The began like most other days, up early and get a start on making our way to Norfolk. Only thing was we didn't make Norfolk...But we did make it to Virginia. We stopped by Coinjock marina and topped off fuel, and water.We were gonna get a pump out but Skipper Bob's  book said it was $5.00 and the attendant said yeah it was $5.00 to pump and $6.00 to dispose of it.. Well I didn't care for that kind of bullshit business tactics so we  left without doing it.. We were about 20 miles up the waterway when we heard a loud noise and the boat kind of shook  and that was all she wrote.. The propeller shaft had broke!!!!.. That's right out in the middle of nowhere , with little chance of getting much help..We dropped anchor in the middle of the channel and Carl got to work.. It took some time till he figured out it was. Water was coming in the boat so I had to keep running the bilge pump to keep us afloat...Scary.Then he had to dive in the water and see if the propeller was still attached, luckily for us it was. There was an abandoned marina we had just passed with a dock so he hailed the first  cruising trawler (Bluegrass) and asked for a tow to the dock...Thanks for the help.. As we were pulling in some sailors (US Navy) came running up the dock to grab our lines.. Turned out they were doing training exercises  just past the dock and saw us being towed and came to help...That's our boys.. Love the American Military!!! We had passed them right before we broke down, they saw us but thought we just stopped to fish. Until they saw the tow line.. It was getting very hot outside, the temp sure did turn from the last few days.. It had to be in the 90's.. There was nothing that Bella or I could do to help so we decided to go swimming.. . I had asked a local  if they had and gators in the area and she said no to far north.. Good for Bella...You know how gators love little dogs..It was brackish water nice and cool and it felt great.! We were having a good time until the same lady yells SNAKE... Yes there were water moccasins in the area...She never told me that.. She was high tailing it off the rocks she was standing on and I immediately got out of the water. Oh well so much for swimming and cooling off...Back on the boat Carl was trying to figure out his next move. Bella and I watched the local ladies trying to catch crab with chicken strung on a line, The old fashion way.. I don't think they got much.. When they were leaving they asked if we wanted a ride to town to see if we could get out shaft made or replaced. Carl decided to go with them while I waited at the boat...Oh lucky me..  He took off and we just hung around the boat.. Carl returned a short time later saying he got a couple of phone numbers and the possibility of a repair the next day. We could call SeaTow to pull us 12 miles up river to a big marina so they could pull the boat out of the water, but we have to see if  Carl can fix is some cheaper way first. The evening was spent inside the cabin as the mosquitoes were out in great force.. And as luck would have it we were able to get T.V.  always in the middle of nowhere we are able to get it..go figure..So here we sit until we get repaired or towed to the next marina.. So the life of a cruiser...

Good morning everyone , hope all of you are doing well. It a hazy day here in N.C. with overcast skies.  Carl couldn't sleep so he decided to get up and get an early start on the day. He pulled anchor at 6:30am. I had to get up and take the wheel as he put on all that anchor chain on  that we will need in the north and man is it heavy. I can no longer pull it, lucky me... Once we were on our way I went back to bed till 8:30 a much more reasonably time. We had clear day and early start with lots of big water to cross today, so we just went for it. I made breakfast, not an easy task with waves pushing you around.. Hold on to that pot of coffee.....Most of the day was spent reading and taking turns at the helm. Late in the day we had another problem with the fuel system and the boat shut down. We threw an anchor in 20 ft of big water and Carl got right to work. It's a good thing he can find and fix this stuff. Apparently it was air getting in the line and in 45 minutes we were back up and running.We finished out the day and dropped anchor at 6:30 pm , we had had a full 12 hour day of motoring. Wind still on our nose, we had hoped we would have been able to sail in all that big water, but no such luck. Bella is so funny, as soon as that motor slows down she knows we are about to anchor and figures its play time for her. She runs around the deck trying to get Carl to chase her ...Very cute.. When the day was finished we had traveled 80 miles...that's right 80 miles....biggest day yet.. Although we aren't out of North Carolina we are real close and will be in the morning. Today its Norfolk Va. 

