On to Beaufort

We cast off the lines at 7:30 am (actually, we didn't cast off the lines - they go for $20 a line...- we hauled them in!
But we only went as far as the fuel/pump out dock. The goal was to empty all the "stuff" we had inadvertently been putting into the hold tank for the last week..it was full to overflowing (almost).

So we pumped out, poured fresh water in, pumped again...till we felt we had returned once more to having a clean holding tank

Priority and Island Spirit at the Pump Out station Dock

We finally left River Dunes at 8:15 and headed out into the Neuse river, setting a course for Adams Creek, on the opposite shore.

It was a beautiful, albeit windless, day. Our course took us close to Oriental, where we had visited Rich Fieldhouse the day before.

Oriental as seen from the Neuse river

Looking forward down Adams Creeek

 We were soon across the Neuse river and traveling down Adams Creek, a beautiful, wide, tree-lined canal connecting the Neuse river to Beaufort.

Looking back up Adams Creek

As we neared Beaufort Island Spirit headed off to stay at Greg and Kate's marina just north of Beaufort while we continued into Beaufort to stay at the Town Creek Marina

Shortly after we arrived the Electrician we had arranged came to the boat and began making the repairs to the wiring and most importantly replaced the not-working alternator with a shiny new one...wonderful.

The Town Creek Marina at dusk. note the bridge being built

That evening we went to Greg and Kate's house (they used to own an Island Packet, and ever since have befriended Island Packeters traveling up and down the ICW)