It’s Thursday afternoon and we are closing in on the canal that runs from the Albermarle Sound south toward Beaufort where Pandora will be until I return in mid January.
The list of items that need attention has grown in an alarming way including re-bedding of some ports and a few items with the engine. Oh yeah, don’t forget the new charger/inverter. That hurts… All and all, it reminds me why I do most of the work on Pandora myself. I’d go broke if I hired everything out. Alas, no choice on this list as I am way to far away from Beaufort to come down and do the work myself.
Anyway, it’s a nice day with temperatures in the lower 80s but that won’t last long as a front is coming through tomorrow that will bring brisk northerlies and much cooler temperatures.
Yesterday was the longest day for us as we left at daybreak and didn’t arrive in Ocracoke until shortly after dark a distance of nearly 80 miles. Going down the twisty channel in the twilight and then dark was a bit unnerving and I was very glad to have Jim along. At one point we nearly ran aground as the marks had been moved a good deal compliments of Matthew so the charts weren’t the same as what marked the channel. A combination of temporary floating marks and pilings sunk in the sand, many of which were unlit and hard to see made it just a blast… NOT!
As we left today, the treachery of the channel was brought into sharp focus as we passed a large shrimp boat hard aground in about the same spot where we had a “near brush” with a sandbar last evening. Another shrimp boat was standing by that hoped to pull them off. Several hours later I saw on AIS that the boat was still hard aground and his friend was steaming away. Mission NOT accomplished.
The channel was so narrow that a ferry that was headed into the channel as I left the harbor stood by outside to allow me to pass. In all the years I have been out on the water today was the only time that a commercial vessel has ever stood down to wait for me to pass. Tells you something about the dangers in that channel. This is the ferry. 
The night before, when we were entering the little harbor a ferry came in right behind me and shined their searchlight on me as I was approaching the dock to tie up. It was unnerving, to say the least and the lights blinded me. We tied up to our friends on Acadia across the dock. It is indeed a small world to run into friends unannounced. We enjoyed our visit. 
So now, forgive me but I am going to bore you with yet another group of “sunset photos”. “NOOOOOOOO, NOT AGAIN BOB!” Sorry… it was beautiful with more than a dozen shrimpers plying the waters in the setting sun. 
Every few minutes the scene changed. 
I was struck by this view that looked like liquid silver in the waning light. Not sure what I’d do with this photo. Perhaps it would make for nice “wallpaper” on my laptop. 
Tomorrow I rent a car to head back to Hampton to deliver Jim home and then board a train for Stamford CT and a visit with my friend Craig along with a presentation about Cuba to a group that I belong to. The Corinthians are having their annual meeting on Sunday. Other than that, nothing going on, nothing of note at all.
In any event, I guess you could say that I am into the home stretch, well at least the home stretch of this chapter.
Once again, I can only say, “details to come”.
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