Moving on through North Carolina

     The next few days, cruising up the North Carolina coast, presented us with our first really crappy weather.  For three days, the skies were overcast, we had on and off rain, and way to much wind for my comfort.  There were few opportunities to take photos--dreary gray weather on the water is even worse than dreary gray weather anywhere else--even the water turns gray (along with my mood), so I will just mention where we went and include, at the end, the only picture taken over these three days.
     First stop out of Beaufort was a small town called Bellhaven.  Small town says it all about this place--and it wasn't even "historic."  Best part was the marina shower rooms and the men's were especially unique, so I will relate what Art told me about them.  They were decorated with World War II memorabilia from three Navy families, including photos, newspaper articles, official documents and personal letters.  One sailor served on a aircraft carrier, the second on a destroyer and the third on a supply ship.  These were real people and the documents and pictures were authentic.  Art especially enjoyed reading the letters to and from the sailors and their parents and girlfriends.  I honestly think he could have spent the day in there.  But since I didn't find Bellhaven (and the lousy weather) all that exciting, we moved on the next morning.
     Our next stop was Alligator River Marina, and guess what?  It was along the Alligator River--although we didn't see any (must have been the bad weather).  This marina was tiny  and we ended up parked behind a Shell station--a pretty funny place to end up when you think you are on this really cool trip and everyone wishes they could be with you.  Docked behind a gas station was not the most impressive place we have been--and there was nothing else there.  Obviously, it was time to move on again.
     Day three out of Beaufort brought us to another tiny place called Coinjock.  It was a tough day on the water.  We had to cross the Albbemarle Sound (a pretty big body of water for being inside the barrier islands) and it was rough.  The winds were up and the seas very choppy--it was the first time on this journey that we had things flopping around in the boat and we had to put everything back in order when we stopped (although the photo frame holding my favorite picture of Gregg, Lauren and their kids bit the dust).
     Coinjock's claim to fame is the prime rib served in the restaurant at the marina (which is all that is there).  We met a couple on the docks who had driven two hours from Virginia Beach just for the meat--whoa.  They slow roast it all day and with that kind of reputation, I wasn't going to miss this one.  The meal was indeed great, but we've had some pretty good prime rib in other places too.  (Translation:  it wasn't worth a two hour drive, but it sure beat the hell out of cooking on the boat).
     This lonely photo was taken by some friends as we pushed off the dock at Coinjock, heading to our next stop:  Portsmouth, Virginia (where we took lots of photos!).

This was the first decent weather day.  Art and I are at the helm on the flybridge and you are looking at the back of our heads (some of our best features).  Portsmouth next.