Saturday, 29 May Location: Mill Creek, Ingram Bay N36.17 W 76.13

This morning, we left our anchorage in Deltaville VA, and went north to Mill Creek in Ingram Bay to spend the night in another beautiful anchorage hideout.

While in Deltaville, we motored our dingy to a nearby marina intending to walk for supplies. Upon arrival, we met Dr Steve from Wisconsin, another remarkably helpful person, who was visiting his brother at the marina. Steve offered to drive us to the marine supply store as well as the grocery store and back to the marina as well. He shared with us that he was a medical graduate from USF, lives in Wisconsin, and has just been promoted to Major in the Air Force Reserves. He was returning home today to his wife and two children in Green Bay WI and said he would follow us on the blog. (Hello to you, Steve, and thank you very much for your kindness. We may take you up on that dinner if we get near.)

Chesapeake Bay is Large. 25 miles across at the widest point and 200 long miles and so many places to see and visit. Tomorrow we will be parting ways, Jack and Linda and Skipper will be going up the Potomac for home on Cobb Island and we will be heading north to Solomon. It was great getting to know them and being able to spend the time traveling with them.

Wednesday 26may Location: Norfolk Va

Had a wonderful day traveling the Dismal Canal.
Arrived at the welcome station last night with limited docking space, so we experienced our first "rafting tie up",(docking one boat side by side to another). Upon arrival, we asked the boater docked if we could tie up our boat to his boat. Then, shortly after, a couple we have been travelling with arrived and tied up to ours. Soon, after a very short walk, the other boaters joined us for wine and cheese.
Tonite, we are anchored in Norfolk, VIRGINIA, and tomorrow, we begin our travels in the Chesapeake Bay.

Monday, May 24 Location: Elizabeth City NC Marina

We stayed at the Elizabeth City Marina an extra day due to high winds. This evening, there was a wine and cheese welcoming reception provided for all the boaters at the marina by the city which was attended by the mayor. The hospitality they offer their mariners is their way of promoting their lovely city and it is exceptional .


Tomorrow, we will enter the Dismal Swamp Canal, cruising approximately 20 miles to reach the first lock (a lock is a tub that allows 6 or 8 boats to enter through gates on one end. The gates close, gates on the other end open and water flows in or out depending on the necessary rise or lower requirement). This lock has an 8ft lift. The Dismal Swamp Canal is a secondary ICW route that will take us from North Carolina to Virginia. The route was originally constructed in 1790 to provide NC with an outlet for its produce. However, it was never as functional as today’s primary ICW to the east and is now promoted as a scenic route into the past.

Sunday 23 May Location : Elizabeth City, NC Marina (36 17 .906 / 76 13 .101)

Our 5th week

For the past week, there has been very little access to the internet – even with the air card.

We have been anchoring out quite a bit and really enjoy it. It is economical, but mostly, it is so peaceful, especially when the winds are calm.

Spent two nights docked at the famous Sanitary Fish Market and Restaurant in Morehead, NC. Enjoyed a delicious seafood dinner .The restaurant opened in 1937 and, as the photos on the wall reflect, has been visited by many famous persons. The unofficial maitre de has been working at the restaurant since the age of 14 and is now well into his 70’s. He greets and chats with all the customers in a very cheerful manner.

We had ordered a part for the anchor light from West Marine to be picked up in Morehead and used our bikes, of course, as transportation. Our short bike trip ended up being quite a work out ----11-12 miles round trip. Someone misinformed us and we did not do our research on our Tom-Tom gps in advance. Another lesson learned. We were some tired pups!!!

Spent another day docked at Belhaven, NC, and the Admiral advised “the crew” it would be a work detail stop: Laundry , kitty cat haircuts, grocery shopping (traveled the 14 blocks via golf cart –without brakes), and some housekeeping and boat polishing.

Late this night, while Richard was adjusting dock lines, he heard someone calling out in distress. The very intoxicated man had fallen from the dock into the water. With considerable effort, Richard was able to get him back on the dock and on board his boat. That man’s fate could have been so different had Richard not been there for him at that moment.

Today Sunday, May 23 . We left our anchorage early this morning, at 545am, while the winds were calm, to cross the 15 mile Albemarle Sound. We finished the sunrise crossing at 1100am and are docked at the Elizabeth City Marina , which is free for up to 48 hrs. Fortunately, and as we had hoped, we arrived well before a significant thunder storm with blinding rain. Tadpole is rocking, but safe and sound and so are we. Will more than likely stay here tomorrow, then will begin the Dismal Swamp Canal Route.

Monday, May 17 Location: anchored near New Topsail Inlet

Today was a very long, 10 hour day.  It began at 0600 when we departed our anchorage, encountered rain in the early part of the day, followed by a cool, cloudcovered, delightful day.  Successfully, completed 76 miles. 

It's early to bed for us.......goodnite to all!

Sunday May 16 Location: anchored on the South/North Carolina line

Sharing a moment with you -
Yesterday, while Tiki was visiting on the bridge, I started drifting sideways toward a daymarker into what looked like a bend in the river and soon learned it was not a bend but an intersection of another waterway with very fast current.  As Tadpole started moving toward the daymarker, I turned the helm "full left" and "advanced the throttle".  Tadpole continued toward the post until she stopped suddenly - on sand!
I put her in reverse, and was able to back off the sandbar.  (a fine feature of a trawler is the center keel, extending down in front of the single prop, thus allowing the propellar to pull us off.  This normally works in a soft grounding at slow speed).

