June 2014

      Our return to Release in June and the trip north from there was a little different than usual.  Francie's brother Richard Sheridan was kind enough to keep me company from Southport to Solomons Island where he and his wife Nancy live.  This was to give Francie some time at home in her gardens. It would also allow Dick and I to travel with out dropping the dinghy and going ashore each night and morning with Skipper.  Francie and Nancy dropped Dick and I at Southport and went sightseeing.
Dick and I left Southport on a rising tide and caught all the right advantages to Wrightsville Beach and instead of stopping continued on to an anchorage above the Marine base where we met the girls for a pizza.  The following day we continued North through Bogue Sound to Morehead City for fuel.  We traveled further North through Adams Creek and along the Neuse River and found a quiet anchorage just before the Pungo Canal.
   The following day we passed through the canal into the Alligator River and through the Alligator River Bridge before calling it a day and anchoring in east Lake  by Middle Ground.  The following day Richard and I made Elizabeth City NC and had great showers.  we took a nap in the afternoon, planning to go out for supper.  We awoke to waves crashing against the side and  some over the side into the cockpit.  We decided to move and head for the Dismal Swamp and anchored by Goat Island.
From there through the Dismal Swamp and on to Norfolk.  The next day found us at Cockerell Creek on the Great Wicomico River for a great meal over looking the creek. We then took the boat to Solomons Island,fueled and tied to a dock in Mill Creek by Susie & Frank's house.  This completed Richards portion of the voyage and we were met by our wives and family.