Hampton, VA to Charleston, SC

White Pepper joined the great migration south on Oct. 23^rd leaving our many new friends at Custom House Marina on the Hampton River. One friends, Steve Papkey, tagged along as guide and crew for the first part of the journey. This was our second south bound trip; the other trip being in 2010.

It was a brisk, cool, and sunny trip across Hampton Roads. By noon we had cleared the familiar Hospital Point in Portsmith, VA and dodged the freighter Zim New York. By 1pm we arrived at the Gilmerton Lift Bridge. While waiting we all reminisced about past problems dealing with this tricky bridge. An hour later we arrived at the Great Bridge Lock. After clearing the lock White Pepper pulled over and docked for the rest of day at the free dock provided by the city of Great Bridge.

 The Zim New York

 The naval hospital at Hospital Point, Portsmith

 The always tricky Gilmerton Lift Bridge

The single lock at Great Bridge

The next day was an easy and pleasant motor down the Virginia Cut to Coinjock, VA where we docked at the Midway Marina. Midway Marina is obviously in transition and suffers by comparison with the Coinjock Marina and Restaurant across the way. However, it was fine for our purposes. Jan and I spent the evening at Steve and Val's home nearby and had a lovely meal alongside their canal.

 There is a lot of industry at Great Bridge

Jan, Val and Steve

On Oct. 25^th we were actually able to sail across the Albemarle Sound with a brisk tail wind. We entered the Alligator River about 1430, cleared the Alligator River Bridge at 1500, and finally anchored at the base of the Alligator River. The wind had died to nothing by this time. The anchorage was crowded and the sunset particularly lovely.

Base of the Alligator River

On the 26^th White Pepper anchored in a new spot—Campbell Creek off of Goose Creek at mile marker 154.5. The next day we waved at our old friend, Oriental, NC as we motored on to Morehead City. We docked at Morehead City Yacht Basin. Joe and Sherry from Narsilion stopped by for dinner at a local restaurant. We had planned on staying at Morehead City for several days. However, after a walk around the next morning we decided to make good use of the good weather. After a long motor that included dodging some nasty shoaling in the ICW, White Pepper arrived at the Camp LeJeune anchorage also known as Mile Hammock Bay. It too was very crowded. I counted 20 boated anchored and were lucky to get a spot.

 Great place to eat

                                             The boardwalk at Morehead City, NC

Mile Hammock Bay at Camp Lejeune, NC

Saturday Oct. 29^th was an aggravating day. There were delays at the bridges including an absolute mob scene at the Wrightsville Swing Bridge. This was followed by an aggravation at Carolina Beach which is the subject of a separate blog post.

Mob scene on a Sat. afternoon at Wrightville Beach

Having waited for an excellent weather window, White Pepper followed a familiar route from the 2010 trip by sailing down the Cape Fear River and out into the Atlantic. The weather was excellent. After the sliver of a moon set, the night became so dark and clear that the star, Sirius, actually cast a glittering star shine across the water. I only wish a camera could have captured the moment. Dawn brought the jetties of Charleston. White Pepper docked at the Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina at 1015.