Today, we made it through an 18 mile stretch labeled on the charts as the "rockpile" without incident and are ready for a glass of wine.  Cheers to everyone!

Saturday, May 15 Location: cruising the ICW north of CHS

The Tadpole and crew spent the last 2 ½ days enjoying Charleston SC at the Charleston Maritime Center, a very comfortable and friendly marina. We took off on our bikes for a day of touring and sightseeing much of Charleston’s historic homes, many built in the early 1700’s. We learned from a local resident that most of the homes have gorgeous gardens not visible from the front, and were lucky enough to have a private tour of his garden and several neighbors (one being designed by Prince Charles’ private gardener).


Lots of Civil War history! What a magnificent place! Met several folks who had come to visit and never left. I can understand why. Thought of all our theatre friends as we attempted to visit the local theatre. We were unable to tour it due to a rehersal in progress.

We met Kathy and George, who were on the final leg of the Loop to end in Cheasapeake Bay. They invited us to a delicious steak dinner aboard their trawler and shared some of their stories and adventures; very informative and useful . And a very nice evening. Also, met Tug Buse (type his name in google), who is doing the Loop on his home made 14 ft sailboat. How amazing is that!!!

Underway again, cruising north on the ICW. Will anchor out the next few nights.

We really like reading your comments; so glad you’re travelling with us and sharing our experiences.
Keep them coming!

Tuesday, May 11 location: anchored 10miles north of Beaufort, SC

The sun is setting as I write today's entry.  We arrived in Beaufort at noon and took advantage of a free floating dock offered for limited hours. Enjoyed a nice lunch at Plum's Restaurant; followed that with a walk through the historic district, looking at old mansion's.  Had the opportunity to take a photo of a "very old well shaped oak tree" and a well shaped younger woman (photo included).

Beaufort's tide swing is one of the highest on the east coast - 8 feet - and result in very strong currents. Today, we also had strong winds and strong currents; set 5 fenders on starboard side and "landed" Tadpole against the dock. At the end of our day, we had a helpful boater who agreed to pull our bow away from the dock with his boat, allowing us to motor again.

Now we are anchored alone, with serenity all around us.

(written by Richard)

Monday, May 10 35 miles south of Beaufort, SC

Spent the weekend in Brunswick, Ga. We were there for their first Friday of the month festival with Tracy and Eric, who came up for a weekend visit.

The Tadpole has worked its way through the Georgia shoals (shallow areas) and observed two unfortunate boats hard aground (up on the sand). With pride, we crossed the state line into South Carolina this afternoon before Smokey and the Bandit could catch us.
To date, we have had the engine running 109 hours and added 300 gallons of fuel; travelling approximately 787 miles. We are anchored tonite about 35 miles south of Beaufort, SC.
Happy Birthday, Sonya!

Friday 07May - Brunswick Ga

Today is Friday and the weather is beautiful. Anchored last night just south of Fernandina Beach.  Enjoyed an on board dinner cooked by me for the "crew".
Today's fotos tell it all, sunrise, boat traffic on the ICW and daily exercise. We are having a Wonderful time.

We previously mentioned that we have had some stressful moments. Today’s foto reflects 2 shiny, new parts on Tadpole’s engine. The one at the top is a fuel selenoid. When this fails, the engine shuts down due to lack of fuel, and Boat US tows you back to port. Such happened to us. The lower shiny new part is the oil pressure sender. One’s heart stops when this part fails, and the oil gauges indicate no oil pressure. We are happy to report that these issues have been successfully resolved.

Wednesday May 5 Cinco de Mayo - St Augustine Municipal Harbor

Sorry for the lengthy delay.

Since last post, we left Stuart , headed north on the ICW (inter Coastal waterway) to Ft Pierce. The winds and currents were so strong in Ft Pierce, Tadpole was “crabbing” 60 degrees off true course. .. so we aborted our attempt to enter the marina and anchored out nearby.

The following evening, we anchored in Titusville, then on to New Smyrna Beach and enjoyed a walk through historic downtown and dinner at Blackbeard’s , left early the next morning before the winds picked up-- our single engine makes maneuvering among several other boats challenging!
We made a quick stop in Daytona for fuel. (100 gal x$3.02).

Now, we are here in lovely, historic St Augustine for a much needed restful 2 days

Tracy and Eric came over from Jacksonville and spent the evening with us. After dinner, walked down

St George St and stopped for ice cream. They will meet us for a Mother’s day weekend in Brunswick, Ga.

Plans today include walking through the fort and later having dinner with our sister in law, Claire, and nephew, Tony. Hope to be able to enjoy some limited shopping .

Summary: In the first two weeks of our journey we have experienced some stressful moments as expected, correcting some mechanical issues and gaining additional experience.
We are doing well in setting up a workable routine on our limited space floating home..some “Loopers"

do not bring enough STUFF, some bring too much…we brought too much!
I think tomorrow, as we leave Florida and enter Georgia, we will realize that this not just an outing

but a journey..a journey that we have dreamed of doing together.

Happy birthday, Nicole