Beaufort, NC, New Bern, and dozens of dolphins!

We had a nice ICW trip on Jan. 6 to Beaufort, NC. We motored slowly past R.E.Mayo, a fishing/ shrimping boat dock.  A little run-down, but very picturesque in the early morning light.

Here is a nice view of the waterway and it's many little shallow areas, shown from a bridge.  The only place boats can go through is the narrow blue water on the far right side of the picture.

Our friend in the area, Michael, was able to arrange for us to borrow a wonderful dock from one of his buddies.  This dock was the best!  Only a few blocks from downtown Beaufort, safe and secure on the floating dock, complete with electricity.  What a great favor! 

Friends Phyllis and Peter picked us up and took us to their home for the weekend.  It was a wonderful visit, although folks must have wondered about Phyllis and me....she also is wearing an aircast due to a foot injury.  Two peas in a pod!

We both love to knit and do crafty stuff - she taught me a new "something" --- I'll show it when I'm done!  Peter and Luke both have similar backgrounds and enjoy talking technical geek stuff, so we're all 4 happy!

While in Beaufort, Michael and his wife Connie invited us to a dinner party.  It was nice to meet new folks, plus the meal was delicious.  That was a real treat!

Today we took the outside run, not the ICW, and moved from Beaufort to Wrightsville Beach, NC, another 70 miles further south. It was a downwind motor sail, 15 kts diminishing to 5 kts by the end of the day.  We had the most amazing experience - at least 30 dolphin rushed to the boat as we were about 9 miles offshore.   They came blasting in from every direction.  For at least an hour and a half, they played beside, in front of, and under the boat!  WOW!  These pictures can't do the experience justice, but here are 3 views. If you could see this picture well, you could pick out 10 dolphin just crusing beside the boat.

This group is playing in the wake just off of our bow.



From both sides, they would scoot just under the bow, crossing our path.  Sort of like a game of "chicken"..

We've seen some beautiful things on our trips, but this surely was one of the best!