Gotta' Love Little Boys!!

School Report

Harris started a Mother's Morning Out program at our church this year, which gives me two mornings child-free every week. He started off a little rocky, missing Mom and not wanting to go. Happily, that turned around quickly, and now he gets nothing but good reports.

Some of the comments on his daily report card:

Happy
Chatty
Content
Friendly
Shared well
"So sweet with everyone"
"Very helpful! Says Abby's name now & ID's her"
"Very loving and caring with Margaret"

I love hearing these things about my Harris Bug!

Bridges Along the Way

Leaving Norfolk, Virginia

On October 13th, I met my dad in Norfolk to begin our Father-Daughter leg of his "migration" south in his boat, Progress. We left early the next morning on a beautiful, although chilly, Satuday morning.
This is channel marker '0' for the ICW.
There was a tallship regatta the week before I met my dad in Norfolk, and this was one of the many beautiful tallships in the harbor that day.
Norfolk is a huge ship building port, and it seemed very industrial.
One of the sights along the bank of the ICW. It looked like it had been there for quite some time.

Headed to Coinjock, North Carolina

There was one lock to do as we started off the day. It was nothing like the locks Jason and I did with Dad in New York... we only went down (or was it up?) two feet! There was a huge group of us heading south, and the lock was full.
Shortly after the lock, we had to wait over 45 minutes for this barge to pass under the bridge. It went on and on and on... I have never seen such a thing. There were at least 5 tugs, other than the one pulling the whole parade, helping to keep everything in line.
The banks were beautiful... lots of cypress and pines. The water through this part of the ICW was brown... very different than the blue water that I saw on every other leg that I have done.
These three big guys looked a little scary looming over our stern. Crazy skiier in 60 degree weather... a little chilly, I would think!
Sometimes we would catch a glimpse of civilization,
but then we would turn a corner and be wowed by the feeling we were far away from everyone and everything.

Coinjock to Oriental

This is the small marina we stayed in at Coinjock. On the other side of the river, there was a long dock that served as another marina. Since it was a big "migration" weekend, there were a ton of boats lined up along that dock, sometimes even three deep. We were smart enough to call ahead and were able to get a slip.
Coinjock at 8:00am, as we were pulling away for the marina, ready to begin our trip across the Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds.
A view from the Albemarle Sound.


Fishing boats leving Oriental as we arrived.

Oriental, North Carolina

Oriental, North Carolina was a cute little fishing town. I do have to stress the word "little". I went for a run when we got there, and I ran the entire thing in less than 30 minutes. I even headed halfway out of town to make my run long enough!

(As a little side note, I have found that running a town is my favorite way to see it. I find streets, houses, and views that I wouldn't otherwise find if I was in a car or in the boat. Walking is great, too, but not as much ground gets covered as running!)
Dad had read about Oriental in a cruising guide and was interested in stopping there during his spring trip, but it got put on hold until now. I'm glad that we were able to do it this time, as it is such a neat place to visit. Lots of transients like us and lots of fishing boats. This is the marina that we stayed it. There was also a motel with a pool and tiki bar there... the tiki bar was jumpin', even on a Sunday night!




This is a fishing boat with crazy lights that are reflected in the water below it.

Oriental to Beaufort

Leaving Oriental behind. After we crossed a small portion of the Neuse River, we reentered the ICW.

As we headed south through the ICW, the scenery changed constantly. The further south we got, the more and more I felt like I was heading home... things started to look familiar and very simialr to what we see along the ICW in South Carolina. It especially reminded me of the rivers we played on when Jason lived on Nightingale Plantation in Georgetown.

Approaching the North Carolina State Port in Morehead City... almost to my final destination, Beaufort.

Air Tour

When Dad and I were in North Carolina during the spring "migration" north, I had arranged for an air tour for his birthday. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't great then, so we planned to try again this trip. Thankfully, the weather was beautiful, and we were able to take a tour of the area in a small plane. This picture is of the airport, right before take-off. The plane was tiny... only able to seat four people!!



We flew over Fort Macon (the Civil War fort), Shackleford Banks and saw the wild ponies, the Cape Lookout Lighthouse, and over the site of Blackbeard's shipwreck.
This is the marina where we stayed... we went right over Dad's boat.
I ran along this road on Monday... it was a beautiful run along the water.
The pictures really don't do the tour justice... it is definitely something you have to see for yourself. It was amazing up there and such an incredible way to see what we had seen by boat. I think Dad really enjoyed the tour and his belated birthday gift.

Goodbye Beaufort

After the incredible air tour, Dad and I went for an incredible dinner. We ate way too much and barely waddled back to the boat. The next morning, I got my rental car and sadly headed home. I was missing my boys, but I think I could have done with one more day on the boat.
Thank you again, Dad, for a great trip. It was such a beautiful and relaxing trip, and I am so glad to have gotten the father/daughter time. I am so looking forward to the next trip... when are we leaving???

For Jason

Thank you so much for taking such good care of the boys while I played with Dad. They had such a great time having you all to themselves, and I know it is a time that they will remember. You are an awesome Daddy, and I appreciate all that you did. Thank you again!