken leg. Hopefully things will improve quickly as we head for the Abacos this time. Our buddy boaters on Aviator are already on the ICW, and we hope to catch up with them in Miami. S We have loaded much food, summer clothes and enough towels for Speedy to feel secure. (You know his towel fetish!) It is a shame we didn't get out ahead of the predicted snow but....hopefully it will all be gone by next Thursday when we depart. So.....you will be able to follow our adventures again....and hopefully have a joyful trip with us. The new blog will be nancyandspeedy10.blogspot.com , as in 2010, to separate the two.

Home - D'ville

Departed Ft. Monroe at 0630 this morning and tied to the Deltaville dock at 1130. Home again. That is 13 days from Nassau to here with two days waiting in Fernandina Beach for the wind to drop. I am claiming that as a world record or at least a very good average. Ate the remainder of Kentucky fried for lunch and everyone is scattering. Odyssey - Any long journey, when filled with adventure, hardships, etc. Last blog, thanks for following along. S

Interesting Day

We stayed at Sea Scape Sat night and went on the hook Sunday night just North of the Alligator Bridge. We pulled the anchor this morning at 0635 and headed for Norfolk. After ten minutes we were hard aground. Chart plotter showed us with 9.2 feet under the keel. We lowered the dingy, and I used the anchor line as a lead weight to see where the deeper water was. A power boat moved by 150 yards away, and I jumped on Marcnicliz and powered forward as the waves passed. We moved several feet. I had Bill get in the Dingy and make waves, and we got off and underway by 0810.I found that the transducer offset was changed some how and put it back at the correct setting. We are now at Great Bridge Lock waiting for the 1700 lock and plan on anchoring around Ft Monroe tonight. S

We are on the dock at Sea Scape on Adams Creek Canal

Ran hard from 0640 this morning to 1850 tonight and stopped to refuel on Adams Creek Canal. Motored sailed the whole way with many bridges to negotiate. Steak tonight and popcorn as we watch As Good as It Gets. Chilled one of the beer kegs I brought along and killed it. Plan on leaving early in the morning at first light and anchor at Alligator River. Will miss church, say a prayer for us. S

Beaufort, NC tonight, we hope

Off the hook at 0640 this morning and encountered our first bridge, Wrightsville, at a few minutes past eight. She was going to make us wait for 58 minutes for the next on the hour opening. I ask her if she had opened on the hour and if she would consider letting us slip thru. We heard nothing and were getting our lines ready to hit a fuel dock as we waited. All of a sudden the horn sounded and she opened. Someone in this crew is living right. We then had to wait about 15 minutes for the Figure Eight Bridge, and we have now passed thru and are running for the next one which is two hours away and opens only on the hour. It will be close. Rained last night and washed the salt away from yesterday. Steak tonight. Watched Slum dog last night and Doubt is up for tonight. S

"Here is your butt", Mother Nature

We departed Fernandina Beach with a forecast of winds 20 to 25 on the stern and seas of 4 feet. About 2200 on the 8th, we had 25 gusting to 35 with 6 to 8 feet.We were hitting over 12 knots of boat speed surfing down the waves, and then... we encountered something in the water that attached to the keel or rudder. Our boat speed dropped to one knot, and I had to turn the boat into the wind and back down to release it. Pretty amazing. I then came on watch at 2400 and decided to divert for three hours into Charleston instead of continuing on to Cape Fear, which was 23 hours ahead. Bill and Ben tell me it is pretty hard to sleep with your foot on the ceiling to pin yourself to the bed. Got on the hook at 0500 and slept really well. When we went to the dock to refuel it took more time to wash all the salt off the boat than to put fuel in. Now passing North Myrtle after spending the night in Georgetown, SC. Lasagna tonight. S

Good day to be on the dock

Front has passed thru, and it is a good day to tied to a dock. Looks like Wed may be the day we head back out to Cape Fear. S