DAY TEN -- September 26, 2009

7:01 am -- The Navigator pulls away from Coinjock, NC -- weather looks pretty good -- overcast with light winds.

10:23 am -- half way through the Pamlico Sound -- it is choppy with two foot waves --  shortly we head back into the inland waterway along the Neuse River to Beaufort, NC.

12:08 pm --  as our trek on the Neuse River ends we enter Adams Creek expecting to be in Beaufort before 1:00 pm.  We have decided to stay for the night since the forecast is rain and high winds later today.

1:49 pm -- we have made such good time that we going to Wrightsville Beach since tomorrow the winds will not be so friendly -- today there is a following sea.

3:24 pm -- an hour outside Wrightsville Beach -- the seas are none too friendly -- waves are eight feet high --- we feel like we are on a roller coaster running sideways.  Traveling  eight miles off shore --  we make the turn into Wrightsville Beach in twenty-four miles.

5:11 pm -- the Navigator makes the turn into the Masonboro Inlet during a heavy rain storm -- the ride has been “white knuckle” for the last few hours.  We dock in the nick of time -- the rain is now torrential.   The Cap says I should now know what rough seas are. 

My cousin, Pam and her husband, Larry, are coming at 7:00 pm and Mary’s niece, Mallory works at the Blue Wave -- the crab cake restaurant at the dock.  It has been worth the effort to make Wrightsville Beach. 

We tidy up the boat -- make our shopping list -- put together an  hors d’oeuvres tray --  and are ready to entertain.

6:52 pm -- Pam and Larry arrive as the rain is taking a break and Mallory comes over for a quick visit.    We give tours of the Navigator and have a nice chat before going to the Blue Water for dinner.

8: 45 pm -- we have just had one of the best dinners  -- the ultimate in crab cakes (no stuffing at all)  and -- a shared dessert to die for.  Mallory pops over from her station periodically and we give her Kieran’s (Pam’s daughter) contact information -- they’re about the same age and hopefully Kieran can provide tips about living in the area.

8:52 pm -- we have prevailed upon Pam to take us to the grocery store for provisions so we get to see some of the land area -- traveling by sea gives a unique perspective to locations visited. 

We made good progress today and visited with family in port -- what more can one ask for?