We are on the move!!!

We have not been boating on Broulee since September 2012 (after our trip to Maine).  It was a little nerve wracking to finally pull the plug and pull away from the dock, but at 6:30 Saturday morning we finally did just that. You know, trying to remember how to operate all the systems that were second nature before, are now a seemingly "new" event. And then we're off and it feels like home again. Well, almost. We'll check-in on that later. The winds for the day were predicted to be 15 out of the northeast, with gusts to 20, but diminishing to 10 by afternoon.  Our plan was to transit the Albemarle Sound  if indeed the winds laid down a bit.

  However, they did not. 

Saturday morning several boats jockeying for position for the 7:00 opening of the Centerville Bridge just south of Great Bridge.

We soon realized (due to our slower than normal slow speed) that either the prop or the bottom of the boat must be covered with zebra mussels or some type of small crustation.  When Rick pulled our "over-board" sacrificial zinc, the one hanging off the swim platform - it was encrusted with a million small clam shells that look a lot like zebra mussles.  We are losing close to a mile an hour off our normal cruising speed. Now debating where to haul out and check things out. We planned on doing a bottom paint anyway but had hoped to make it to Florida somewhere.  These trawlers are not that "fast" to start, but it's mildly embarrassing when even the sailboats are passing us. 

Anyway we stopped at around 2:00 at an anchorage just before the sound and tucked in close to shore.  The winds did not calm down till around 4:00, much too late for a crossing.  This allowed us to spend some time re-introducing Izzy to her potty/poop tray.  It didn't take long - we are now all happy campers.  

  Sunday morning heading for Albemarle Sound - much better conditions.  Winds 5-10 out of the Northwest, seas 1 ft.  Glad to report the crossing was uneventful and we are now safely anchored  at the Pungo River anchorage (with 4 sailboats), about mile #127.