Sailing Manteo

We had a nice visit at Manteo.

Took a nice long bike ride up to the northern end  of Roanoke Island.  Lovely shady, paved walk/bikeway.   We also wandered around the Fort Raleigh National Park, but I failed to take even one photo there!!

Then we biked further south to find Strippers Restaurant - cheap beer and eats!  Worth the ride.

Back to the boat.

Lazy day - wandered around town a bit.  Interesting things just looked out the back of the boat.

A " multiple times per day " sailing cruise went out.

And this jet-ski powered contraption was a big hit with the tourists.   Interesting to see them spin around.

And interesting to see them "wipe out" - it happens in an instant so I never got a shot of it.  They just seem to lose there balance and they get "jet powered" down into the water.  They don't seem to get hurt, just slammed into the water.  They get back up in moments, so it must not hurt!   I'll leave that fun to them, I think!

Sailing Engelhard to Manteo

Leaving Engelhard.....nice folks but the dock was a bit un-tidy!  I hate to fuss, but no one wants green slime from the dock tracked on their white boat!

I called ahead to the Manteo dockmaster to make sure we could get there since the charts show really shallow water.  He reassured me that the charts are not correct.  Approaching Old House channel at the southern tip of the Roanoke Sound.

The Bonner Bridge....we didn't go out that way - just passed by in the distance.

Bodie Island Lighthouse in the distance.

 Approaching the bridge between Manteo and Kill Devil Hills.  This one we had to go under!

But this boat's mast is only 55 feet tall - so not a problem for this 65 foot bridge clearance.  Note the cloudy sky...

By the time we had negotiated the narrow channel into Manteo, a storm had blown in....we got tied up and almost immediately the sky opened up with a steady downpour.

And here we are later at the Manteo Waterfront at the free dock! (No power but the price is right!)

Sailing Ocracoke to Engelhard

Time to head out!  The morning started out nice enough as we exited Silver Lake....

But the skies off shore were ominous!

And appeared to be blowing the storm inland towards us!  Lightning popping all around.  But, the storm passed behind us, luckily!  I think the ferry probably weathered the storm.

Destination was Engelhard and the Big Trout Marina.  We'd never been there - but had read up on the very narrow channel.  No problems - the charts and markers were spot-on.  We're tied up at the dock - a big trawler passing by in the marina.  The town is mainly fishing-industry oriented.

The owners of the marina were extremely friendly!  We had a great lunch at their little diner - a nice, homey feeling and good food!

Island Girl on the dock.

The marina owner gave me some shrimp to use to fish off the boat - I fished for several hours at night trying to catch a flounder.....no luck but fun!

Last day at Ocracoke

Everyone deserted us!  I guess they had to go back to work!

Pat and Buddy shove off shortly after we said goodbye to the girls (who lined up for the ferry ride back).

We just had a nice, lazy day....doing the normal Ocracoke things.  But mostly just relaxing.

Even more Ocracoke

We (all the boat residents) went out for a group bike ride...and ran into the Pony Island crowd. Small island.

So, everyone eventually made it back to the marina.  Some fishing was accomplished off the boat.  A few small fish were caught and released.

Our cockpit was "party central" for a while!

Luke caught a small Atlantic Pufferfish.  The fellow on the dock said they were excellent to eat.  He even told me how to clean it.  So - I have a small amount of this fish that I put in the freezer on the boat and will sample later.  I'll let you know if it's "excellent"!

Strange happenings at the dock - a wedding party showed up for photos.  Pretty girls!

But this was probably the most strange thing I've seen in a while.  Two kids from the boat in front of us got on the dock and were cutting up with these animal heads.

Whatever happens in Ocracoke, stays in Oracoke.  Thank goodness!

Ocracoke Labor Day

This is not exactly "sailing"....but it's part of a larger sailing trip, so I'll include it here!

I forgot that I had caught a fish on the sail over.....I believe it's a bluefish.

Duane taught me how to clean it - a first for me, believe it or not! Easy - and nice to in touch with your food that way!  This is the next day smothered in Old Bay Seasoning ready for the annual Labor Day gathering. 

After a refreshing several-mile bike ride, we ran in to Howard/Peggy and Jeannine at the Pony Island.  I couldn't resist a photo of his shirt - cute!

Then we took Luke back for more clams since he enjoyed it so much last year.  Lots more clams!

It was also a sortof surprise "big" birthday for Sharon.  We won't be around on her actual birthday, so we decided to celebrate a bit early for fun while everyone was together.

She wore a cute shirt - how fitting!  And we were all Happy as Clams!

Howard manning the shrimp skewers that he had marinated during the day.

Lots of fun with the "usual suspects"!

My fish turned out wonderful on the grill - nothing like fresh, flaky fish!

Luke watching over the clams.

Good food and good friends.  And we gave Sharon a couple of gag "over the hill" gifts.  (Note the black balloons in the trees).  All in good fun!

More Ocracoke

While we were waiting on Diane and Sharon to arrive on the ferry the next day, the boys capitulated and took me clamming.....

I think they mostly had fun!  Pat with a mesh bag full!

Buddy and Duane mostly just "fished" with their toes....but harvested an amazing amount that way!

Pat with a fine specimen!

The girls finally arrived on the ferry and we were off to the normal haunts!  Gaffers....

Then the Ocracoke Oyster.  Diane tending bar....

That's about it for the day!   Bike ride back to the boats.

Ocracoke!

Started the day bright and early!

Pat and Buddy were our sailing partners.

We stayed close the entire trip.

Had to change course a bit for this shrimp ship with nets trailing.

I'll have to see if they took a photo of us underway!!

Both of us tied up at the Ocracoke docks....ready for some normal Ocracoke fun!  Sharon and Diane arrive later the old fashioned way via ground transport/ferry.

Flags

In anticipation of tomorrow's sail to Ocracoke, I've hoisted my little colorful flags up to the spreader!