Beaufort, NC to Belhaven, NC

May 23, 2020 - May 27, 2020

We left the dock with the help of a very experienced dock hand without a scrape.  The current in the Beaufort Docks Marina can make getting in and out of a slip quite a challenge.  We had an uneventful trip, mostly on the Neuse River and the Pongo River and anchored in Goose Creek.  We were happy to be on the move once again and making good progress.  

When we went out to the cockpit in the morning we found masses of dead may flies everywhere.  I’m sure glad I put the screen over the companionway hatch last night! 

Yes, those are all may flies!
I appreciate insects and their importance in our
 ecologic system, but I don’t like them in my space.

While we were in the Pongo River and Alligator River Canal I made pizza for lunch and Bob changed the anchor swivel back to the original one.  Things got very exciting after that.  I was at the helm and a horrid noise came from below.  Soon we lost propulsion and had to anchor to keep the boat from going aground (we went aground anyway as the wind caused us to drift).  Thinking the noise could be caused by debris caught in the prop I put on my wet suit and swam over to the side of the boat to feel the prop for obstructions (I sure hoped there were no snakes nearby).  Finding no obstruction we called Tow Boat US on the VHF (no cell service in the canal).  We were having difficulty raising them and a near by sailboat hearing our dilemma relayed our information to the Tow Boat US operator in Bel Haven.  Thank goodness for the kindness of strangers! While we were waiting I went in the water again and tied the anchor securely with a line to prevent it from falling off as we had the idea that the problem may be a broken prop shaft. After an hour or so the tow boat arrived and towed us to the River Forest Boat Yard in Belhaven.  It was 5:00 pm by the time we were docked and the incident occurred just after lunch.  Bob and Axson (manager and son of the owner of the boatyard) discussed the incident and we all supposed it was a broken prop shaft, but the boat had to be hauled out and inspected to be sure. By this time Bob and I were exhausted, but we had to figure out what we would do while the boat was on the hard.  I researched places to stay and found Between Main and Water B & B that had a small efficiency cottage and would accept Lola. I also reserved a car from Enterprise in a nearby town.

One of us had to be at the helm keeping 
Rainy Days directly behind the tow boa.t

Monday, of course, was Memorial Day and we didn’t really expect much to happen, but shortly after lunch Axson and his crew hauled the boat out and put it on jack stands on land.  He quickly determined that the problem was a broken prop shaft and proceeded to remove it.  Nothing is ever easy with boat repairs and about four hours later the shaft was removed.  Sure enough the shaft was split in two in what Bob determined was a classic fatigue fracture. We spent the night on the boat and prepared to move into the cottage on Tuesday afternoon.

Getting Rainy Days onto the travel lift
took four guys guiding her.

Tuesday was a busy day.  I talked to Enterprise and they agreed to come and pick me up even though their location was 30 miles away.  While waiting for the car to pick me up I packed and firmed up the plans with the B & B for our stay. I returned with the car by 1:15, fixed lunch and started loading up the car.  We moved into the cottage at 3:15. After moving everything in we took great showers in the huge, beautifully tiled rain shower and settled in.  Lola was completely freaked out and ran from hiding place to hiding place until later that night after we went to bed when she came out and explored her new habitat. 

The cottage we rented is on the second
floor of this out building.

 It started to rain early on Wednesday.  Bob had asked the boat yard to clean and paint the hull below the water line and clean and wax the hull above the water line.  The weather may  complicate this process, but we fully expect to be in Belhaven for at least a week.  


Stay safe and thanks for reading my blog