Sorry I was so late in posting today. I had no internet connection or phone service all day, I just hope it holds until I finish this. We pulled anchor at 10am and headed over to the fuel dock to top off our tank and diesel was only $3.60 a gallon, boy were we happy!!! That's the best price so far.. While Carl was filling the tanks with fuel and water. While I walked over to the local provisions store to see if they had any cold medicine  since I am feeling the effects of the cooler weather. They had none, but let me use a bike to ride to the grocer about a 3/4 mile away. Thanks dude... I really worked up a sweat since I knew we couldn't be at the fuel dock to long.  You could say I peddled my but all over town..Bella got to run all around the marina while they waited for me, burn off some of that energy. Once we pulled away from the dock we noticed that Ryan and Rachael were having boat trouble and stopped to see if we could help. Carl and Ryan talked on the radio about how to fix the problem and then Ryan said thanks and we moved on. It was a nice day on the water. The winds had calmed down to 9mph and the waves were about 1 to 2 ft perfect, only wind still on our nose...Bella was a little nervous so she wanted to sit on my lap till she got use to the waves again...It was a some what uninteresting  day not much to report, but I guess that's a good thing.We did pass by a shrimp house where the outhouses were painted green with flames for the men and pink with daisy's for the ladies...You don't see that very often...I must say I 'm really proud of Carl with his ability to get us to all these different places using the  charts . Good job Carl...My friend Lori called and said she is gonna try to meet us in New York  for the July 4th celebration.. Hope she can pull it off.  We anchored for the night off Belhaven N.C . made dinner and  called it a night. We hope to make Virginia tomorrow...

Happy Fathers Day to all you wonderful men who have been great dad's!! You make the world a better place for the advise, wisdom and love that you pass to your kids.!!  I sure am glad I have the Worlds Best Dad!!! A pleasant day was spent in Oriental N.C.. The day began with me getting my blog done and jumping in the dingy and getting to the farmers market. We were so ready for some fresh veggies and bake goods.. Only thing when we got there there was only about 6 vendors , this is small town. Only one of them had veggies and that was only blueberries and corn however, we did get some nice homemade sun dried tomato bread. Seems lots of the people from town come out for this, its every Saturday and I think its just a place for people to get together and visit..So that's just what we did. Bella got to meet lots of other dogs, boy was she happy...Then we walked the mile to the local grocer and hardware. I needed veggies and Carl needed a chain link to attach that new chain we got yesterday. It was a very delightful walk, no sidewalks and no traffic to speak of. But boy were the prices high, I didn't buy much decided to wait till we got to a bigger town for supplies. Carl did pick up a chain link. As we were walking back we saw a yard sale sign and I needed a couple of things so on we went.. Cool haven't been to a yard sale in a long time and we love them.. They had just what I needed. A coffee cup and set of sheets for when dad joins us on the boat in Chesapeake Bay and all for $2.00.. Perfect...I stopped by the local fish market where a man was selling fish out  of  coolers, and bought some salmon.. Neat little place . I loved during business with someone so small, besides that's  the only was we will get fish!! Returned to the boat and Carl attached the new chain, what a mess. As he pulled up the anchors they were full of black mud...It was everywhere, ..So he got a bucket and was cleaning the deck.  Bella was chasing the black water ..It was hysterical.. Next Bella got a bath.. We have seen such diverse group of sail boaters from around the world, the boat next to us is from Croatia and another is from Finland and we had a couple over from St. Crux . Ryan and Rachael  have a 40 ft that they sailed up. They are going to Virginia to sell their boat, make some money and get a new boat to raise a family on. Rachael gave me some seeds to grow sprouts and told me how to do it... Wish me good luck..They had some pretty hairy stuff go on during their crossing the ocean..They had tried to help a very young couple and it put them in danger.. Good news all made it alive.. It was terrific to meet them , we exchanged email and promised  to keep in touch. I love meeting all these different and wonderful people..Later it was dinner on the boat, (  blacken salmon on the grill with spinach salad ) oh so good..After walk through town to check out the fuel dock. The dingy motor was acting up during our return to the boat, Carl will check that out in the morning.  Once back to the boat  it was time to lay our weary heads..